Average UK Salary 2025/26

What is the average UK salary in 2025/26? Mean salary £35,828, median £34,963. See breakdowns by age, gender, region, and industry with take-home pay calculations.

James Mitchell
James Mitchell · Senior Tax Advisor (CTA, ATT) · Reviewed

UK Average Salary: Key Figures 2025/26

Based on the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024 data, here are the headline salary figures for full-time employees in the United Kingdom.

Mean (Average) Salary
£35,828
£2,986/month before tax
Median Salary
£34,963
£2,914/month before tax

The median is generally considered a more accurate representation of a typical salary because it is not skewed by very high earners. It means exactly half of full-time UK workers earn more than £34,963 and half earn less.

How Does Your Salary Compare?

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Average Salary by Age Group

Salaries in the UK vary significantly by age. Earnings tend to peak between ages 40 and 49, then gradually decrease towards retirement age.

Age GroupAverage SalaryMonthly GrossTake-Home (est.)
18-21£23,000£1,917£1,704
22-29£30,000£2,500£2,119
30-39£37,000£3,083£2,536
40-49£40,000£3,333£2,698
50-59£38,000£3,167£2,590
60+£33,000£2,750£2,282

Source: ONS ASHE 2024. Take-home estimates based on 2025/26 tax and NI rates, no pension deduction.

Average Salary by Region

London has the highest average salaries in the UK, significantly above the national average. Northern Ireland and Wales have the lowest average earnings.

RegionAverage Salaryvs National Average
London£44,000+£8,172
South East£36,000+£172
East of England£34,000-£1,828
Scotland£33,000-£2,828
South West£32,000-£3,828
West Midlands£32,000-£3,828
North West£32,000-£3,828
East Midlands£31,000-£4,828
Yorkshire & Humber£31,000-£4,828
North East£30,000-£5,828
Wales£30,000-£5,828
Northern Ireland£30,000-£5,828

Source: ONS ASHE 2024. Figures are approximate median full-time earnings.

Take-Home Pay: Mean vs Median Salary

Here is what the average UK earner actually takes home after income tax and National Insurance deductions for 2025/26.

Mean (£35,828)Median (£34,963)
Gross Salary£35,828£34,963
Personal Allowance£12,570£12,570
Income Tax£4,651.60£4,478.60
National Insurance£1,860.64£1,791.44
Annual Take-Home£29,315.76£28,692.96
Monthly Take-Home£2,442.98£2,391.08

Based on 2025/26 tax year. No pension or student loan deductions included.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average UK salary in 2025/26?
The average (mean) UK salary in 2025/26 is £35,828 per year, while the median salary is £34,963. The median is generally considered a better measure as it is not skewed by very high earners. These figures are based on the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024 data for full-time employees across all industries and regions.
What is a good salary in the UK?
A good salary in the UK depends on your location and circumstances. Earning above the median of £34,963 puts you in the top half of earners. Earning over £50,270 (the higher rate tax threshold) places you in roughly the top 15% of UK earners. In London, higher salaries are needed due to the significantly higher cost of living — the average London salary is around £44,000, but rent and transport costs are also much higher.
How does the average UK salary compare by age?
UK salaries peak between ages 40-49 at around £40,000 on average. Workers aged 18-21 earn approximately £23,000, rising to £30,000 for ages 22-29, £37,000 for 30-39, and then declining slightly to £38,000 for 50-59 and £33,000 for those aged 60 and over. These are median figures from the ONS ASHE survey and reflect full-time employee earnings.

Official Sources

Data verified against official ONS and UK government sources. Last checked April 2026.