What Is a Good Salary in the UK? Public Statistics vs Advertised Pay

What Is a Good Salary in the UK? Understanding the Numbers

When you ask what is a good salary in the uk, the answer depends on who you are, where you live, and what you need. Official statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provide a solid starting point, but advertised salaries and personal expectations can differ. This article unpacks the latest ONS data, explains the difference between median and mean pay, and gives you a realistic view of take-home earnings.

What the Official Statistics Measure

The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the most authoritative source for UK salary data. It collects employer-reported pay information from a 1% sample of employees, based on HMRC PAYE records. For April 2025, the key figures are:

• Median weekly earnings for full-time employees: £766.60 (up 5.3% on the year)
• Median gross annual earnings for full-time employees: £39,039 (up 4.3% from £37,439)
• Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) for full-time employees: £19.67 (up 5.4%)
• Median annual earnings for all employees (full-time and part-time): £32,890
• Mean average earnings for all employees: £40,269

The ONS prefers the median because it is less distorted by a small number of very high earners. The mean is higher because it includes those top salaries.

Median vs Mean: Why It Matters for Your Pay Check

If you see an advertised average salary of £40,000, remember that this is the mean. Half of all full-time employees earn less than £39,039, and half earn more. So a salary of £40,000 is just above the median, placing you in the top 47% of full-time earners nationally. That is a solid position, but your actual spending power depends on tax and living costs.

Take-Home Pay: What You Actually Keep

Gross salary is not what lands in your bank account. Based on 2026/27 HMRC rates (standard 1257L tax code, no pension or student loan), here are typical monthly take-home amounts:

• £25,000 gross → £1,793 take-home
• £30,000 gross → £2,093 take-home
• £35,000 gross → £2,393 take-home
• £40,000 gross → £2,693 take-home
• £50,000 gross → £3,293 take-home
• £60,000 gross → £3,780 take-home

Note that Scotland uses different Income Tax bands, so Scottish residents may have slightly different take-home figures, especially at higher earnings.

Regional Variations: Where Your Salary Goes Further

ONS data shows clear regional differences. Median annual pay for all employees ranges from £29,584 in the North East to £39,778 in London. Other regions:

• North West: £31,330
• Yorkshire and The Humber: £30,682
• East Midlands: £30,690
• West Midlands: £31,345
• East of England: £34,104
• South East: £35,215
• South West: £31,432
• Wales: £30,732
• Scotland: £33,061
• Northern Ireland: £31,252

A salary of £40,000 is well above the median in most regions except London, where it is close to the average. Housing costs are the biggest factor: a £40,000 salary in the North East provides a comfortable lifestyle, while in London it may require careful budgeting.

Age and Experience: How Earnings Grow

Earnings typically rise with age until a peak in the 40s. Median annual salaries by age group (all employees):

• 18-21: £13,069
• 22-29: £29,855
• 30-39: £36,000
• 40-49: £37,734
• 50-59: £34,835
• 60+: £26,750

Younger workers often earn below the National Living Wage threshold because they are in training or part-time roles. The NLW for 21+ was £12.21 per hour in April 2025, rising to £12.71 in April 2026. At 37.5 hours per week, that equates to about £24,785 a year.

What Is a Good Salary in the UK? Putting It Together

There is no single answer to what is a good salary in the uk, but here are some benchmarks:

• £25,000–£30,000: Below the median for full-time workers; may be tight for a single person in expensive areas, but manageable with shared housing or in lower-cost regions.
• £35,000–£40,000: Around the median; comfortable for a single person outside London, with room for savings and leisure.
• £45,000–£55,000: Above the median; allows for a mortgage, car, and holidays in most of the UK.
• £60,000+: Higher-rate tax band; solid income but with increased tax and potential loss of personal allowance above £100,000.

Remember that advertised salaries on job sites often reflect the mean or a range, not the median. A role advertised at £40,000 may actually pay less to new starters or more to experienced hires. Always check the full package including pension, bonus, and benefits.

Advertised Pay vs Official Statistics

Job adverts often quote a salary range that is higher than the median for that occupation. This is because employers may target experienced candidates or include London weighting. The ONS data gives a more realistic picture of what typical employees actually earn. For example, a receptionist's full-time median is £24,678, while an NHS Band 2 healthcare assistant starts around the National Living Wage. Always cross-reference advertised roles with official pay scales or ONS occupation tables.

Conclusion

When you ask what is a good salary in the uk, the answer is personal. The national median full-time salary of £39,039 is a useful anchor. A salary of £40,000 is good by national standards, but regional costs, age, and household situation matter. Use the UK Average Salary page to compare your earnings, and explore salary articles for deeper dives into specific professions and regions. Remember that take-home pay, not gross, determines your lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good salary in the UK in 2025/26?

A good salary is subjective, but based on ONS data, the median full-time salary is £39,039. Earning £40,000 puts you above the median, in the top 47% of full-time workers. However, location matters: £40,000 goes further in the North East than in London. After tax and National Insurance, £40,000 yields about £2,693 per month (2026/27 rates).

How does median salary differ from average salary?

The median is the middle point of all salaries: half earn more, half earn less. It is less affected by extreme high or low earners. The mean (average) adds all salaries and divides by the number of jobs, which can be pulled upward by very high incomes. ONS prefers the median as a better indicator of typical pay. For all UK employees, the median is £32,890 while the mean is £40,269.

Do salaries vary significantly by region in the UK?

Yes. According to ONS ASHE 2025, median annual pay ranges from £29,584 in the North East to £39,778 in London. The South East (£35,215), East of England (£34,104), and Scotland (£33,061) are above the national median for all employees (£32,890). Northern Ireland saw the highest growth at 7.4% year-on-year. Always consider regional living costs when evaluating a salary.