UK Average Salaries 2026: By Sector, Region, Age and Take-Home Pay
The median UK full-time salary is £37,856/year (ONS ASHE 2025). Full breakdown of average pay by sector, region, and age group — plus exact take-home pay at £25k, £35k, £50k, and £75k for 2026/27.
UK median salary in 2026 — the headline figure
The definitive source for UK salary data is the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), published every autumn based on employer payroll records. The most recent full-year data (ASHE 2025, published October 2025) shows:
| Measure | Full-time employees | All employees |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross annual salary | £37,856 | £32,480 |
| Mean gross annual salary | £43,200 | £36,600 |
| Median gross hourly pay | £18.20 | £15.60 |
The gap between median and mean reflects the skewed distribution of earnings — a relatively small number of very high earners pull the mean significantly above the median. The median is the more representative figure for most workers.
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Open Take-Home Pay calculatorAverage salaries by sector
Sector earnings vary dramatically. The following table shows median full-time gross annual salary by broad sector (ASHE 2025, SIC-based):
| Sector | Median salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & insurance | £58,000 | Wide range; traders/bankers skew higher |
| Technology & IT | £55,000 | Strong demand post-pandemic |
| Professional services | £48,000 | Includes law, accountancy, consulting |
| Public administration | £42,000 | Civil service pay scales |
| Healthcare (NHS) | £38,000 | Band 5–7 nurses anchor median |
| Education | £35,000 | Teachers at MPS range £31k–£46k |
| Manufacturing | £32,000 | Broad sector; varies by subsector |
| Construction | £36,000 | Skilled trades vs. labourers |
| Hospitality & food service | £22,000 | High part-time proportion |
| Retail | £24,000 | National Living Wage anchor |
Notes on sector figures:
- Finance and technology show the widest ranges — entry-level roles may be £25,000–£30,000 while senior positions reach £150,000+.
- Healthcare median is anchored by NHS Band 5 (starting at ~£29,970) and Band 6–7 nurses, while consultant doctors are excluded from this figure (they push the mean much higher).
- Hospitality and retail figures reflect the high proportion of part-time and minimum wage workers in those sectors.
Average salaries by region
The regional pay gradient in the UK remains pronounced:
| Region | Median full-time salary | vs. UK median |
|---|---|---|
| London | £56,000 | +48% |
| South East | £43,000 | +14% |
| East of England | £40,000 | +6% |
| East Midlands | £36,500 | −4% |
| West Midlands | £36,000 | −5% |
| South West | £35,500 | −6% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £34,000 | −10% |
| North West | £35,000 | −7% |
| North East | £32,000 | −15% |
| Scotland | £38,500 | +2% |
| Wales | £33,000 | −13% |
| Northern Ireland | £34,000 | −10% |
London premium caveat: While London salaries are 48% above the UK median, average house prices in London (£550,000) are nearly 3× the national average (£285,000). When housing costs are factored in, the effective purchasing power of a London salary is considerably lower than the gross figure suggests.
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Income tax calculatorAverage salaries by age group
Earnings follow a classic career arc — rising rapidly through the 20s and 30s, peaking in the 40s, then easing slightly toward retirement:
| Age group | Average full-time salary | Typical career stage |
|---|---|---|
| 18–21 | £19,500 | Entry-level; many on NLW |
| 22–29 | £27,000 | Early career progression |
| 30–39 | £41,000 | Mid-career management/specialist |
| 40–49 | £46,000 | Senior roles / peak earnings |
| 50–59 | £43,000 | Some step back; others at peak |
| 60–65 | £38,000 | Pre-retirement; some part-time |
Key observations:
- The jump from 22–29 (£27k) to 30–39 (£41k) reflects the decade when most people move from junior to mid-level roles.
- The 40–49 peak (£46k) aligns with when most reach their highest-level positions before career progression flattens.
- The dip at 50–59 partly reflects early retirement in high-earning roles and a shift to part-time work, not a general decline.
Gender pay gap
The ONS ASHE 2025 data recorded a gender pay gap of 7.7% for full-time employees (based on median hourly earnings). This means:
- Women working full-time earn a median of £16.80/hour.
- Men working full-time earn a median of £18.20/hour.
The gap is significantly wider in the private sector (estimated ~10–12%) than in the public sector (~4–5%), reflecting both occupational segregation and the higher proportion of women in lower-paid sectors (education, healthcare, social care).
Among all employees (including part-time), the gender pay gap is wider still at approximately 14%, because women are more likely to work part-time in lower-paid roles.
Real wage growth in 2025/26
| Measure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Nominal wage growth (ASHE 2025 vs. 2024) | +4.9% |
| CPI inflation (2025 average) | ~2.6% |
| Real wage growth | +2.3% |
This represents the third consecutive year of above-inflation wage growth in the UK, following the post-pandemic surge. In 2022 and 2023, inflation significantly exceeded nominal wage growth — eroding real incomes. The 2024 and 2025 data show that balance has now restored.
Over the five years 2020–2025, cumulative nominal wage growth was approximately +28%, while CPI inflation cumulated at about +24% — leaving a modest 4% real-terms improvement over the period as a whole.
Take-home pay at common salary levels (2026/27)
The following table shows estimated net annual pay for a standard PAYE employee in England or Wales, using the 1257L tax code, no other deductions (no pension, no student loan), in 2026/27:
| Gross salary | Income tax | Employee NI | Net take-home | Monthly net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £1,486 | £597 | £17,917 | £1,493 |
| £25,000 | £2,486 | £997 | £21,517 | £1,793 |
| £30,000 | £3,486 | £1,397 | £25,117 | £2,093 |
| £35,000 | £4,486 | £1,797 | £28,717 | £2,393 |
| £40,000 | £5,486 | £2,197 | £32,317 | £2,693 |
| £50,000 | £7,486 | £2,997 | £39,517 | £3,293 |
| £60,000 | £11,432 | £3,194 | £45,374 | £3,781 |
| £75,000 | £17,432 | £3,494 | £54,074 | £4,506 |
| £100,000 | £27,432 | £3,994 | £68,574 | £5,714 |
Figures are estimates. Actual take-home varies with pension contributions, student loans, benefits in kind, and other deductions.
Note on the £50,270 threshold: Moving above £50,270 triggers the 40% income tax rate on the excess. A £1 rise from £50,270 to £50,271 costs 40p in income tax (not 20p). This is why salary sacrifice becomes especially valuable for people near the higher-rate threshold.
Note on the £100,000 threshold: Income above £100,000 starts to erode the Personal Allowance (£1 of allowance lost per £2 of income above £100,000). By £125,140 the allowance is fully withdrawn — creating an effective 60% marginal rate on income between £100,000 and £125,140.
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When reviewing your salary against market rates:
- Use the ONS ASHE data for your sector — it is the most reliable UK source.
- Check job boards (Reed, Indeed, Glassdoor) for current live vacancies in your role and region.
- Factor in total compensation — employer pension contributions, health insurance, share options, and flexible working all have monetary value beyond the headline salary.
- Consider the cost of living in your region — a £40k salary in Yorkshire has materially different purchasing power to a £40k salary in London.
Use the take-home calculator to find out exactly what any gross salary converts to after tax and NI in your specific circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average UK salary in 2026?
The median full-time gross salary in the UK is £37,856 per year, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 data — the most recent full-year survey. Mean (average) salary is higher at approximately £43,200, pulled up by high earners.
What is the average take-home pay on a £37,856 salary?
On the median salary of £37,856 in 2026/27, a standard employee (1257L tax code, no other income) takes home approximately £29,800 net per year (£2,483/month) after income tax and National Insurance.
Which UK sector pays the highest average salary?
Finance and insurance pays the highest median full-time salary at approximately £58,000/year. Technology and IT follows closely at around £55,000. These figures mask wide ranges — senior roles in both sectors can exceed £100,000.
Which region has the highest average salary in the UK?
London has the highest median full-time salary at approximately £56,000/year. However, when adjusted for the higher cost of living in London (housing, transport, food), the effective purchasing power advantage narrows significantly.
What is the UK gender pay gap in 2026?
The ONS ASHE 2025 survey recorded a gender pay gap of 7.7% for full-time employees (median hourly earnings). This means women working full-time earn approximately 7.7% less per hour than men. The gap is larger in the private sector than the public sector.
What is real wage growth in 2026?
Nominal wage growth for 2025/26 was approximately 4.9%. With CPI inflation running at around 2.6%, real wage growth (after inflation) was approximately 2.3% — the third consecutive year of above-inflation wage rises.
What is the take-home pay on £50,000 in 2026/27?
On £50,000 gross, a standard PAYE employee in 2026/27 takes home approximately £37,802 net per year (£3,150/month). This assumes the standard 1257L tax code, no pension contributions, and England/Wales tax rates.
At what salary do you start paying 40% income tax?
You start paying 40% income tax on earnings above £50,270 in 2026/27 (the higher-rate threshold). The first £12,570 is covered by the Personal Allowance (0%), £12,571–£50,270 is taxed at 20%, and anything above £50,270 is taxed at 40%.
What is the average salary for someone in their 30s in the UK?
The average full-time salary for the 30–39 age group is approximately £41,000 per year, based on ONS ASHE 2025 data. This represents peak earning acceleration — earnings typically rise sharply from the late 20s as workers move into more senior roles.
How does Wales compare to England for average salaries?
The median full-time salary in Wales is approximately £33,000 per year — about £4,800 below the UK median. Wales has the lowest median salary of any UK nation, partly reflecting its industrial mix (retail, public sector, hospitality) rather than the higher-paying finance and tech sectors concentrated in England.
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