UK average salary data for 2026 — median and mean earnings by job title, age group, region and sector. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
£35,000
Full-time employees (2026)
£42,500
Average across all sectors
£48,000
37% higher than UK average
| Age Group | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Monthly Take Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22-29 years | £26,500 | £30,200 | £1,830 |
| 30-39 years | £36,800 | £43,100 | £2,310 |
| 40-49 years | £39,200 | £47,800 | £2,470 |
| 50-59 years | £37,500 | £45,300 | £2,380 |
| 60+ years | £32,000 | £38,600 | £2,100 |
*Approximate monthly take home pay after tax and National Insurance (2026 rates)
| Region | Median Salary | vs UK Average | Monthly Take Home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £48,000 | +37% | £2,870 |
| South East | £38,500 | +10% | £2,440 |
| Scotland | £36,200 | +3% | £2,300 |
| South West | £33,800 | -3% | £2,180 |
| East of England | £36,800 | +5% | £2,310 |
| North West | £32,500 | -7% | £2,120 |
| West Midlands | £31,800 | -9% | £2,080 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £30,500 | -13% | £2,010 |
| East Midlands | £31,200 | -11% | £2,050 |
| North East | £29,800 | -15% | £1,980 |
| Wales | £30,200 | -14% | £2,000 |
| Northern Ireland | £28,900 | -17% | £1,950 |
| Sector | Median Salary | vs UK Average |
|---|---|---|
| Financial & Insurance | £52,800 | +51% |
| Information & Communication | £48,500 | +39% |
| Professional Services | £44,200 | +26% |
| Public Administration | £38,700 | +11% |
| Education | £36,100 | +3% |
| Health & Social Work | £34,800 | -1% |
| Manufacturing | £33,500 | -4% |
| Construction | £32,900 | -6% |
| Wholesale & Retail | £26,800 | -23% |
| Accommodation & Food | £22,400 | -36% |
Data sourced from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2026. This is the most comprehensive official survey of UK pay and working hours.
Median: The middle value when all salaries are arranged in order.Mean: The mathematical average of all salaries.
Employees working more than 30 hours per week, or those in jobs normally requiring more than 30 hours per week.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2026. Crown copyright.
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