How much does the average person in the UK earn? Here are the latest figures, broken down every way you'd want to see them.
The Big Numbers
UK median salary: approximately £31,000 (this is the middle — half earn more, half earn less). UK mean salary: approximately £38,000 (higher because very high earners pull the average up). The median is a better reflection of what "normal" people earn.
By Age Group
| Age | Median Salary | Take Home/Month |
|---|---|---|
| 18-21 | £18,000 | £1,477 |
| 22-29 | £27,000 | £1,880 |
| 30-39 | £33,000 | £2,201 |
| 40-49 | £36,000 | £2,387 |
| 50-59 | £34,000 | £2,263 |
| 60+ | £30,000 | £2,097 |
See detailed breakdowns: age 25, age 30, age 40, age 50.
By Region
London dominates with an average of £44,000, followed by the South East at £35,000. The North East and Wales have the lowest averages at around £27,000-£28,000. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the gap narrows significantly. See all city salary comparisons.
Income Percentiles
| You Earn | You're In The |
|---|---|
| £20,000 | Bottom 25% |
| £31,000 | Middle (median) |
| £42,000 | Top 30% |
| £53,000 | Top 20% |
| £72,000 | Top 10% |
| £100,000 | Top 5% |
| £180,000 | Top 1% |
See detailed percentiles: full income percentile breakdown.
Gender Pay Gap
The UK gender pay gap for full-time workers is approximately 7.7% (median). For all workers including part-time, it's about 14.3%. The gap is smallest for workers under 40 and largest for workers over 50.
Putting UK Incomes in Context
The UK median salary is approximately £34,963 (2024/25 tax year), but this figure masks enormous regional variation. In London, the median is closer to £44,000, while in parts of the North East and Wales it falls below £28,000. Understanding where you sit in the distribution is important: earning £40,000 puts you roughly in the top 35% of all earners, while £50,000 places you in approximately the top 20%. See our income percentile calculator for your exact position.
Income inequality in the UK remains significant. The top 1% of earners (approximately £180,000+) receive around 13% of all income, while the bottom 50% share roughly 25%. The gap between average and median salaries (approximately £5,000) reflects the upward skew caused by very high earners. When comparing your salary, always use the median rather than the mean for a more representative picture. Full-time workers earn substantially more than part-time workers on average, so ensure you are comparing like with like. Our salary breakdown pages show exact take home figures for every income level.
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