UK salary figures vary noticeably depending on which measure you're looking at — full-time only versus all employees, median versus mean — so it's worth knowing which number you're actually comparing yourself against.
The headline figures
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data, published October 2025 for April 2025, puts median gross annual pay for full-time employees at exactly £39,039 — up 4.3% from £37,439 the year before. The median across all employees (including part-time) sits meaningfully lower, since the large number of part-time workers pulls the figure down when annualized. The mean (average) runs higher still, several thousand pounds above the median, since high earners in finance and technology pull the average upward without a corresponding number of very low earners pulling it down by the same amount.
Why median matters more than mean here
The median represents the middle earner — half the workforce earns more, half earns less — and isn't distorted by a relatively small number of very high earners the way a straight average is. When comparing your own salary to "the national figure," the median full-time figure (£39,039) is the more representative benchmark for most people.
The regional gap is substantial
London consistently sits at the top of every regional table, with a median full-time salary of £47,455 — about 21.6% above the UK-wide figure. Scotland is notable as the only nation sitting above the UK median at £39,719, ahead of England and well ahead of Wales, which sits at the bottom of the national rankings. The gap between London and the lowest-earning regions (commonly the North East) can exceed £10,000/year — though this needs to be weighed against London's significantly higher cost of living, particularly housing, which can more than offset the gross pay advantage in real terms.
The gender pay gap persists
The full-time gender pay gap sits at roughly 7-8% (median), with the gap widening to the low double digits when part-time work is included, since women are more likely to work part-time. The gap has narrowed slowly over recent years but hasn't closed.
Age and career stage
Earnings typically peak in the 40-49 age bracket before gradually declining — ONS data puts mean full-time pay for this age group at £54,591, noticeably above the £39,039 national median, reflecting career progression through the 20s-40s followed by some workers shifting to part-time or leaving the workforce closer to retirement age. Note that ASHE's age breakdowns cover full-time employees only, so the apparent decline in the 55+ brackets partly reflects workers moving to part-time arrangements ahead of retirement rather than a straightforward pay cut within full-time roles.
See what any given UK salary translates to after tax with the Take-Home Pay Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average UK salary in 2026?
The most recent official figure (ONS ASHE, April 2025) puts median full-time gross annual pay at £39,039. This is the median, not the mean — half of full-time workers earn more, half earn less.
Why do different sources quote different "average" salary figures?
Sources mix up median vs. mean, and full-time-only vs. all-employees figures — all four combinations produce meaningfully different numbers. Always check which specific measure a quoted figure is using before comparing it to your own salary.
How much higher are London salaries than the UK average?
London's median full-time salary is £47,455, about 21.6% above the UK-wide median of £39,039 — though London's higher cost of living, especially housing, offsets much of this gross pay advantage in real terms.
What is the UK gender pay gap in 2026?
The full-time median gender pay gap sits at roughly 7-8%, widening to the low double digits when part-time work is included, since women are more likely to work part-time. The gap has narrowed slowly over recent years but hasn't closed.