What is the average UK salary in 2026?

The median gross annual salary for full-time employees in the UK is approximately £35,000. The mean (average) is higher at around £42,000, pulled up by high earners. The median is generally more useful for typical earner comparisons.

What jobs pay over £100,000 UK?

Jobs commonly paying £100k+ include: senior software engineers, doctors (consultants), dentists, solicitors (partners), investment bankers, finance directors, airline pilots, actuaries, and senior management in large companies. These typically require significant experience or specialist qualifications.

Are salaries higher in London?

Yes — London salaries are typically 20-30% higher than the national average for the same role. However, the cost of living is also significantly higher, particularly housing. Whether you're better off depends on your lifestyle and housing situation.

How do I know if I'm being paid fairly?

Compare your salary to industry data for your specific role, experience level, and region. Use our income percentile calculator to see where you rank nationally. If you're significantly below market rate, consider negotiating a raise or exploring new opportunities.

UK Average Salary by Job 2026 — Salary Data by Profession | PocketWise

What does your job pay compared to others? Here’s comprehensive salary data across UK professions to help you benchmark your earnings.

UK Salary Overview

Measure	Amount
Median salary (full-time)	£35,000
Mean salary (full-time)	£42,000
25th percentile	£26,500
75th percentile	£48,000
90th percentile	£70,000

Based on ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

Salaries by Industry Sector

Highest Paying Sectors

Sector	Median Salary	Top Quartile
Finance & Insurance	£48,000	£75,000+
Mining, Energy & Utilities	£45,000	£65,000+
Information & Technology	£45,000	£70,000+
Professional & Scientific	£42,000	£60,000+
Real Estate	£38,000	£55,000+

Mid-Range Sectors

Sector	Median Salary	Top Quartile
Public Administration	£35,000	£48,000+
Construction	£35,000	£50,000+
Manufacturing	£34,000	£48,000+
Education	£34,000	£45,000+
Transport & Logistics	£33,000	£45,000+

Lower Paying Sectors

Sector	Median Salary	Top Quartile
Health & Social Care	£32,000	£42,000+
Arts & Entertainment	£30,000	£42,000+
Agriculture	£28,000	£38,000+
Retail	£24,000	£32,000+
Hospitality	£22,000	£28,000+

Salaries by Profession

Technology & IT

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior/Lead
Software Developer	£28,000-35,000	£45,000-65,000	£70,000-100,000+
DevOps Engineer	£35,000-45,000	£55,000-75,000	£80,000-120,000
Data Scientist	£35,000-45,000	£55,000-80,000	£85,000-130,000
Data Analyst	£25,000-32,000	£40,000-55,000	£60,000-80,000
Cyber Security	£30,000-40,000	£50,000-75,000	£80,000-120,000
IT Support	£22,000-28,000	£32,000-42,000	£45,000-60,000
UX Designer	£28,000-38,000	£45,000-65,000	£70,000-95,000
Product Manager	£35,000-50,000	£60,000-85,000	£90,000-140,000

Finance & Accounting

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior/Director
Accountant	£24,000-32,000	£40,000-60,000	£70,000-120,000
Financial Analyst	£28,000-38,000	£50,000-70,000	£80,000-120,000
Investment Banker	£50,000-70,000	£100,000-200,000	£200,000-500,000+
Actuary	£35,000-45,000	£60,000-90,000	£100,000-200,000
Financial Adviser	£25,000-35,000	£45,000-75,000	£80,000-150,000+
Mortgage Adviser	£25,000-35,000	£40,000-60,000	£70,000-100,000+
Credit Analyst	£28,000-38,000	£45,000-65,000	£70,000-100,000
Payroll Manager	£28,000-35,000	£40,000-55,000	£55,000-75,000

Healthcare

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior/Consultant
Doctor (Foundation)	£32,000+	N/A	N/A
Doctor (Registrar)	£43,000-63,000	N/A	N/A
Doctor (Consultant)	£93,000-126,000	N/A	£126,000+
GP	£70,000-100,000	£100,000+	£100,000-150,000+
Dentist	£40,000-55,000	£60,000-90,000	£100,000-200,000+
Pharmacist	£35,000-42,000	£45,000-55,000	£55,000-80,000
Nurse (Band 5)	£28,500-34,500	N/A	N/A
Nurse (Band 6-7)	£35,000-48,000	N/A	N/A
Physiotherapist	£28,500-42,000	£42,000-52,000	£52,000-68,000
Paramedic	£28,500-42,000	£42,000-52,000	£52,000+

NHS roles follow Agenda for Change pay bands

Legal

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Partner/Senior
Solicitor (Trainee)	£25,000-50,000	N/A	N/A
Solicitor (NQ)	£40,000-100,000+	N/A	N/A
Solicitor (3-5 PQE)	£55,000-150,000	N/A	N/A
Solicitor (Partner)	N/A	N/A	£150,000-1,000,000+
Barrister	Varies widely	£50,000-150,000	£150,000-500,000+
Legal Secretary	£22,000-28,000	£28,000-38,000	£38,000-50,000
Paralegal	£22,000-28,000	£30,000-40,000	£40,000-55,000

City law firms pay significantly more than regional/high street firms

Engineering

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior/Principal
Mechanical Engineer	£26,000-32,000	£40,000-55,000	£60,000-90,000
Electrical Engineer	£26,000-32,000	£42,000-58,000	£65,000-95,000
Civil Engineer	£25,000-30,000	£38,000-52,000	£55,000-85,000
Chemical Engineer	£28,000-35,000	£45,000-65,000	£70,000-100,000
Structural Engineer	£25,000-32,000	£40,000-55,000	£60,000-90,000
Project Engineer	£28,000-35,000	£45,000-60,000	£65,000-90,000

Marketing & Creative

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Head/Director
Marketing Executive	£22,000-28,000	£35,000-50,000	£60,000-100,000
Digital Marketing	£24,000-30,000	£38,000-55,000	£65,000-100,000
Content Writer	£22,000-28,000	£32,000-45,000	£50,000-70,000
SEO Specialist	£24,000-32,000	£40,000-55,000	£60,000-85,000
Graphic Designer	£20,000-26,000	£32,000-45,000	£50,000-70,000
PR Manager	£25,000-32,000	£40,000-60,000	£70,000-100,000
Brand Manager	£30,000-40,000	£50,000-70,000	£80,000-120,000

Human Resources

Role	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Director
HR Administrator	£22,000-26,000	£28,000-35,000	N/A
HR Advisor	£28,000-35,000	£38,000-48,000	N/A
HR Business Partner	£45,000-55,000	£55,000-75,000	N/A
HR Manager	£40,000-55,000	£55,000-75,000	N/A
HR Director	N/A	N/A	£90,000-180,000
Recruiter	£24,000-30,000	£35,000-55,000	£60,000-100,000+

Education

Role	Starting	Mid-Career	Leadership
Teacher (MPS)	£30,000-41,000	N/A	N/A
Teacher (UPS)	£43,000-46,500	N/A	N/A
Head of Department	£47,000-55,000	N/A	N/A
Deputy Head	£55,000-80,000	N/A	N/A
Headteacher	£75,000-140,000+	N/A	N/A
University Lecturer	£42,000-55,000	£55,000-70,000	£70,000-100,000+
Teaching Assistant	£18,000-23,000	£23,000-28,000	£28,000-32,000

Teacher salaries vary by region (London weighting applies)

Trades & Construction

Role	Entry/Apprentice	Qualified	Experienced
Electrician	£18,000-22,000	£32,000-42,000	£45,000-60,000+
Plumber	£18,000-22,000	£30,000-42,000	£45,000-55,000+
Carpenter	£18,000-22,000	£28,000-38,000	£40,000-50,000+
Bricklayer	£18,000-22,000	£30,000-40,000	£42,000-55,000+
Gas Engineer	£20,000-25,000	£35,000-45,000	£48,000-60,000+
Site Manager	£35,000-45,000	£50,000-65,000	£70,000-90,000
Quantity Surveyor	£25,000-32,000	£45,000-60,000	£65,000-90,000

Self-employed tradespeople can earn significantly more

Public Sector & Emergency Services

Role	Starting	Experienced	Senior
Police Constable	£28,500	£32,000-43,000	N/A
Police Sergeant	£46,000-52,000	N/A	N/A
Police Inspector	£56,000-62,000	N/A	N/A
Firefighter	£27,000-35,000	£35,000-40,000	£45,000+
Civil Servant (EO)	£28,000-35,000	N/A	N/A
Civil Servant (HEO)	£33,000-42,000	N/A	N/A
Civil Servant (G7)	£55,000-68,000	N/A	N/A
Civil Servant (G6)	£70,000-85,000	N/A	N/A

Transport

Role	Entry	Experienced	Senior
Airline Pilot	£40,000-55,000	£80,000-130,000	£150,000-200,000
Train Driver	£45,000-55,000	£55,000-65,000	£65,000+
Bus Driver	£25,000-32,000	£32,000-40,000	N/A
HGV Driver	£28,000-38,000	£38,000-50,000	£50,000-60,000
Delivery Driver	£22,000-28,000	£28,000-35,000	N/A

Regional Salary Differences

London Premium

Role	National Average	London	Premium
Software Developer	£50,000	£65,000	+30%
Accountant	£42,000	£52,000	+24%
Marketing Manager	£45,000	£55,000	+22%
Teacher	£35,000	£40,000	+14%
Nurse	£32,000	£36,000	+13%

Regional Variations

Region	vs National Average
London	+20-30%
South East	+5-10%
East of England	+0-5%
Scotland	±0%
South West	-5%
West Midlands	-5%
East Midlands	-7%
North West	-5-7%
Yorkshire	-7-10%
Wales	-10%
North East	-10%
Northern Ireland	-10%

Salary by Experience Level

Typical Progression

Level	Years Experience	Salary Range
Graduate/Entry	0-2 years	£22,000-32,000
Junior	2-4 years	£28,000-42,000
Mid-Level	4-8 years	£40,000-60,000
Senior	8-15 years	£55,000-85,000
Lead/Principal	15+ years	£75,000-120,000
Director	15+ years	£100,000-200,000+

Varies significantly by industry and profession

Graduate Starting Salaries

By Degree Subject

Subject	Median Starting Salary
Medicine & Dentistry	£35,000+
Economics	£32,000
Engineering	£30,000
Computer Science	£30,000
Law	£28,000
Business & Finance	£27,000
Architecture	£26,000
Science	£25,000
Education	£25,000
Arts & Humanities	£23,000
Creative Arts	£22,000

By University Type

University Type	Starting Salary Premium
Oxbridge	+15-25%
Russell Group	+10-15%
Top 20	+5-10%
Other universities	Baseline

How to Use This Data

Salary Negotiation

Step	Action
1	Find your role in tables above
2	Adjust for region and experience
3	Check income percentile
4	Use data in negotiations

Are You Underpaid?

Sign	What It Suggests
Below range for your experience	Potentially underpaid
No raise in 2+ years	Fallen behind inflation
New hires paid more	Market has moved
Below 50th percentile for role	Room to negotiate

Taking Action

Situation	Next Step
Significantly underpaid	Negotiate a raise
At market rate	Consider promotion path
Above market rate	Enjoy and build skills
Unsure	Research more specific data

Salary Data Sources

Source	What It Covers
ONS ASHE	Official national statistics
Glassdoor	Crowdsourced by company
Indeed	Job posting data
LinkedIn	Profile and job data
Reed/Totaljobs	Recruitment data
Professional bodies	Industry-specific

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