Is £25,000 a Good Salary in the UK?

How does £25,000 compare with the UK median salary, and what does it actually give you after tax?

£25,000 is below the UK median
36% below the UK median full-time salary of £39,039 (ONS, April 2025)
Take Home Monthly
£1,793
Take Home Yearly
£21,520
vs UK median
-36%

£25,000 in Context

36% below the UK median full-time salary of £39,039 (ONS, April 2025). Many graduate starting salaries fall around this level. Comfortable in northern cities, tight in London and the South East.

On a salary of £25,000, after income tax (£2,486) and National Insurance (£994), you take home £21,520 per year or £1,793 per month. See the full tax breakdown: £25,000 salary after tax.

How £25,000 Compares

SalaryTake Home/Monthvs UK median
£20,000£1,493-49%
£22,000£1,613-44%
£27,000£1,913-31%
£28,000£1,973-28%
£30,000£2,093-23%
£32,000£2,213-18%

Can You Live Comfortably on £25,000?

With £1,793 per month after tax, this is tight in London but comfortable in most other UK cities. Budget carefully for rent and essentials.

Regional Perspective on £25,000

£25,000 is 36% below the UK median full-time salary of £39,039 (ONS, April 2025) but is a liveable salary in most of the country outside London and premium South East areas. In Scotland, Wales, the North, and the Midlands, this salary supports a reasonable standard of living for a single person. Regional cost differences matter enormously — a £25,000 salary in Sunderland goes much further than the same salary in Reading.

What Does £25,000 Buy You?

On £1,793 per month after tax, you can cover rent (£500-£800), bills, food, and have some money for socialising and saving. Running a car is affordable in areas with cheaper insurance and parking. Building savings of £100-£200 per month is achievable with careful budgeting.

Who Earns £25,000?

Common roles include qualified care workers, administrative officers, junior marketing executives, pharmacy technicians, and skilled trade apprentices nearing qualification. Many public sector entry-level roles start in this range.

See your exact take home pay with all deductions

Salary calculator →

Is £X a Good Salary?

Changing Jobs This Tax Year?

Changing jobs on a salary like this? The form your old employer hands you decides what your first new payslip looks like.

Your P45, box by box — and what to do if you have lost it →What is a P60, and how is it different from a P45? →1257L — the standard tax code, explained →Emergency tax calculator — what the wrong code costs →

Teacher Pay Scales

This is inside the qualified teacher range. If you are comparing against a teaching post, the statutory scales are here:

Teacher pay scales 2026/27 — M1 to UPS3, after tax →Teacher pay scales Wales — the separate Welsh scale →Teaching salaries UK — how teaching compares →NHS pay bands — the other big public-sector scale →