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Salary data
Average UK Salaries by Industry in 2026
A practical 2026 reference on average UK salaries across major industries — tech, finance, healthcare, engineering, law, consulting, retail, and more — with sector notes, salary ranges, and how to benchmark your role.
Look up the ONS ASHE percentile data for your role family at the national or regional level.
Cross-check with industry-specific recruiter reports (Hays, Robert Half, Harnham, Tenth Revolution) and levels.fyi where relevant.
Adjust for London weighting or regional discount based on the role's location.
Compare base salary, bonus, equity, and benefits when evaluating offers — not just headline base.
Use live job listings on Sponsio and major aggregators to verify current market ranges.
Confirm any sponsor-related costs the employer will cover before accepting an offer.
Quick answer
The UK median full-time annual gross salary was £37,430 in April 2024 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings), and the 2025-26 figure is likely 4-6% higher with wage growth. Industry averages vary widely. Finance and tech average £55,000–£80,000+; engineering, professional services, and pharma average £45,000–£70,000; healthcare averages £35,000–£55,000 depending on profession; retail, hospitality, and care work average £22,000–£32,000. London pays a 15–30% premium for most roles. Specialist senior roles in quant trading, AI/ML, oil and gas, and specialist medicine can pay substantially more.
How to read these averages
Industry averages hide enormous variation. Within any single industry, junior and entry-level roles pay close to UK median, while senior specialist and managerial roles can pay 5–10x median. Averages also differ by data source — the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the most authoritative national source, while Glassdoor, levels.fyi, Hays, and Robert Half publish industry-specific guides that often track specific role families more closely. The ranges in this guide are approximate 2026 figures drawn from ASHE, Hays UK Salary Guide, Robert Half UK Salary Guide, levels.fyi (for tech), and major recruiter reports. None of this is financial or career advice. Use these ranges as benchmarks, not absolutes, and verify with specific employers and live job listings before making decisions.
Information and communication (tech, telecoms, media)
The information and communication sector is one of the highest-paying broad UK industries. Average full-time pay across the sector in 2026 is approximately £55,000–£70,000, with London concentrated at the top of the range. Software engineering averages £60,000–£90,000 across the sector, with London-based mid-level engineers typically earning £70,000–£100,000. Data engineering and machine learning roles average £65,000–£95,000. Product management averages £70,000–£110,000 for mid-level, £100,000–£160,000 for senior. UX and product design averages £55,000–£85,000 for mid-level. Cybersecurity specialists average £60,000–£100,000 mid-level. Sales engineering and solutions consulting average £80,000–£140,000 OTE (on-target earnings). Telecoms engineering averages £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Media production roles (BBC, ITV, Sky technology) average £45,000–£80,000 mid-level. Top firms (Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Bloomberg, and quant trading firms) pay substantially above these averages.
Financial and insurance services
Financial services is the highest-paying UK industry on average, with substantial variation by sub-sector. Investment banking front office averages £65,000–£150,000 base for analysts and associates, with substantial bonus. Trading and quant research at top firms average £100,000–£300,000+ base with very large bonuses. Asset management averages £55,000–£100,000 for analysts, £100,000–£250,000 for portfolio managers, with bonus. Hedge fund roles average even higher at senior levels but with high variance. Risk and compliance average £50,000–£90,000 mid-level. Audit and accountancy at Big Four firms average £35,000–£60,000 for newly qualified ACA, £80,000–£150,000 for managers and senior managers. Retail banking averages £35,000–£60,000 across most roles. Insurance underwriting averages £45,000–£80,000 mid-level, with London Market specialists significantly higher. Actuarial averages £45,000–£90,000 for qualified actuaries. Fintech engineering averages £70,000–£110,000 mid-level in London. Wealth management averages £50,000–£100,000 mid-level. None of these are guaranteed; bonuses vary widely with performance.
Human health and social work activities
Health and social work is a large UK employment sector with broad salary variation by profession and seniority. NHS Agenda for Change pay scales apply to most NHS roles. The 2025-26 scales (England) are: Band 5 (newly qualified nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists) £31,049–£37,796. Band 6 (specialist nurses, senior allied health) £38,682–£46,580. Band 7 (advanced practitioners, ward managers) £47,810–£54,710. Band 8a (matron-level, senior managers) £55,690–£62,682, with higher Band 8 sub-bands progressing further. NHS junior doctors (foundation year 1) start at approximately £36,000–£42,000 with night and weekend supplements. NHS consultants typically earn £93,000–£127,000 plus on-call and clinical excellence awards. Allied health professionals (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography, speech and language therapy) typically follow Band 5–Band 7 scales. Private healthcare typically pays 10–30% above NHS for clinical roles, with consultants able to combine NHS and private practice. Pharma R&D scientists average £45,000–£80,000 mid-level. Clinical research associates average £40,000–£70,000. Medical writers and regulatory affairs specialists average £45,000–£80,000 mid-level. Social workers in local authorities earn £30,000–£50,000 depending on grade and location. Care assistants and care workers earn close to the National Living Wage (approximately £24,000–£28,000 full-time).
Professional, scientific, and technical activities
Professional, scientific, and technical services covers law, accountancy, consultancy, architecture, engineering consultancy, and scientific R&D. Law firm trainees and newly qualified solicitors at top US-headquartered firms in London earn £130,000–£175,000 NQ (newly qualified). Magic Circle (Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, Slaughter and May) pays similar to slightly less. Silver Circle and mid-tier UK firms pay £75,000–£120,000 NQ. Regional and high-street firms pay £40,000–£70,000 NQ. Senior associates and partners earn substantially more. Barristers vary enormously; commercial chancery practice can earn £200,000+ in early years rising to £500,000+ for senior juniors. Management consultancy at MBB (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) averages £75,000–£110,000 for associates, £150,000–£280,000+ for managers and engagement managers. Big Four consulting averages £45,000–£75,000 for consultants, £85,000–£150,000 for managers. Engineering consultancy averages £45,000–£70,000 mid-level. Architecture averages £35,000–£55,000 mid-level. Scientific R&D averages £40,000–£70,000 mid-level.
Engineering and manufacturing
Manufacturing and engineering averages have been growing steadily through 2024-2026 due to demand in defence, nuclear, offshore wind, and EV battery manufacturing. Mechanical and electrical engineering averages £45,000–£70,000 mid-level. Civil engineering at major consultancies (Arup, Mott MacDonald, AECOM) averages £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Chartered engineers (CEng) typically earn £55,000–£90,000 mid-career. Aerospace engineering at Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Airbus averages £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Automotive engineering at JLR, Aston Martin, Bentley averages similar. Motorsport engineering (F1 teams) pays significantly above these averages, with specialist senior engineers earning £100,000–£250,000+. Oil and gas engineers (Shell UK, BP, Equinor) average £55,000–£95,000 mid-level, with offshore allowances and rotational positions paying more. Nuclear engineering at EDF Energy, Rolls-Royce Submarines, and Sellafield averages £50,000–£85,000 mid-level. Offshore wind engineers average £55,000–£90,000 mid-level. Industrial chemists and process engineers in pharma manufacturing average £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Project managers in major infrastructure (HS2, nuclear new-build) earn £55,000–£100,000+ depending on grade.
Construction and real estate
Construction and real estate averages reflect a wide spread of roles from trades to senior management. Quantity surveyors average £45,000–£70,000 mid-level. Site managers and construction managers average £55,000–£90,000 mid-level. Project managers in major contractors (Balfour Beatty, Costain, Skanska, Mace) average £55,000–£100,000 mid-level. Building services engineers average £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Structural engineers at major consultancies average £45,000–£80,000 mid-level. Real estate professionals (CBRE, JLL, Knight Frank, Savills, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, Avison Young) average £40,000–£70,000 mid-level for analysts and surveyors, significantly more for transaction professionals and partners. Property development averages £45,000–£90,000 mid-level. Facilities management averages £35,000–£60,000 mid-level. Construction trades vary widely; chartered builders, surveyors, and architects typically earn significantly more than tradespeople. Construction is a sector with substantial regional variation in pay.
Public administration, education, and defence
Public sector pay in the UK follows specific scales (Civil Service pay bands, Local Government pay scales, NHS Agenda for Change, Police pay scales, Armed Forces pay scales). These scales generally pay less than private sector for equivalent roles but offer strong pensions, job security, and structured progression. Civil Service Senior Civil Service (SCS) salaries start at approximately £75,000 and rise to £150,000+ for the most senior grades. Grade 6 and 7 (senior policy and analyst roles) typically pay £55,000–£90,000. Higher Executive Officer (HEO) and Senior Executive Officer (SEO) typically pay £30,000–£50,000. Executive Officer (EO) pays £25,000–£35,000. University academics typically follow USS pay scales. Lecturers earn £40,000–£55,000 starting; senior lecturers and readers earn £55,000–£75,000; professors earn £75,000–£150,000+. Schoolteachers in England earn £30,000–£48,000 on main pay range, with leadership posts paying significantly more. Police officer pay starts at approximately £29,000 (with London weighting), rising substantially with rank. Armed Forces pay follows the AFPRB scale, with officers earning £30,000–£90,000 depending on rank.
Retail, hospitality, and wholesale
Retail, hospitality, and wholesale are large UK employers but tend to pay below the national average. Retail assistants typically earn close to the National Living Wage (£24,000–£28,000 full-time in 2026). Store managers earn £30,000–£60,000 depending on store size and brand. Buyers at major retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, John Lewis, M&S, ASDA, Boots) earn £40,000–£80,000 mid-level. Head office roles in technology, supply chain, and finance at major retailers average £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Hospitality varies widely by sector. Chefs in fine dining can earn £30,000–£60,000+ at senior levels. Hotel managers earn £40,000–£90,000 depending on property. Hotel general managers at luxury London hotels (The Savoy, The Connaught, Claridge's, The Berkeley, The Dorchester, The Langham) earn substantially more. Restaurant managers earn £30,000–£55,000. Front of house and bar staff typically earn close to minimum wage plus tips. Wholesale and distribution averages similar to retail.
Energy, water, and utilities
Utilities and energy pay above the UK average, driven by skill shortages in nuclear, offshore wind, and grid engineering. Electricity transmission engineers at National Grid average £50,000–£85,000 mid-level. Distribution network engineers at UKPN, SPEN, Northern Powergrid average similar. Generation engineers at SSE, EDF, and Drax average £45,000–£80,000 mid-level. Renewable energy project managers (offshore wind, solar) average £55,000–£100,000 mid-level. Energy traders at major utilities and trading firms earn £80,000–£200,000+ at senior levels with bonus. Water utility engineers (Thames Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water) average £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Specialist roles in water treatment, sewerage, and asset management can pay above these averages. Gas distribution engineers at Cadent and National Gas Transmission average £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Many utilities have ongoing recruitment for international engineers and most hold sponsor licences.
Transport and logistics
Transport and logistics is a varied sector with pay ranging from drivers to senior managers. HGV drivers earn £30,000–£45,000, with shortage premiums pushing top earners above £50,000. Logistics managers earn £40,000–£70,000 mid-level. Supply chain specialists earn £40,000–£75,000 mid-level. Procurement specialists earn £40,000–£80,000 mid-level. Demand planners earn £35,000–£65,000 mid-level. Aerospace and rail engineers and project managers earn £45,000–£100,000 mid-level. Aviation: pilots at major UK airlines (British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair UK) earn £55,000–£200,000+ depending on aircraft and seniority. Cabin crew typically earn £20,000–£35,000 plus allowances. Aircraft maintenance engineers earn £45,000–£75,000 mid-level. Rail engineers at Network Rail, Hitachi Rail, Alstom UK, Siemens Mobility average £45,000–£80,000 mid-level. Maritime engineers and naval architects average £45,000–£90,000 mid-level.
How tax, pensions, and London weighting change take-home pay
UK take-home pay differs significantly from headline salary due to income tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions. Income tax bands in 2026 (England and Wales): personal allowance £12,570 (tapered above £100,000); basic rate 20% to £50,270; higher rate 40% from £50,271 to £125,140; additional rate 45% above £125,140. Scottish income tax has different bands. National Insurance is currently approximately 8% on income between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above. Employees who earn between £100,000 and £125,140 face a marginal rate of around 60% due to the personal allowance taper. Most UK employers operate auto-enrolment workplace pensions with minimum employer contributions of 3% (most contribute 4–10% depending on employer). Salary sacrifice arrangements can be used to reduce taxable income. London weighting is an explicit additional allowance at some employers (especially public sector); most private sector roles fold London premium into base salary. None of this is tax advice; consult a qualified accountant for personal situations.
Creative industries, advertising, media, and design salaries
Creative industries are a substantial UK employment sector with a wide salary spread driven by agency size, client base, and seniority. Advertising agency salaries: mid-level account managers at major UK agencies (WPP, Publicis UK, Omnicom UK, IPG UK, Havas UK, M&C Saatchi) typically earn £40,000–£65,000. Senior account directors earn £65,000–£110,000. Creative directors earn £80,000–£200,000+ at the top of the market. Strategy and planning roles earn £50,000–£120,000 mid-level. Media buying and planning at GroupM (Mindshare, Wavemaker, MediaCom, EssenceMediacom), Publicis Media, Dentsu UK, and Havas Media earn £40,000–£90,000 mid-level. Programmatic and digital media specialists earn £45,000–£90,000 mid-level. Design and creative roles: mid-level UX designers at UK product companies earn £55,000–£85,000. Senior UX designers earn £80,000–£130,000. Graphic designers at agencies earn £30,000–£55,000 mid-level; senior brand designers earn £55,000–£95,000. Industrial and product designers at Dyson, Apple, JLR, and major consumer brands earn £45,000–£85,000 mid-level. Film and television production: mid-level producers earn £40,000–£75,000; commissioning editors at BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Netflix UK, Disney UK earn £60,000–£140,000. Music, publishing, and gaming creative roles: music industry mid-level A&R, marketing, and product roles earn £30,000–£65,000; senior roles at major labels (Universal Music UK, Sony Music UK, Warner Music UK) earn substantially more. Book publishing editors earn £30,000–£55,000 mid-level. Gaming creative roles (lead artists, designers, producers) earn £45,000–£100,000+ mid-to-senior.
Education, academia, and emerging-sector salaries
UK education and academia follow national pay scales but vary by institution and role. University academics on USS or post-92 pay scales: lecturers earn £40,000–£55,000 starting in 2026, with London weighting adding £3,000–£5,000. Senior lecturers and readers earn £55,000–£75,000. Professors earn £75,000–£150,000+ depending on institution and discipline. STEM professors at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, and Edinburgh tend to be at the top of the range. Research fellow and postdoctoral pay typically starts at £35,000–£42,000. Research scientists at Wellcome Sanger, Francis Crick Institute, and other national institutes earn similar starting pay with progression to senior research scientist levels. Schoolteachers: main pay range £30,000–£48,000 in England (2026). Upper pay range £50,000–£55,000. Leadership posts (heads of department, assistant heads, deputy heads, headteachers) £55,000–£140,000+ depending on school size. London weighting adds significant supplements. Independent schools (private) pay above state school rates, with prestigious London independent schools paying substantially more. Emerging sectors with above-average pay growth in 2024-2026 include AI/ML engineering (covered separately), quantum computing engineering (£60,000–£140,000 mid-to-senior), fusion engineering (£55,000–£120,000), gene and cell therapy R&D (£55,000–£110,000), carbon capture and direct air capture engineering (£55,000–£100,000), and battery cell engineering for EVs (£55,000–£100,000). These specialist roles often offer combined salary growth and meaningful work in growing industries.
UK pay growth trends across industries in 2024-2026
Pay growth across UK industries has been uneven through 2024-2026. Some sectors have grown faster than inflation; others have lagged. Understanding the direction of pay in your sector helps you benchmark current offers and plan medium-term career moves. Fastest-growing sectors for pay in 2024-2026 include applied AI and ML engineering (driven by AI scale-up funding and US firm hiring), quant trading and prop trading (driven by London expansion of US and Dutch firms), nuclear engineering (driven by Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, and Small Modular Reactor programmes), defence engineering (driven by UK NATO spending commitments and the Global Combat Air Programme), offshore wind engineering (driven by the Dogger Bank, Hornsea, and East Anglia projects), and cybersecurity (driven by skill shortages and regulatory demand). Sectors growing at or slightly above inflation include large-corporate technology, asset management, insurance, consultancy, and accountancy. Tech sales and commercial roles have grown modestly; on-target earnings depend heavily on quota attainment. Sectors lagging inflation in pay growth include retail, hospitality, care work, public sector (Civil Service, NHS non-clinical, schoolteachers), social work, and some traditional manufacturing roles. The National Living Wage rose substantially in 2024 and 2025 — the lowest-paid workers received the largest percentage pay rises. Mid-career workers in lagging sectors have generally seen the smallest real-terms pay increases. For international candidates planning a UK move, the highest-leverage sectors for combining salary growth with sponsor-licensed employer access in 2026 are: applied AI, quant trading, nuclear engineering, defence, offshore wind, cybersecurity, biotech (cell and gene therapy), and senior tech in fintech and major consumer scale-ups. None of this is financial or career advice; consult a qualified careers adviser or recruiter for individual situations.
Common questions
What candidates usually need to confirm
What is the UK median salary in 2026?
The UK median full-time annual gross salary was £37,430 in April 2024 (ONS ASHE), with the 2025-26 figure likely 4-6% higher reflecting wage growth. Median varies significantly by sector and region. London median is roughly 20% higher than the UK average.
Which UK industries pay the highest average salaries?
Financial and insurance services, information and communication (tech, telecoms), and professional, scientific, and technical activities (law, consultancy, engineering) consistently rank as the highest-paying UK industries. Within each, specialist senior roles pay substantially above industry averages.
How does London pay compare with other UK cities?
London typically pays 15–30% above the UK national average for similar roles. Cambridge and Edinburgh pay closer to London for specialist roles. Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and Birmingham typically discount 15–25% versus London. Smaller cities discount more substantially.
How much do NHS nurses earn in the UK?
On the NHS Agenda for Change 2025-26 scales (England), Band 5 nurses earn £31,049–£37,796. Band 6 earn £38,682–£46,580. Band 7 earn £47,810–£54,710. Band 8a earn £55,690–£62,682, with higher Band 8 sub-bands progressing further. London weighting adds an additional supplement.
What is a typical UK consultant salary in financial services?
Big Four consulting consultants earn £45,000–£75,000 mid-level, rising to £85,000–£150,000 for managers. MBB (McKinsey, Bain, BCG) associates earn £75,000–£110,000, with managers and engagement managers at £150,000–£280,000+. Specialist boutique consultancies vary widely.
How much do UK doctors earn?
NHS junior doctors (foundation year 1) earn approximately £36,000–£42,000 in 2026, with night and weekend supplements. NHS consultants earn £93,000–£127,000 plus on-call and clinical excellence awards. Many consultants supplement NHS pay with private practice.
What is the average UK tech salary?
Information and communication averages £55,000–£70,000 across the sector. Software engineering averages £60,000–£90,000, with mid-level London engineers typically £70,000–£100,000. AI/ML engineering and quant trading pay significantly above generalist averages.
Which UK sectors are seeing the fastest pay growth in 2026?
AI/ML engineering, quant trading, defence engineering, offshore wind engineering, and nuclear engineering have seen the fastest pay growth in 2024-2026. Demand exceeds supply for specialist senior roles in these areas.
How does UK take-home pay compare with headline salary?
UK take-home pay can be 30–50% lower than gross salary due to income tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions. Employees earning £100,000–£125,140 face a marginal tax rate of about 60% due to personal allowance taper. Salary sacrifice and pension contributions can reduce taxable income. This article is not tax advice.
Where can I find official UK salary data?
The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the most authoritative national source. Hays UK, Robert Half UK, Reed, levels.fyi (tech), and Glassdoor publish industry-specific guides. Sponsio aggregates live UK job listings with salary information where employers publish ranges.