Graduates earn more on average than non-graduates, but how much of the gap is down to the degree itself is hard to say. This page sets out the latest official figures and what they leave out.
Median Salary by Education Level, England, 2024
The Department for Education publishes graduate labour market statistics for people of working age (16 to 64) living in England. For 2024:
| Group | Median nominal salary |
|---|---|
| Postgraduates | £47,000 |
| Graduates | £42,000 |
| Non-graduates | £30,500 |
Figures are to the nearest £500. DfE notes that these statistics do not control for factors, such as prior academic attainment, which will influence differences in salary across groups. They are for England, not the whole UK, and cover all ages from 16 to 64.
What the Figures Do Not Show
The medians do not show how pay differs by subject, university or employer, and they are not the same as the earnings a particular graduate can expect. Student loan repayments, the cost of years of study and earnings foregone while studying also matter when weighing up a degree. See our student loan repayment guide for how repayments work.
For the whole-economy picture, the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees in the UK were £40,911 in April 2026, a provisional figure (ONS ASHE).