The route, drawn out
DWG CD28 · 5 stops · 3 years to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
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3 years Fully qualified around £31k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £50k
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Then Your own business you set the rate
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
Land-based engineers work on the biggest, most complex machinery outside industry: GPS-guided tractors, combine harvesters, telehandlers and excavators, full of hydraulics, electronics and control software.
The work is often mobile — you go to the machine, in a field, with a deadline because harvest will not wait. It is chronically short of skilled people, dealer training is excellent, and experienced engineers earn very well with overtime.
A typical day
- Service and repair engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems
- Diagnose electronic and control system faults
- Carry out field repairs and breakdown callouts
- Set up and calibrate GPS and precision machinery systems
- Advise operators on maintenance and settings
How you get in
- GCSE grade 3-4 (D-C) in maths, English and science is typical
- Driving licence essential for mobile work
- Practical, resourceful problem solver — you may be miles from the workshop
- Seasonal long hours during harvest are expected
Where it leads
- Manufacturer master technician qualifications
- Precision farming and telematics specialisms
- Service manager or technical support
- Self-employed mobile engineer covering local farms
Where to train for this
25 colleges and training providers on our list cover Agricultural & Plant Service Engineer training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.