In facilities management, the biggest pay rises rarely come from staying put and waiting. They come from the qualification that moves an engineer into a better-paid role. Using our 2026 Salary Survey, we have looked at four of the qualifications we are asked about most and what each one is worth.

How we have measured it

Our survey records what roles pay, not a separate allowance for holding a certificate. So the fairest way to show the value of a qualification is to compare the role an engineer is in with the role that qualification opens up. Every figure below is an average from the survey, with the range in brackets.

18th Edition: from improver to qualified electrician

• Junior engineer / improver: £36,000 (£34,000 to £38,000)
• Electrician / mechanical, days: £48,000 (£45,000 to £50,000)
• Electrician / mechanical, shift: £52,000 (£50,000 to £55,000)

Together with an NVQ Level 3, the 18th Edition is the standard FM clients expect for a qualified electrical role. The step from improver to qualified engineer on days is worth £12,000 on average, and a shift pattern adds a further £4,000. For most improvers, it is the first qualification to aim for.

F-Gas: the way into air conditioning and chillers

• M&E multi-skilled, mobile: £45,000 (£42,000 to £47,000)
• A/C engineer, days or mobile: £50,000 (£45,000 to £55,000)
• Chiller engineer: £53,000 (£47,000 to £60,000)

F-Gas certification is a legal requirement for working on refrigerant systems, so without it air conditioning and chiller work is closed off. For a multi-skilled mobile engineer, adding F-Gas and building refrigeration experience opens roles that pay £5,000 to £8,000 more on average, and chiller roles reach £60,000 at the top end.

Gas Safe: stepping up to commercial plant

• Plumber: £40,000 (£38,000 to £42,000)
• Combustion engineer, commercial: £55,000 (£50,000 to £60,000)

Commercial combustion engineers have the highest average salary of any engineer role in our survey. Reaching it means Gas Safe registration covering commercial work; domestic gas qualifications on their own will not be enough for plant rooms and commercial boilers. For a plumber, that is a difference of £15,000 between the two averages.

L8: demand you can rely on

• Water treatment engineer: £40,000 (£35,000 to £42,000)

L8 does not deliver the biggest salary jump on this list. What it does deliver is steady demand. Large FM providers have a constant need for static and mobile water treatment and water hygiene engineers, and it is an area we recruit for regularly. Added to a plumbing or mechanical background, L8 makes an engineer relevant on almost any site with a water system.

Building a broader skill set

The best-paid engineers tend to hold several qualifications rather than one. The roles that sit above day-to-day maintenance reflect that:

• M&E lead engineer: £55,000
• M&E supervisor: £58,000
• BMS engineer: £60,000

Engineers who combine electrical and mechanical qualifications and then add controls experience are the ones we most often see progress into these positions.

What this means if you're looking

• Choose the qualification that leads to the role you want next, rather than the quickest or cheapest course.
• Keep your certificates in date and have copies ready to send. We ask for them before putting anyone forward.
• List your qualifications near the top of your CV, with the date each was gained.
• Ask employers whether they fund further training. Some will, for the right engineer.

What this means if you're hiring

Qualified engineers command qualified rates. A role advertised at improver pay will attract improvers. Our survey gives a realistic benchmark for each role, and we verify every candidate's qualifications before they reach your shortlist.

Talk to us

Looking for your next role? Browse our live roles (/job-results) or call us on 0203 583 3099. Hiring engineers? Send us a vacancy (/submit-a-vacancy) and we will give you an honest view of what the market will pay.