Average Salary in the UK in 2026 — By Age, Job & Region
What does the average person in the UK actually earn? The answer depends on where they live, how old they are, and what they do. Here is a breakdown of UK salary data for 2026 — with real numbers and context that actually makes sense.
Every few months, a headline declares that the “average UK salary” has risen or fallen. But that number on its own tells you very little. The UK is not one salary market — it is dozens of them, split by industry, region, age, and job type. This guide breaks down what workers are actually earning in 2026, where the money is concentrated, and how to read salary data so it actually means something to you.
Why Median Salary Matters More Than Mean
Before we look at the numbers, it helps to understand why salary data almost always uses the median rather than the mean (average).
The mean salary adds up every salary in the UK and divides by the number of workers. The problem? A relatively small number of very high earners — CEOs, surgeons, investment bankers — pull that number significantly upward. The mean ends up being higher than what most workers actually take home.
The median is the midpoint. Half of UK workers earn more than the median. Half earn less. It is a much more honest reflection of what a typical worker earns. This is exactly why the Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses median earnings as its headline figure.
If you want to understand more about how mean and median differ and when to use each one, our guide on mean vs median vs average covers that in detail.
Remember: When a company says “our average employee earns £X,” they are probably using the mean — which includes their executive salaries. The median would almost always be lower and more representative of what most employees actually earn.
UK Average Salary — Overall Figures for 2026
The figures below are based on data from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and HMRC PAYE records — the most comprehensive sources of UK earnings data available. Figures reflect gross pay (before income tax and National Insurance deductions).
Source: ONS ASHE 2024/25 data. Figures represent gross annual earnings for full-time employees.
It is also worth noting that the National Living Wage — the legal minimum for workers aged 21 and over — rose to £11.44 per hour in April 2024 and increased further in April 2025. Workers on minimum wage working a standard 37.5-hour week earn roughly £22,300 per year before tax.
Average UK Salary by Age Group
Earnings in the UK rise steeply through your 20s and 30s, peak in your late 40s to early 50s, then begin to level off. The jump between entry-level and peak earnings is larger than most people expect.
Note: Estimates based on ONS age-earnings profiles. Full-time employees only.
A few things stand out in this data. Workers in their early 20s earn well below the overall median — many are in entry-level roles, apprenticeships, or part-time work. Earnings grow fastest between 22 and 35, reflecting career progression and promotions. The slight decline after 50 reflects a mix of voluntary step-downs to less demanding roles, early retirement, and sector shifts.
If you are in your 20s and earning around £26,000–£30,000, you are broadly in line with your age group. Do not compare yourself to the overall UK median of £37,430 — that figure includes people at the peak of their careers.
Average Salary by UK Region
Where you live in the UK has a bigger impact on your salary than almost any other factor outside of your industry. The gap between London and many other regions is substantial — and it has not narrowed significantly in recent years.
| Region | Median full-time salary | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|
| 🏙 London | £47,500 | +27% |
| South East | £40,200 | +7% |
| East of England | £38,600 | +3% |
| South West | £35,100 | −6% |
| West Midlands | £35,400 | −5% |
| East Midlands | £34,800 | −7% |
| North West | £35,200 | −6% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £33,900 | −9% |
| North East | £32,500 | −13% |
| Scotland | £36,400 | −3% |
| Wales | £32,800 | −12% |
| Northern Ireland | £31,900 | −15% |
Source: ONS ASHE regional data. Gross annual salary, full-time employees.
The London premium is real but so is the London cost of living. A £47,500 salary in London leaves far less disposable income than a £35,000 salary in Yorkshire when you factor in housing costs. The cost of living difference between London and the North means regional salary comparisons only tell part of the story.
Average Salary by Industry and Job Type
Industry choice has an enormous impact on lifetime earnings. The gap between the highest and lowest-paying sectors in the UK runs to tens of thousands of pounds per year.
| Industry / Sector | Median annual salary |
|---|---|
| 💰 Finance & insurance | £52,000 |
| 💻 Information technology | £51,000 |
| ⚖ Legal services | £48,500 |
| ✈ Air transport | £46,000 |
| ⚡ Energy & utilities | £43,500 |
| 🏗 Construction (management) | £42,000 |
| 🏥 NHS (all roles) | £38,500 |
| 🎓 Education (all roles) | £36,500 |
| 🚔 Public administration | £36,000 |
| 🏪 Retail & wholesale | £26,500 |
| 🍽 Hospitality & food service | £23,000 |
| 🌾 Agriculture & farming | £26,000 |
Source: ONS ASHE by industry division. Gross annual earnings, full-time. Figures are rounded estimates.
Highest-paying specific job roles in the UK
Looking beyond sectors, certain specific roles consistently command the highest salaries. According to Glassdoor UK and ONS occupational data:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) — median £120,000+
- Surgeon / Hospital Consultant — £105,000–£165,000 (NHS bands)
- Investment banker / fund manager — £90,000–£200,000+
- Senior software engineer — £70,000–£110,000
- Chartered accountant — £55,000–£90,000
- Solicitor (qualified) — £50,000–£120,000
- Secondary school teacher — £30,000–£46,525 (England, qualified)
- Registered nurse (NHS) — £28,407–£34,581 (Band 5)
Full-Time vs Part-Time Pay
Part-time work is far more common in the UK than many people realize — around one in four workers works part-time according to the ONS Labour Force Survey. Part-time median hourly wages are actually close to full-time — the gap in annual earnings is almost entirely explained by fewer hours worked rather than a lower hourly rate.
The UK Gender Pay Gap in 2026
The UK gender pay gap — the difference between median hourly earnings for men and women — has been narrowing but has not closed. As of the most recent data, the median gender pay gap for full-time employees sits at approximately 7–8%, meaning women earn roughly 92–93p for every £1 earned by men on a median hourly basis.
The gap widens significantly when part-time workers are included (many of whom are women), pushing the overall gender pay gap to around 13–14%. The gap is largest in financial services, construction, and senior management roles. It is smallest — and in some cases reversed — in roles with standardised pay scales like teaching and nursing.
Employers with 250+ staff are legally required to publish their gender pay gap data each year under the Gender Pay Gap Reporting regulations. You can check your employer’s reported gap on the government’s official database.
What Does This Mean as Take-Home Pay?
Gross salary figures are what the ONS measures — but what you actually receive in your bank account is different. Income tax, National Insurance (NI), and pension contributions all reduce your take-home pay.
For someone earning the median full-time salary of £37,430 in the 2025/26 tax year:
- Personal allowance (tax-free): £12,570
- Taxable income: £24,860
- Income tax at 20%: approximately £4,972
- National Insurance contributions: approximately £2,466
- Estimated monthly take-home pay: approximately £2,500
Add a 5% pension contribution on top and monthly take-home drops to around £2,343. These are rough figures — your actual take-home will depend on your tax code, pension arrangements, student loan deductions, and any other deductions.