What is the average UK salary?

According to the newest available data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) – which is the UK’s government department responsible for collecting statistics about the UK’s economy, society and population – the average median salary was £28,000. 

When we look exclusively at full-time workers in the UK, the average median salary jumps to £35,464. Considering that London is home to a vast majority of the high-income earners in the UK, let’s separate each country individually to see what people are earning on average. 

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Analysing Average Salaries in the UK

The overall national average is a good data point to understand the standard of living and how wealthy a nation is. However, if you are a job seeker or an employee, it’s going to be more helpful to understand what your peers are earning so that you can better understand where to place yourself in the job market. 

Below, we've outlined some of the notable sectors in the UK and listed popular jobs with their average earnings:

Information Technology (IT):

• IT Manager: £39,000 - £63,000/year
• Software Engineer: £40,000 - £77,000/year
• Data Analyst: £27,000 - £42,000/year

Finance:

• Financial Analyst: £30,000 - £44,000/year
• Accountant: £31,000 - £56,000/year
• Investment Banker: £61,000 - £122,000/year

Healthcare:

• General Practitioner: £61,000 - £118,000/year
• Registered Nurse: £29,000 - £40,000/year
• Surgeon: £45,000 - £74,000/year

Engineering:

• Mechanical Engineer: £29,000 - £44,000/year
• Civil Engineer: £29,000 - £41,000/year
• Electrical Engineer: £30,000 - £43,000/year

Marketing:

• Marketing Manager: £37,000 - £53,000/year
• Digital Marketing Specialist: £36,000 - £51,000/year
• Social Media Manager: £27,000 - £40,000/year

You can also use this helpful ONS data below. Find your occupation cluster and see what earning bracket your role sits in.  

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Factors influencing salary levels

As you can see above, the industry you work in will play a huge role in your earning potential. For example, a person working in e-commerce is going to be capped at a different range than someone working in fintech. Switching what industry you work in can increase or decrease your earning potential in a meaningful way. Let’s discuss a few other factors that contribute to your take-home pay outside of the industry. 

1. Experience

Experience significantly impacts earning potential in the UK. For instance, entry-level positions tend to start at the lower end of the salary scale, while more experienced professionals can expect higher compensation. As an example, a beginner software engineer might start at around £41,000 annually, but with five or more years of experience, the salary could rise to approximately £60,000. This gap illustrates the premium placed on accumulated expertise and industry familiarity.

2. Education and qualifications

Your educational background and qualifications can greatly affect your earning potential in many fields, particularly those that are specialised or technical. Higher qualifications generally open doors to better-paying positions and more prestigious companies. For example, candidates with master's degrees often have access to opportunities in top-tier firms, which may not be as accessible to those without such credentials. However, it’s important to note that while higher education can lead to higher pay, it doesn't guarantee it — practical experience and the field of study are also important.

3. Location

The town or city where you live in the UK will also factor into your salary. There are three primary reasons for this: The number of job opportunities, the quality of opportunities, and the cost of living in your city or town. Firstly, if a city has more job opportunities, then there’s a higher chance you can find a better-paying job. Second, large cities attract corporations and international companies that can offer employees much higher salaries. And thirdly, if it’s very expensive to live in a city, employers tend to bump up salaries so that you can maintain your standard of living. You can see these factors reflected on the map ONS map below.

4. Company size and industry demand

Company size and industry demand significantly influence salary levels. Larger, well-established companies typically offer higher salaries than startups due to their financial stability and capacity to attract top talent. In the UK, IT and financial services industries show a high demand for skilled professionals, leading to competitive salaries. Fields such as cybersecurity, cloud computing, fintech, and investment banking are particularly lucrative due to talent shortages. Additionally, the growing green energy sector offers increasing opportunities and attractive pay as investments in sustainability rise. 

5. Market trends and economic conditions

Economic trends and specific industry movements significantly impact salary levels across different sectors. For instance, the tech industry has experienced rapid growth, leading to high demand and salaries, followed by adjustment periods, including layoffs and hiring freezes. Recently, areas like cybersecurity and data science have seen consistently strong demand, resulting in competitive salary offers.

Emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are also influencing market salaries. Substantial investment is flowing into these sectors, driven by advancements in technology and an increased focus on innovation, and companies are offering higher wages to attract and retain scarce talent. The demand for AI has led to a notable salary premium for roles requiring expertise in these technologies. Additionally, economic conditions such as the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit-related adjustments continue to affect job markets and salaries in the UK. These conditions influence hiring trends and wage structures, especially in sectors directly impacted by regulatory and economic changes.

Average salary in other European Countries

Country	Average Annual Salary (Euros)
Switzerland	€84,159
Norway	€56,810
Denmark	€49,850
Germany	€49,260
Finland	€47,688
Sweden	€43,690
Netherlands	€42,236
France	€39,800
Italy	€35,561
Austria	€31,407
United Kingdom	€30,031
Spain	€29,113
Slovenia	€27,350
Estonia	€22,850
Portugal	€22,000
Poland	€20,390
Czechia	€19,200
Hungary	€18,807
Croatia	€16,440
Greece	€15,335

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Summary

Hopefully, this overview of average salaries in the UK has helped you understand where to position yourself in the market and how you might compare to your peers. If you have a couple of years of experience and are still earning below the average for your industry or role, dusting off your resume and seeing what job opportunities are out there might be a good idea. WeAreDevelopers helps match tech professionals with great companies in Europe, so if you work in tech, check out what jobs are available.