GeraLearn / Degree salary comparison
Engineering vs Architecture, building and planning: Graduate Salary Compared
Five years after graduating, UK Engineering graduates earn more — a median £41,600 vs £36,900 for Architecture, building and planning. That is £4,700 more (13%). Real DfE LEO figures, 2022-23 tax year.
Quick answer
Engineering pays more than Architecture, building and planning: a 5-year median of £41,600 versus £36,900 — a £4,700 (13%) gap. Source: DfE LEO, 2022-23 UK tax year (DfE LEO graduate outcomes).
Earnings compared, side by side
Median gross annual earnings of UK-domiciled first-degree graduates, 2022-23 tax year.
| Measure | Engineering | Architecture, building and planning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year after graduation | £30,300 | £28,800 |
| Lower quartile (5yr) | £32,500 | £28,100 |
| Median (5yr) | £41,600 | £36,900 |
| Upper quartile (5yr) | £52,600 | £51,800 |
| Rank (of 34 subjects) | #4 | #10 |
| Graduates in cohort | 13,010 | 4,610 |
Ranks are by 5-year median earnings across all 34 DfE CAH level-1 subject groups.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Engineering or Architecture, building and planning pay more after graduation?
- Engineering pays more. Five years after graduation, UK graduates of Engineering earn a median £41,600 versus £36,900 for Architecture, building and planning — a difference of £4,700 (13% more). Source: DfE LEO, 2022-23 tax year.
- What do Engineering graduates earn one and five years after graduating?
- Engineering graduates earn a median £30,300 one year after graduation and a median £41,600 five years after — with most earning between £32,500 and £52,600 (lower–upper quartile). That is £10,200 (32%) above the all-subject median of £31,400.
- What do Architecture, building and planning graduates earn one and five years after graduating?
- Architecture, building and planning graduates earn a median £28,800 one year after graduation and a median £36,900 five years after — with most earning between £28,100 and £51,800 (lower–upper quartile). That is £5,500 (18%) above the all-subject median of £31,400.
- Where do these graduate-salary figures come from?
- From the Department for Education's LEO (Longitudinal Education Outcomes) release, 2022-23 UK tax year (DfE LEO graduate outcomes). They are median gross annual earnings of UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in sustained employment, measured in the 2022-23 tax year, published under the Open Government Licence. These are medians — half of graduates earned less and half more; subject choice does not guarantee any individual salary.
Related comparisons
Data: DfE LEO Graduate Outcomes, 2022-23 UK tax year (DfE LEO graduate outcomes). Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are medians for graduates in sustained employment and do not guarantee individual earnings. A Gera Systems product.