According to the Office for National Statistics, the median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees hit £766.60 in April 2025, a 4.1% increase from the previous year.
In a year marked by inflation pressures, rising living costs, and public sector wage debates, this number is more than just a stat, it’s a reality check for employers looking to hire competitively in today’s market.
If you’re expanding into the UK or planning your 2026 hiring budgets, understanding average salaries isn’t optional. It’s your baseline for attracting and retaining talent in a competitive (and slightly chaotic) market.
Let’s break down what the data actually says, starting with the big question.
What Is the Average Salary in the UK in 2025?
When people ask about the average salary in the UK, they usually want a quick number. But the reality is more nuanced, especially when you’re comparing mean vs. median, different sectors, and full-time vs. part-time work.
Key Figures at a Glance
- Median gross weekly earnings (full-time): £766.60
- Median gross annual salary (full-time): approx. £39,863
- Mean annual salary: skewed higher, sitting around £44,000–£46,000
- Average weekly earnings have consistently risen since 2023, though inflation offsets much of the gain
The median is generally a more accurate picture of what a full-time employee in the UK actually earns, since the mean average salary is inflated by very high earners in sectors like finance and tech.
What’s Included in These Figures?
These average earnings typically refer to gross pay before tax, excluding bonuses. They’re based on full-time roles and do not include part-time or freelance incomes, which significantly lowers the overall UK average salary when mixed in.
It’s also worth noting:
- The data is collected via the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)
- April 2025 numbers reflect revised estimates from 2024 plus wage changes through Q1 of 2025
- Public vs. private sector salaries show very different trends
Average Annual Earnings for Full-Time Employees in 2025
When it comes to average annual salaries in the UK, knowing the headline number is just the starting point. To hire competitively in today’s market, you need to understand the broader picture: how earnings in the UK vary by job type, working hours, and economic sector.
The UK Salary Guide 2025 goes beyond national averages to help you discover the average salary trends that really matter for employers and growing teams.
How Working Patterns Affect Average Salary in the UK
While the median annual salary for a full-time employee is around £39,863, the actual amount an employee earns depends on factors like:
- Hours worked per week
- Whether the role is salaried or paid hourly
- Overtime arrangements and shift differentials
According to ONS data from April 2025, average full-time weekly hours remain steady at 36.5, but roles in manual labour, healthcare, or hospitality often exceed this. In contrast, high-paying professional roles may stick to standard hours but offer higher-than-average salaries due to skill demands.
So, while the average salary in the UK may offer a benchmark, roles with longer hours or unpredictable shifts can distort the average earnings picture.
Industry Breakdown: Where the Highest Average Salaries Are
Not all UK salaries are created equal. Here’s a quick look at some sectors with the highest average salary in 2025 (based on gross annual earnings for full-time employees):
| Sector | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial & Insurance Activities | £59,100+ |
| Information & Communication (Tech) | £53,400+ |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical | £47,800+ |
| Public Administration | £39,200 |
| Retail | £28,500 |
| Hospitality & Food Services | £24,000 |
The data shows strong regional differences too, with London and the South East still commanding the highest average salaries, while Wales, the North East, and some rural areas lag behind.
Sectors With Lower-Than-Average Earnings
On the flip side, sectors like hospitality, retail, and personal services continue to report the lowest average annual salaries for full-time workers. These are also the sectors most affected by fluctuations in hours, seasonal employment, and turnover, all of which impact overall income stability.
If you’re hiring in the UK in one of these industries, offering strong benefits or flexible working arrangements can help bridge the pay gap and improve talent retention.
What This Means for Employers
When benchmarking salaries, it’s important not to rely solely on the UK average salary. Instead, look at:
- Sector-specific salary ranges
- Median vs. mean in your industry
- How your total compensation package stacks up (not just base pay)
In a competitive landscape shaped by inflation, public sector pay debates, and shifting worker expectations, offering a salary just “around average” might not be enough to attract the right talent.
Salary by Age: What to Expect Across Generations
Age may just be a number, but when it comes to average salaries in the UK, it’s a number that speaks volumes.
The UK Salary Guide 2025 reveals that income levels shift significantly depending on where someone is in their career. Whether you’re looking to hire junior talent, seasoned professionals, or late-career experts, understanding average UK salary by age helps you offer competitive pay and manage expectations realistically.
Discover the Average Salary by Age Bracket in 2025
Here’s a snapshot of median annual earnings for full-time employees in different age groups, based on data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and ONS 2025 reports:
| Age Group | Median Annual Salary (Full-Time) |
|---|---|
| 18–21 | £21,500 |
| 22–29 | £29,700 |
| 30–39 | £36,800 |
| 40–49 | £39,400 |
| 50–59 | £38,100 |
| 60+ | £32,600 |
While younger workers (18–21) tend to earn below the UK average salary, wages rise rapidly during the 30s and peak in the 40–49 range, before gradually declining toward retirement.
This pattern reflects experience, seniority, and career progression but also points to shifting priorities in different life stages.
What This Means for Employers
Younger workers often accept a lower annual salary, but care more about benefits like flexibility, training, and progression.
- Workers in their 30s and 40s are usually at their highest earning potential and may expect compensation higher than the UK average, particularly in leadership or technical roles.
- Older workers (60+) may work part-time or scale back hours, which brings their average earnings down, but they still bring deep expertise.
Offering a competitive salary means more than just matching the UK average, it’s about meeting people where they are in their life and career.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
When you’re building teams across generations, your salary strategy should be flexible:
- Younger hires might be drawn to career development and culture over cash
- Mid-career professionals may prioritize income stability and pension contributions
- Late-career employees often value reduced hours, consulting roles, or retirement transition plans
Understanding these patterns helps you create fair offers across age groups, reduce turnover, and attract a more diverse talent pool.
Regional Differences in UK Salaries
In the world of UK salaries, geography plays a much bigger role than many employers realise.
The UK Salary Guide 2025 reveals striking regional differences in average salaries, shaped by industry presence, cost of living, and local economic growth. So if you’re hiring in Manchester, Edinburgh, or Cardiff, don’t benchmark based solely on London figures.
Let’s break down what employers need to know.
Salary by Region: 2025 Median Annual Earnings
Here’s a look at median gross annual salary for full-time employees across different regions in 2025:
| Region | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| London | £46,800 |
| South East | £42,300 |
| Scotland | £38,900 |
| East of England | £38,100 |
| West Midlands | £36,700 |
| North West | £35,900 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £34,800 |
| Wales | £33,900 |
| North East | £32,700 |
| Northern Ireland | £32,100 |
As expected, London tops the list with a higher-than-average salary, but it also comes with the highest cost of living. Meanwhile, regions like the North East and Northern Ireland offer lower average annual salaries, but may provide better value for businesses and workers alike when factoring in housing and daily expenses.
Why These Differences Matter
When you’re building a distributed team across the UK or hiring remote workers, regional salary variations become a strategic consideration.
Employers should ask:
- Is your salary offer aligned with the local market, or based on a national average?
- Are you applying a location-based pay model or offering a flat rate across the UK?
- How does your offer compare against local competitors in that region?
If your company is remote-first, offering a London-level salary for roles based in lower-cost regions may not be sustainable. But if you’re only matching regional averages, you might struggle to attract high performers, especially in tech and professional services.
Industry Clusters and Local Economies
Another factor behind these regional differences is the industry mix in each area. For example:
- London and the South East lead in finance, legal, and professional services
- Scotland has strong energy, tech, and public sector employment
- Northern England and Wales are more manufacturing and public sector-heavy
- Northern Ireland has growing digital sectors but still trails on overall pay
These industry trends directly impact the average earnings in each region and should inform how you structure offers.
Pro Tip for Employers
If you’re trying to discover the average salary in the UK that makes sense for your roles, don’t just look at national figures. A strong hiring strategy in 2025 means going local with your data, especially as more UK talent expects transparency and fairness in pay.
Whether you’re offering roles on-site, hybrid, or remote, your salary offer should reflect not only UK average salaries, but regional realities.
Gender Pay Gap and Salary Trends in the UK, 2025
The UK Salary Guide 2025 wouldn’t be complete without addressing one of the most persistent issues in the workplace: the gender pay gap.
Despite progress over the last decade, the gap hasn’t closed, and in some industries, it’s widening again.
Where the Gender Pay Gap Stands in 2025
According to provisional data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) in April 2024, the median gender pay gap for full-time employees sits at 7.5%, up slightly from 7.3% in 2023. That means, on average, female full-time workers in the UK still earn significantly less than their male counterparts.
When all workers are included (full-time and part-time), the gap increases to 14.3% — largely due to the higher proportion of women in part-time roles, which tend to have lower average salaries.
Sector Trends: Some Progress, Some Setbacks
- The financial and insurance sector remains one of the worst offenders, with a gender pay gap well above the UK average salary difference.
- In public sector roles, such as healthcare and education, the gap is smaller but still present, especially in leadership positions.
- Some industries like tech and creative sectors have made strides, particularly among younger workers, but mid-career and senior-level discrepancies remain.
These trends affect everything from morale to retention, especially for companies aiming to attract top female talent.
What Employers Should Know
If you’re looking to hire in the UK, pay transparency and gender equity are no longer just “nice-to-haves.” They’re key to attracting high-quality candidates and building trust.
Here’s what businesses can do:
- Conduct internal audits comparing annual salaries across roles and genders
- Go beyond legal compliance and publish clear pay bands
- Implement inclusive policies that reduce bias in promotions and performance reviews
- Provide flexible work options to support better retention, especially for parents and carers
Remember, the gender pay gap isn’t just a number, it reflects deeper structural issues that affect hiring, retention, and employee satisfaction.
Need Help Navigating UK Salaries?
Understanding average salaries in the UK, across age, region, and gender, is essential for building competitive, fair, and future-ready teams.
At Empleyo, we help global companies like yours make smart, data-backed decisions when it comes to hiring and compensation. Whether you’re benchmarking salaries, planning to hire in the UK, or building your first team there, we’ve got you covered.
Get in touch with Empleyo today to make sure your UK hiring strategy is built on more than just guesswork, it’s built on insight.
