A person working in Engineering in Uganda typically earns around 2,210,000 UGX per month. Salaries range from 702,000 UGX (lowest average) to 4,680,000 UGX (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 1,770,000 UGX |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 2,640,000 UGX |
Associate Engineer | 2,170,000 UGX |
Autocad Operator | 1,440,000 UGX |
Automation Engineer | 2,460,000 UGX |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 2,240,000 UGX |
Biochemical Engineer | 2,260,000 UGX |
BMS Engineer | 2,150,000 UGX |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 1,220,000 UGX |
Broadcast Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
CAD Design Engineer | 2,440,000 UGX |
CAD Designer | 1,520,000 UGX |
CAE Engineer | 2,380,000 UGX |
Ceramics Engineer | 2,210,000 UGX |
Civil Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Commissioning Engineer | 2,240,000 UGX |
Communications Engineer | 2,620,000 UGX |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 2,040,000 UGX |
Contract Associate Engineer | 2,300,000 UGX |
Control Systems Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Controls Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Controls Software Engineer | 2,130,000 UGX |
Corrosion Engineer | 2,110,000 UGX |
Design Engineer | 2,360,000 UGX |
Drafter | 1,480,000 UGX |
Drafting Manager | 2,790,000 UGX |
Drilling Engineer | 2,300,000 UGX |
Electrical Draughtsman | 1,200,000 UGX |
Electrical Engineer | 2,670,000 UGX |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 3,230,000 UGX |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 2,540,000 UGX |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 1,270,000 UGX |
Energy Engineer | 2,540,000 UGX |
Engine Assembler | 1,010,000 UGX |
Engineer | 2,440,000 UGX |
Engineering Account Manager | 2,700,000 UGX |
Engineering Chief Designer | 2,550,000 UGX |
Engineering Consultant | 3,200,000 UGX |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 3,320,000 UGX |
Engineering Lab Technician | 2,240,000 UGX |
Engineering Planning Manager | 3,140,000 UGX |
Engineering Production Manager | 4,310,000 UGX |
Engineering Project Analyst | 2,690,000 UGX |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 2,670,000 UGX |
Engineering Project Director | 4,800,000 UGX |
Engineering Project Manager | 3,150,000 UGX |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 3,610,000 UGX |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 1,750,000 UGX |
Engineering Sales Manager | 3,320,000 UGX |
Engineering Technician | 1,750,000 UGX |
Engineering Technologist | 1,750,000 UGX |
Environmental Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Equipment Engineer | 2,210,000 UGX |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 2,960,000 UGX |
Estimator | 1,940,000 UGX |
Fabrication Specialist | 1,640,000 UGX |
Fabricator | 1,080,000 UGX |
Facade Engineer | 2,240,000 UGX |
Fiber Analyst | 1,330,000 UGX |
Field Engineer | 2,400,000 UGX |
Field Engineering Manager | 4,000,000 UGX |
Fire Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Fitter and Turner | 760,000 UGX |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 2,620,000 UGX |
Generation Engineer | 2,280,000 UGX |
Genetic Engineer | 2,670,000 UGX |
Geological Engineer | 2,440,000 UGX |
Geotechnical Engineer | 2,580,000 UGX |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 1,290,000 UGX |
Highway Engineer | 2,240,000 UGX |
HSE Professional | 2,150,000 UGX |
HVAC Engineer | 2,460,000 UGX |
HVAC Supervisor | 2,210,000 UGX |
Industrial Engineer | 2,280,000 UGX |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 2,340,000 UGX |
Instrument Engineer | 2,340,000 UGX |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 2,280,000 UGX |
Instrumentation Engineer | 2,340,000 UGX |
Instrumentation Manager | 2,400,000 UGX |
Irrigation Engineer | 2,360,000 UGX |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 2,540,000 UGX |
Locomotive Engineer | 2,340,000 UGX |
Maintenance Engineer | 2,110,000 UGX |
Maintenance Fitter | 798,000 UGX |
Maintenance Manager | 2,240,000 UGX |
Manufacturing Engineer | 2,220,000 UGX |
Marine Engineer | 2,380,000 UGX |
Materials Engineer | 2,380,000 UGX |
Materials Researcher | 2,090,000 UGX |
Materials Technician | 1,680,000 UGX |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 2,600,000 UGX |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 2,580,000 UGX |
Mechanical Designer | 1,940,000 UGX |
Mechanical Engineer | 2,390,000 UGX |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 3,240,000 UGX |
Mechanical Inspector | 2,220,000 UGX |
Mechatronics Engineer | 2,520,000 UGX |
Mining Engineer | 2,300,000 UGX |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 2,640,000 UGX |
Optical Engineer | 2,190,000 UGX |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 1,170,000 UGX |
PCB Assembler | 839,000 UGX |
Photonics Engineer | 2,670,000 UGX |
Photonics Technician | 2,010,000 UGX |
Pipeline Engineer | 2,110,000 UGX |
Piping Designer | 1,280,000 UGX |
Piping Engineer | 2,210,000 UGX |
Planning Engineer | 2,400,000 UGX |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 1,150,000 UGX |
Principal Cost Engineer | 2,460,000 UGX |
Principal Engineer | 2,400,000 UGX |
Principal Support Engineer | 2,460,000 UGX |
Process Engineer | 2,220,000 UGX |
Process Operator | 1,400,000 UGX |
Product Development Engineer | 2,400,000 UGX |
Product Development Technician | 1,760,000 UGX |
Product Engineer | 2,460,000 UGX |
Product Safety Engineer | 2,300,000 UGX |
Production Engineer | 2,360,000 UGX |
Project Engineer | 2,560,000 UGX |
Proposal Manager | 2,980,000 UGX |
Purchasing Engineer | 2,180,000 UGX |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 2,220,000 UGX |
Rail Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Robotics Engineer | 2,610,000 UGX |
Robotics Technician | 1,940,000 UGX |
Safety Engineer | 2,360,000 UGX |
Safety Inspector | 1,790,000 UGX |
Safety Manager | 2,730,000 UGX |
Safety Officer | 1,240,000 UGX |
Sales Engineer | 2,580,000 UGX |
Scheduling Engineer | 2,050,000 UGX |
Service Engineer | 2,420,000 UGX |
Solar Engineer | 2,560,000 UGX |
Staff Engineer | 2,280,000 UGX |
Static Equipment Engineer | 2,300,000 UGX |
Stationary Engineer | 2,190,000 UGX |
Stress Engineer | 2,260,000 UGX |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 2,200,000 UGX |
Structural Designer | 1,980,000 UGX |
Structural Engineer | 2,260,000 UGX |
Structural Technician | 1,520,000 UGX |
Supply Chain Specialist | 2,320,000 UGX |
Surveyor | 1,690,000 UGX |
Technical Affairs Officer | 1,170,000 UGX |
Technical Assistant | 1,140,000 UGX |
Technical Engineer | 1,990,000 UGX |
Technical Support Engineer | 2,040,000 UGX |
Tender Engineer | 2,010,000 UGX |
Test Development Engineer | 2,320,000 UGX |
Transportation Engineer | 2,300,000 UGX |
Validation Engineer | 2,120,000 UGX |
Verification Engineer | 2,130,000 UGX |
Wastewater Engineer | 2,380,000 UGX |
Wind Energy Engineer | 2,400,000 UGX |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 3,220,000 UGX |
Work Planner | 1,700,000 UGX |
Engineering salaries in Uganda range from 702,000 UGX per month (minimum average salary) to 4,680,000 UGX per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 2,390,000 UGX per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Engineering are earning less than 2,390,000 UGX while the other half are earning more than 2,390,000 UGX. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 1,390,000 UGX while 75% of them are earning more than 1,390,000 UGX. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 3,820,000 UGX while 25% are earning more than 3,820,000 UGX.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Uganda costs anywhere from 13,100,000 Uganda Shilling(s) to 39,300,000 Uganda Shilling(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Uganda who work in Engineering earn 17% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 2,390,000 UGX | |
Female | -15% | 2,040,000 UGX |
Engineering professionals in Uganda are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 5% every 28 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 4% granted to employees every 29 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 9% | |
Energy | 9% | |
Information Technology | 9% | |
Healthcare | 9% | |
Travel | 9% | |
Construction | 9% | |
Education | 9% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Uganda for the year 2022. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Engineering is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
61% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 39% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 39% | |
No Bonus | 61% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Engineering is 16% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Kampala | 2,380,000 UGX |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Uganda earn 25% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 2,330,000 UGX | |
Public Sector | +25% | 2,910,000 UGX |