Average Salary in the United Kingdom

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: October 7, 2024

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2025

What is the average salary in the United Kingdom?

In 2024, the gross average salary in the United Kingdom was £35,828 per year, or approximately £2,985 per month. This figure is equivalent to around €42,150 or US$46,365. Based on a full working year, the average weekly wage is about £689, with an hourly rate of around £17.2. Still, most salaries in the UK are expressed yearly, like in the United States. The Brits have the curious habit of talking about salaries "per annum," or "each year" in Latin.

Compared to the rest of Europe, the UK's average salary is higher than the 2023 EU average of €28,217. The data comes from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), which released the latest figures on salary averages across various industries in September 2024.

*Annual salary is calculated by multiplying the average weekly wage over 52 weeks.

What is the average salary in London?

In 2023, the average salary in London was £42,000 annually or £3,500 per month before taxes. This means the average salary in London is significantly higher than the national average. With London being a global financial hub, average salaries are often inflated in relation to the rest of the country, largely due to the higher cost of living and the concentration of high-paying industries like finance and tech.

What is the minimum wage in the United Kingdom?

In 2024, the minimum wage for workers aged 23 and over in the UK is set at £11.44 per hour. This translates to a monthly salary of approximately £1,800 or an annual salary of around £22,000 for full-time work.

The UK’s minimum wage is competitive with those in other developed countries, and stands higher than the minimum wages found in most Southern and Eastern European nations.

*We are using a standard of 40 hours per week regarding full-time work.

What is a good salary in the United Kingdom?

A good salary in the UK depends largely on where you live. For someone living in London, a salary of around £45,000 would be considered good. In smaller cities or rural areas, a salary of £30,000 would go much further.

To put things into perspective, London ranks as the most expensive city in the UK, with a score of 82.9 on the global index of cost of living. Rent and living expenses can easily exceed £2,000 or €2,400 per month for a single person. Overall, living costs in London, including rent, are 49.2% higher than in Manchester and 63.9% higher than in Birmingham.

Average salary after tax in the United Kingdom

The average salary of £35,828 in the UK will leave you with around £29,300 after taxes. This estimate considers income tax and national insurance contributions, which add up to an approximate tax rate of 20%. UK tax rates are progressive, with the top earners paying a 40% tax rate on income above £125,140. You can use our tax calculator to get a more accurate picture of your take-home pay based on your salary and personal tax situation.

What are the highest-paying jobs in the United Kingdom?

Here’s a look at the typical jobs that expats take on when relocating to and working in the UK, along with their average annual salaries (Source: Payscale):

• Customer Support Specialist: £23,410
• UX Designer: £34,278
• Digital Marketing Specialist: £29,537
• Data Analyst: £30,261
• HR Generalist: £32,290
• Senior Recruiter: £40,341
• Project Manager (IT): £48,649
• Sales / Business Manager: £38,581
• Software Engineer: £40,567

Average salary comparison by country