Understanding UK salaries — what different professions earn, where your income sits compared to the national average, and what employment rights protect your pay — is fundamental to making good financial decisions. Whether you’re negotiating a pay rise, considering a career change, calculating your true take-home pay, or checking your employment rights, this guide brings together everything you need.
The UK salary landscape is shaped by huge regional variation, sector differences, and the ongoing impact of inflation on real earnings. London salaries are significantly higher than the rest of the UK, but so are living costs. Some professions have seen wage growth well above inflation, while others have stagnated. Understanding where you sit helps you plan your finances, negotiate effectively, and make informed career decisions.
This hub page links to every salary, employment, and income guide on PocketWise — covering profession-specific salary breakdowns, salary benchmarking by amount, regional comparisons, employment rights, and financial guidance for specific life stages.
Profession Salary Guides
Detailed breakdowns of what specific professions earn in the UK, including entry-level, experienced, and senior salary ranges.
Healthcare & Medical
- How Much Do Doctors Earn UK? — NHS doctor salaries from foundation year through to consultant, including GP earnings.
- How Much Do Nurses Earn UK? — Nursing salaries across NHS bands, specialisms, and regions.
- How Much Do Dentists Earn UK? — NHS and private dentist earnings, including practice owner income.
- How Much Do Midwives Earn UK? — Midwifery salaries by band, experience, and setting.
- How Much Do Pharmacists Earn UK? — Community, hospital, and industry pharmacist pay.
- How Much Do Paramedics Earn UK? — Paramedic salaries including NHS band rates and specialisms.
- How Much Do Physiotherapists Earn UK? — NHS and private physiotherapy salaries.
- How Much Do Optometrists Earn UK? — High-street and hospital optometrist earnings.
- How Much Do Radiographers Earn UK? — Diagnostic and therapeutic radiographer salaries.
- How Much Do Psychologists Earn UK? — Clinical, forensic, and educational psychologist earnings.
- Healthcare Assistant Salary UK — HCA pay across NHS settings and bands.
- Mental Health Nurse Salary UK — Specialist mental health nursing pay and career progression.
- How Much Do Vets Earn UK? — Veterinary surgeon salaries across small animal, equine, and farm practices.
Technology & Engineering
- How Much Do Software Developers Earn UK? — Developer salaries across frontend, backend, full-stack, and specialist roles.
- Data Analyst Salary UK — Entry-level through senior data analyst pay and progression.
- How Much Do Data Scientists Earn UK? — Data science salaries across industries and experience levels.
- Cybersecurity Salary UK — Security analyst, engineer, and architect pay.
- DevOps Engineer Salary UK — DevOps and platform engineering salaries.
- IT Manager Salary UK — IT management salaries across company sizes and sectors.
- UX Designer Salary UK — UX/UI design salaries in agencies, tech companies, and in-house teams.
- Product Manager Salary UK — Product management pay from APM through to CPO.
- Project Manager Salary UK — Project management salaries across industries and certification levels.
- How Much Do Engineers Earn UK? — Engineering salaries across mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical disciplines.
- How Much Do Architects Earn UK? — Architecture salaries from Part 1 through to partner level.
Trades & Skilled Work
- How Much Do Electricians Earn UK? — Employed and self-employed electrician earnings.
- How Much Do Plumbers Earn UK? — Plumber salaries across residential and commercial work.
- How Much Do Builders Earn UK? — Builder earnings from labourer to site manager.
- How Much Do Carpenters Earn UK? — Carpenter and joiner day rates and annual earnings.
- Gas Engineer Salary UK — Gas Safe registered engineer pay across domestic and commercial work.
- HVAC Engineer Salary UK — Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning engineer earnings.
- Welder Salary UK — Welder pay across fabrication, offshore, and specialist roles.
- Mechanic Salary UK — Motor mechanic salaries across dealerships, independents, and specialist garages.
Emergency Services & Public Sector
- How Much Do Police Officers Earn UK? — Police constable through to chief superintendent salaries.
- How Much Do Firefighters Earn UK? — Firefighter pay by role and rank.
- How Much Do Soldiers Earn UK? — Military pay scales across ranks and services.
- How Much Do Teachers Earn UK? — Teacher pay scales across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- Teaching Assistant Salary UK — TA pay across levels and local authorities.
- Lecturer Salary UK — University lecturer salaries from lecturer through to professor.
- How Much Do Civil Servants Earn UK? — Civil service pay by grade from EO to SCS.
- How Much Do Social Workers Earn UK? — Social worker salaries across adult and children’s services.
Professional & Business
- How Much Do Solicitors Earn UK? — Solicitor salaries from trainee to partner across firm types.
- How Much Do Barristers Earn UK? — Barrister earnings from pupillage through to silk.
- How Much Do Accountants Earn UK? — Accountant salaries across practice, industry, and qualification levels.
- How Much Do HR Managers Earn UK? — HR management pay across seniority levels and sectors.
- How Much Do Marketing Managers Earn UK? — Marketing management salaries in digital, brand, and traditional roles.
- How Much Do Estate Agents Earn UK? — Estate agent earnings including basic salary plus commission structures.
- How Much Do Journalists Earn UK? — Journalism pay across print, broadcast, and digital media.
- How Much Do Graphic Designers Earn UK? — Graphic and visual designer salaries across agencies and in-house teams.
Transport, Logistics & Retail
- How Much Do Train Drivers Earn UK? — Train driver salaries by operator, including overtime and benefits.
- How Much Do HGV Drivers Earn UK? — HGV and LGV driver earnings across class types and specialisms.
- How Much Do Delivery Drivers Earn UK? — Delivery driver pay across employed and gig economy roles.
- How Much Do Uber Drivers Earn UK? — Realistic Uber driver earnings after expenses and tax.
- How Much Do Amazon Workers Earn UK? — Amazon warehouse, delivery, and corporate pay.
- How Much Do Chefs Earn UK? — Chef salaries from commis through to executive chef.
- How Much Do Pilots Earn UK? — Commercial airline pilot pay from first officer to captain.
- How Much Do Retail Managers Earn UK? — Retail management pay across high street, supermarkets, and luxury.
- Care Worker Salary UK — Care worker earnings across domiciliary and residential settings.
Is My Salary Good? Benchmarking Guides
Find out where your income sits relative to the UK average and whether your earnings are competitive for your age and region.
- Is £25K a Good Salary UK? — Where £25,000 sits nationally and whether it’s enough for your circumstances.
- Is £25K a Good Salary for a Graduate? — Graduate salary expectations and whether £25K is competitive for entry-level roles.
- Is £30K a Good Salary UK? — Benchmarking £30,000 against national averages and living costs.
- Is £30K Good for My Age? — How £30,000 compares to median earnings at different ages.
- Is £40K a Good Salary UK? — Where £40,000 sits in the income distribution and what lifestyle it supports.
- Is £40K a Good Salary in London? — Whether £40,000 is enough to live comfortably in London.
- Is £50K a Good Salary UK? — How £50,000 compares nationally and what tax bracket it falls into.
- Is £50K a Good Salary for a Family? — Whether £50,000 supports a family comfortably in different parts of the UK.
- Is £60K a Good Salary UK? — Where £60,000 puts you in the income percentiles and key tax considerations.
- Is £80K a Good Salary UK? — £80,000 in context — tax, percentile position, and lifestyle.
- Is £100K a Good Salary UK? — The £100K tax trap, loss of personal allowance, and what you actually take home.
- Is £15/Hour Good Pay? — How £15 per hour translates to an annual salary and where it sits nationally.
- Is £20/Hour Good Pay? — Annual salary equivalent and comparison to national averages.
- Is £1,000 a Week a Good Salary? — What £1,000 per week means annually and how it compares.
- Is £2,000/Month Take-Home Enough? — Whether £2,000 net monthly income covers living costs in different regions.
- Is £3,000/Month Take-Home Good? — Benchmarking £3,000 monthly take-home pay against average households.
Average Salary by City & Region
Regional salary comparisons to help you understand local job markets and cost of living differences.
- Average Salary London 2026 — Median and mean salaries in London across sectors.
- Average Salary Manchester 2026 — Earnings data for Greater Manchester and the North West.
- Average Salary Edinburgh 2026 — Edinburgh salaries across key Scottish industries.
- Average Salary Birmingham 2026 — West Midlands salary data and major employer sectors.
- Average Salary Cardiff 2026 — Cardiff and South Wales earnings comparisons.
- Average Salary Belfast 2026 — Northern Ireland salary data and cross-border considerations.
- Best Paying Cities UK 2026 — Ranked comparison of UK cities by average salary and salary-to-living-cost ratio.
- Salary London vs North Comparison — A detailed comparison of London versus northern English city salaries when adjusted for living costs.
- Salary Needed to Live in London 2026 — The realistic income needed to rent, commute, and live in London.
- Cheapest Places to Live on a Good Salary UK — UK locations where your salary goes furthest relative to living costs.
Income Percentile & Distribution
Where does your income sit compared to the rest of the UK population?
- Average Household Income UK 2026 — Median household income data, including equivalised income by household type.
- Median Salary UK by Age 2026 — How median earnings change across age groups from 20s to 60s.
- Income Distribution UK Explained — How UK incomes are distributed and what the wealth gap looks like.
- Top 1% Income UK 2026 — The income threshold for the top 1% and how it’s changed over time.
- Top 5% Income UK — Where the top 5% boundary sits and the professions most represented.
- Top 10% Income UK — The £60K+ threshold and what it means for tax and benefits.
- Am I Middle Class? Salary UK — Income thresholds for lower, middle, and upper-middle class in the UK.
- Wealth vs Income Percentile UK — Why your income percentile and wealth percentile can be very different.
Minimum Wage & Low Pay
Current National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates and what they mean for workers.
- Minimum Wage Guide — A complete guide to National Minimum Wage and Living Wage, including who qualifies and enforcement.
- Minimum Wage Rates 2026/27 — All current NMW and NLW rates by age group for the 2026/27 financial year.
- National Minimum Wage April 2026 — The April 2026 rate changes and what they mean for workers and employers.
- Minimum Wage Quick Reference — A quick-reference card with all current hourly rates by age band.
Employment Rights
Know your rights at work — from holiday entitlement and sick pay to redundancy and tribunals.
- Holiday Entitlement UK Guide — Statutory holiday allowance, bank holidays, and how to calculate pro-rata entitlement for part-time workers.
- Sick Leave Rights UK — Your rights to sick leave and Statutory Sick Pay, including how long you can be off sick.
- Flexible Working Rights UK — How to make a flexible working request and your employer’s obligations under the 2024 changes.
- Notice Period Guide UK — Statutory and contractual notice periods, garden leave, and payment in lieu of notice.
- Zero-Hours Contract Rights UK — Your rights on a zero-hours contract, including exclusivity clauses and holiday pay.
- Agency Worker Rights UK — The 12-week qualifying period and the rights agency workers gain, including pay parity.
- Gig Economy Worker Rights UK — Employment status, minimum wage, and holiday entitlements for gig workers.
- TUPE Transfer Rights Guide — Your rights when your employer is taken over or your work is outsourced.
- What Happens If Employer Goes Bust? — Your rights to unpaid wages, redundancy pay, and notice pay through the National Insurance Fund.
- Whistleblowing Rights UK — How whistleblowing protection works and how to raise concerns safely.
- Salaried vs Hourly Pay UK — The practical differences between salaried and hourly employment.
- Apprenticeship Pay Rights Guide — Minimum pay rates and employment rights specific to apprentices.
Redundancy
If you’re facing redundancy, these guides cover your rights and financial options.
- Redundancy Rights Guide — A comprehensive guide to your statutory redundancy rights, consultation processes, and selection criteria.
- Redundancy Rights & Money — What payments you’re entitled to and the tax treatment of redundancy pay.
- Redundancy Pay Calculator Guide — How to calculate your statutory redundancy payment based on age, service, and weekly pay.
- Made Redundant — What to Do — A practical step-by-step guide to managing your finances and next steps after redundancy.
Workplace Disputes & Legal
When things go wrong at work, understanding your legal options is essential.
- Constructive Dismissal Guide UK — What constitutes constructive dismissal and how to build a case.
- Disciplinary Procedure Guide UK — Your rights during a workplace disciplinary process.
- Grievance Procedure Guide UK — How to raise a formal grievance and what to expect from the process.
- Employment Tribunal Guide UK — How employment tribunals work, costs, time limits, and what to expect.
- Settlement Agreement Guide UK — What settlement agreements are, how they work, and whether you should sign one.
- Garden Leave Explained UK — What garden leave means for your rights, pay, and ability to work elsewhere.
Maternity, Paternity & Family
Financial support and rights related to having children while employed.
- Maternity Pay Calculator — Calculate your Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance based on your earnings.
- Shared Parental Leave & Pay Guide — How to share maternity leave and pay between parents.
- Adoption Leave & Pay Guide — Entitlements for adoptive parents, including matching and placement rules.
- Returning to Work After Maternity — Your rights when returning to work and how to request flexible working.
- What Happens If Made Redundant on Maternity? — Special protections for employees on maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave.
Payslip, Tax & Pay
Understanding how your pay is calculated and what the deductions on your payslip mean.
- How to Read Your Payslip — A line-by-line guide to understanding every element of your payslip.
- How to Read a Payslip — A beginner-friendly explanation of payslip codes, deductions, and what they mean.
- Gross vs Net Income Explained — The difference between gross and net pay and how deductions work.
- P60 and P45 Explained — What P60s and P45s are, when you get them, and how they’re used.
- Employer Pension Contributions Explained — How automatic enrolment works, minimum contribution rates, and salary sacrifice.
- Hourly to Salary Calculator — Convert hourly pay to an annual salary equivalent and vice versa.
- Overtime Calculator UK — How to calculate overtime pay including time-and-a-half and double time.
Statutory Sick Pay
- Statutory Sick Pay Guide — SSP eligibility, rates, how long it lasts, and what to do when SSP runs out.
- SSP Calculator Guide — Calculate your Statutory Sick Pay entitlement based on your qualifying days and earnings.
Employee Benefits & Workplace Perks
Tax-efficient benefits and discounts available through your employer.
- Cycle to Work Scheme Explained — How the salary sacrifice cycle scheme works and how much you’ll save.
- EV Salary Sacrifice UK — Electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes, BIK rates, and how much you can save compared to personal leasing.
- NHS Staff Discounts & Benefits UK — Discounts, pension benefits, and perks available to NHS employees.
- Teacher Discounts & Benefits UK — Financial perks, discounts, and pension information for teachers.
- Military Money Guide UK — Financial planning, allowances, and benefits specific to armed forces personnel.
Student & Young Person Money
Financial guidance for students, graduates, and young workers.
- Student Budgeting Guide — How to make your maintenance loan last, budgeting tips, and where to find extra funding.
- Student Discounts Guide — A comprehensive list of student discounts available in the UK.
- Student Loan Repayment Explained — How Plan 1, 2, 4, and 5 repayments work, thresholds, and when loans are written off.
- University Living Costs Guide — Realistic living costs by city, including rent, food, and social expenses.
- What Happens If You Don’t Pay Student Loan? — The consequences of non-repayment and when it becomes a real issue.
- Graduate Money Guide — Financial priorities for new graduates: budgeting, pensions, emergency funds, and debt.
- First Job Money Tips — Setting up good financial habits from your first payday.
- Gap Year Finances Guide — How to budget, save, and manage money during a gap year.
- Back to School Costs Guide — The real cost of back-to-school shopping and how to reduce it.
Other Income & Lifestyle
- Childcare Costs Guide — Average childcare costs across the UK and financial support available.
- Side Hustles UK Guide — Realistic side income ideas for UK earners, including tax implications.