UK Salary Benchmarks & Comparisons

Average Salary in Liverpool 2026 — Earnings, Sectors and Take-Home Pay

What is the average salary in Liverpool? Median earnings, highest-paying sectors, take-home pay breakdown, and comparison with the UK national average for 2026.

Salary and income data is based on ONS and other official UK statistical sources. Figures are averages and may not reflect your individual circumstances.

The median gross salary in Liverpool is approximately £31,500 per year — 10% below the UK national median of £34,963. Here is what that means for take-home pay, cost of living, and how Liverpool compares with other UK cities.

Average Salary in Liverpool — Key Figures (2026)

Measure Liverpool UK National
Median full-time salary £31,500 £34,963
Take-home at median (annual) £26,200 £28,693
Take-home at median (monthly) £2,183 £2,391
Typical one-bed rent £800–£1,200/month
Disposable income after rent (est.) £1,383–£983/month

Disposable income is illustrative and based on median take-home minus estimated rent only. Other living costs not included.

Liverpool Context

Liverpool has seen significant economic growth and regeneration over the past two decades. While median wages remain below the national average, the city has a growing financial services sector concentrated in the city centre, and the life sciences cluster at Liverpool Knowledge Quarter is expanding. Housing costs are substantially lower than London — a major factor in real purchasing power.

Highest Paying Sectors in Liverpool

  • Financial and professional services
  • Maritime and logistics
  • Life sciences and healthcare
  • Creative and digital
  • Retail and tourism

Major Employers in Liverpool

  • NHS Merseyside
  • Liverpool City Council
  • Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • Bruntwood SciTech

Take-Home Pay at Liverpool’s Median Salary (£31,500)

Component Annual Monthly
Gross salary £31,500 £2,625
Income tax −£3,786 −£316
National Insurance −£1,514 −£126
Take home pay £26,200 £2,183

Liverpool vs UK National Salary Comparison

Measure Liverpool UK Median
Median gross salary £31,500 £34,963
Difference vs national median £3463 below
Take-home at median £26,200 £28,693

Liverpool Cost of Living vs Salary

Salary comparison alone does not capture real purchasing power. Housing costs are the dominant variable.

Cost Liverpool London
One-bed flat (monthly rent) £800–£1,200 £1,800–£2,800
Food and groceries (monthly) £200–£300 £250–£400
Transport (monthly pass) £80–£130 £170 (Zones 1–2)

For someone earning £31,500 in Liverpool, the rent-to-income ratio on a one-bedroom flat is approximately 37–55% of take-home pay — a significant share of take-home income.

Salary Growth Opportunities in Liverpool

Liverpool offers career progression particularly in:

  • Financial and professional services: growing sector with demand for senior professional and management roles
  • Maritime and logistics: growing sector with demand for senior professional and management roles
  • Life sciences and healthcare: growing sector with demand for senior professional and management roles

Sources

  1. ONS — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025
  2. HMRC — Income Tax rates and allowances