Is £35,000 a good salary in the UK? Here’s the complete breakdown.
The Quick Answer
£35,000 is a good salary that puts you just above the median. You can live well in most of the UK and make meaningful progress on financial goals.
| Metric | £35,000 |
|---|---|
| vs. UK median, all employee jobs (£32,890, April 2025) | +6% above |
| Percentile, all UK employee jobs | ~54th |
| Monthly take-home | £2,393 |
| Hourly equivalent | £16.83 |
How £35K Compares by Age
| Age Group | Full-time median, April 2025 | £35K vs. Median |
|---|---|---|
| 18-21 | £23,596 | +48% (well above) |
| 22-29 | £32,347 | +8% (above) |
| 30-39 | £40,668 | -14% (below) |
| 40-49 | £44,244 | -21% (below) |
Bottom line: £35K is well above the full-time median for 18-21, above it for 22-29, and below it for people in their 30s and 40s.
How £35K Compares by Region
ONS publishes median pay for each UK region and nation in its Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings tables. Pay and living costs both vary by area, so how far £35,000 goes depends on where you live.
Monthly Budget on £35K
Take-home pay: £2,393/month
| Category | Budget | % |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed nice area) | £800 | 33% |
| Bills & Council Tax | £235 | 10% |
| Food & Groceries | £300 | 13% |
| Transport | £180 | 8% |
| Phone & Internet | £50 | 2% |
| Savings | £378 | 16% |
| Discretionary | £450 | 19% |
| Total | £2,393 | 100% |
Can You Afford Key Life Goals?
| Goal | Achievable on £35K? |
|---|---|
| Rent alone (most UK) | Comfortably |
| Rent alone (London) | Yes, but stretched |
| Build 6-month emergency fund | Yes, in under 3 years at this budget |
| Quality used car | Yes |
| House deposit (£25K) | ~5.5 years at this budget’s 16% saving rate |
| Regular holidays | Yes |
| Invest for retirement | Yes, with discipline |
The Verdict
£35,000 is:
- ✅ Just above the all-jobs median
- ✅ About the 54th percentile of UK employee jobs
- ✅ Good quality of life most areas
- ✅ Allows solid saving
- ⚠️ Below the full-time median for ages 30-49
This salary suits: Experienced professionals in their 20s-early 30s, mid-level roles, or those in lower cost-of-living regions.
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