London is the UK’s highest-paying city — but also the most expensive. Here’s the full picture for 2026.
For the broader comparison across professions, regions and public versus private sector pay, use our Salary by Profession hub.
Read more: See our Cost Of Living guide for a complete overview of this topic.
London Salary Overview
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mean full-time salary | ~£50,000 |
| Median full-time salary | ~£45,000 |
| UK national median | ~£35,000 |
| London premium over UK | ~25-30% |
| Median after housing costs | Smaller gap — see below |
Average Salary by Sector in London
| Sector | Average Salary | Top Quartile |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | £65,000-£80,000 | £100,000+ |
| Technology | £55,000-£70,000 | £90,000+ |
| Legal | £50,000-£70,000 | £90,000+ |
| Management Consulting | £55,000-£75,000 | £100,000+ |
| Media / Advertising | £40,000-£55,000 | £75,000+ |
| Healthcare (NHS) | £35,000-£55,000 | £70,000+ |
| Education | £35,000-£50,000 | £60,000+ |
| Public Sector / Civil Service | £35,000-£50,000 | £65,000+ |
| Hospitality | £25,000-£35,000 | £45,000+ |
| Retail | £24,000-£32,000 | £40,000+ |
| Construction | £35,000-£55,000 | £70,000+ |
London Salary by Experience
| Career Stage | Typical London Salary | UK Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate / entry | £28,000-£38,000 | £22,000-£28,000 |
| 3-5 years experience | £38,000-£55,000 | £30,000-£42,000 |
| Mid-career (5-10 years) | £50,000-£75,000 | £38,000-£55,000 |
| Senior (10-15 years) | £65,000-£100,000 | £50,000-£75,000 |
| Director / leadership | £90,000-£150,000+ | £65,000-£100,000 |
The Real London Premium — After Housing Costs
London’s headline salary advantage disappears once housing is factored in.
| Salary Level | London Take-Home | Remaining After Housing | Manchester Equivalent | Remaining After Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £35,000 | £2,279 | £879 (£1,400 rent) | £28,000 / £1,889 | £1,189 (£700 rent) |
| £45,000 | £2,834 | £1,434 | £35,000 / £2,279 | £1,579 |
| £55,000 | £3,362 | £1,962 | £42,000 / £2,661 | £1,961 |
| £70,000 | £4,220 | £2,820 | £52,000 / £3,162 | £2,462 |
At £55,000, London and Manchester disposable income converges. Below £45,000, many regional cities actually leave you with more spending power.
Salary by London Borough
Not all London boroughs pay equally — and costs vary too.
Highest Average Salary Boroughs
| Borough | Average Salary | Typical Sector |
|---|---|---|
| City of London | £65,000+ | Finance |
| Westminster | £55,000+ | Government, legal, media |
| Tower Hamlets (Canary Wharf) | £55,000+ | Banking, finance |
| Camden | £48,000+ | Tech, media, education |
| Islington | £48,000+ | Tech, professional services |
More Affordable Boroughs to Live
| Borough | Average Rent (1-bed) | Transport Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Barking and Dagenham | £950-£1,100 | Zone 4-5 |
| Croydon | £950-£1,150 | Zone 5 |
| Bexley | £900-£1,100 | Zone 5-6 |
| Havering | £900-£1,100 | Zone 6 |
| Sutton | £1,000-£1,200 | Zone 5 |
London Weighting in the Public Sector
| Employer | Inner London | Outer London | Fringe |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS | £7,500 | £5,500 | £2,000 |
| Civil Service | £3,000-£4,000 | £3,000-£4,000 | — |
| Teachers | £5,000+ (Inner) | £2,500-£3,500 | £1,000-£2,000 |
| Police (Met) | £6,735 | £6,735 | — |
| Local councils | £3,000-£5,000 | £2,000-£4,000 | — |
Should You Move to London for a Higher Salary?
When London Makes Financial Sense
- You’re offered a salary of £50,000+ (real-terms premium kicks in)
- Your sector has significantly higher London pay (finance, tech, legal)
- You can share housing costs with a partner or flatmates
- You value career progression — London has more senior roles
- You’re early career — the experience and networking can pay off long-term
When London Doesn’t Make Sense
- Your offered salary is below £40,000 (you may be worse off)
- Your sector pays similar rates nationally (especially with remote work)
- You need a car (expensive to run and park in London)
- You have children — childcare and housing costs are significantly higher
- You prefer home ownership — London property prices are 3-4x the UK average
London vs Working Remotely for a London Company
An increasingly common option — some companies (not all) pay London salaries for remote UK workers.
| Scenario | Take-Home | Housing Cost | Disposable |
|---|---|---|---|
| London salary, London living | £3,362 (£55k) | £1,400 | £1,962 |
| London salary, remote Manchester | £3,362 (£55k) | £700 | £2,662 |
| Adjusted salary, remote Manchester | £2,834 (£45k) | £700 | £2,134 |
Even an adjusted remote salary often leaves you better off than living in London.