What is the average salary in the UK, and how does yours compare? Here’s the full breakdown by age, region, and industry using the latest ONS data.
Table of Contents
Average and Median UK Salary (2026)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average (mean) salary | £37,430 |
| Median salary | £27,200 |
| Average hourly pay | £18.90 |
| Median hourly pay | £14.60 |
The gap between average and median exists because high earners pull the mean upward. The median (£27,200) better represents what a typical worker earns.
For a precise comparison, use our UK income percentile calculator.
Average Salary by Age
| Age Group | Median Annual Salary | Median Weekly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 18–21 | £24,440 | £470 |
| 22–29 | £32,292 | £621 |
| 30–39 | £39,988 | £769 |
| 40–49 | £42,796 | £823 |
| 50–59 | £40,456 | £778 |
| 60+ | £36,036 | £693 |
Peak earnings occur between ages 40-49. Income growth is fastest in your 20s and early 30s, then plateaus through the 40s before declining slightly.
Income Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| 10th | £14,500 |
| 25th | £20,800 |
| 50th (Median) | £27,200 |
| 75th | £40,500 |
| 90th | £59,200 |
| 95th | £78,600 |
| 99th | £199,000 |
If you earn more than £59,200, you’re in the top 10% of UK earners. See our income percentile calculator for an exact ranking.
Average Salary by Region
| Region | Median Salary | vs. National Median |
|---|---|---|
| London | £36,600 | +35% |
| South East | £29,800 | +10% |
| East of England | £28,200 | +4% |
| Scotland | £27,900 | +3% |
| South West | £26,700 | -2% |
| West Midlands | £26,400 | -3% |
| East Midlands | £26,000 | -4% |
| North West | £26,200 | -4% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £25,700 | -6% |
| Wales | £25,200 | -7% |
| Northern Ireland | £24,800 | -9% |
| North East | £24,500 | -10% |
London salaries are 35% higher than the national median, but the higher cost of living — especially housing — erodes much of this premium.
Average Salary by Industry
| Industry | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Finance & Insurance | £44,100 |
| Information & Communication (Tech) | £43,800 |
| Mining & Quarrying (Energy) | £42,500 |
| Professional & Scientific | £37,200 |
| Public Administration | £32,800 |
| Education | £31,400 |
| Construction | £30,900 |
| Manufacturing | £30,600 |
| Health & Social Work | £28,500 |
| Transport & Storage | £27,800 |
| Wholesale & Retail | £22,400 |
| Accommodation & Food | £19,800 |
| Arts & Recreation | £21,600 |
Finance, tech, and energy are the highest-paying sectors, while hospitality and retail are the lowest.
Gender Pay Gap
| Metric | Men | Women | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median full-time salary | £29,900 | £25,500 | 14.7% |
| Median all employees | £27,800 | £21,300 | 23.4% |
| Average hourly (full-time) | £19.80 | £17.10 | 13.6% |
The full-time pay gap of 14.7% narrows for younger workers (nearly zero for under-30s) and widens significantly for workers over 40, largely driven by career breaks, part-time work transitions, and differing industry representation.
Salary After Tax
Your take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance:
| Gross Salary | Income Tax | Employee NIC | Take-Home | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £1,486 | £594 | £17,920 | 10.4% |
| £25,000 | £2,486 | £994 | £21,520 | 13.9% |
| £30,000 | £3,486 | £1,394 | £25,120 | 16.3% |
| £35,000 | £4,486 | £1,794 | £28,720 | 17.9% |
| £40,000 | £5,486 | £2,194 | £32,320 | 19.2% |
| £50,000 | £7,486 | £2,994 | £39,520 | 21.0% |
| £60,000 | £11,432 | £3,194 | £45,374 | 24.4% |
| £75,000 | £17,432 | £3,494 | £54,074 | 27.9% |
For detailed calculations, see our guide to UK income tax bands.
How UK Salaries Compare Internationally
| Country | Median Salary (£ equivalent) | Healthcare | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | £27,200 | NHS (free) | Lower housing costs outside London |
| USA | £35,400 ($45,000) | Private ($5K-$15K+/year) | Higher gross, but healthcare costs |
| Canada | £28,900 (C$52,000) | Provincial (free) | Similar to UK |
| Australia | £37,200 (A$65,000) | Medicare (free) | Higher gross, higher living costs |
| Germany | £31,200 (€36,000) | Statutory (payroll deducted) | Strong worker protections |
UK salaries are lower than the US and Australia in gross terms, but the NHS, pension auto-enrolment, and worker protections provide significant non-salary value.
Average Salary Growth
UK average earnings growth over recent years:
| Year | Average Weekly Earnings (Regular Pay) | Annual Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | £536 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | £553 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | £575 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | £610 | +6.1% |
| 2024 | £638 | +4.6% |
| 2025 | £662 | +3.8% |
Real wage growth (after inflation) has been positive since mid-2023, helping workers recover purchasing power lost during the 2022 inflation spike.
Key Takeaways
- Median UK salary is £27,200 — more representative than the £37,430 average
- London pays 35% more than the national median, but housing costs consume much of the premium
- Peak earnings are in the 40-49 age bracket at £42,796
- Top 10% earn £59,200+ and top 1% earn £199,000+
- Finance and tech are the highest-paying industries; hospitality and retail the lowest
- Take-home pay on a £30,000 salary is about £25,120 after tax and NIC
