UK Salary Benchmarking Tool

The median annual salary for full-time employees in the UK is approximately £34,963 according to the latest ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). However, salaries vary significantly by region, industry, and job role. London salaries tend to be 15-25% higher than the national median.

Salary percentiles show where a specific salary falls within the overall distribution for a role. The median (50th percentile) means half of workers earn more and half earn less. The 10th percentile (p10) represents the lower end of the range, while the 90th percentile (p90) represents the top earners. Percentiles are more useful than averages because they are not skewed by extreme outliers.

The ONS publishes its Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) each year, typically in October/November, covering data collected in April. Our salary data is aligned with the most recent ASHE publication and supplemented with market data from job postings and recruitment surveys.

Salary variation within the same role is driven by several factors: geographic location (London vs regional), company size, industry sector, years of experience, qualifications, and whether the role is in the public or private sector. For example, a Software Developer in London might earn 30-40% more than one in a northern city.

Employers use salary benchmarking to set competitive pay rates that attract and retain talent. Compare your current salaries against the median and percentile ranges for each role. If you are paying below the 25th percentile, you may struggle to recruit. Paying around the median is considered competitive, while paying above the 75th percentile positions you as an employer of choice.

The salary figures shown are base annual salaries before tax and do not include bonuses, commission, overtime, pension contributions, or other benefits. For roles with significant variable pay (such as sales roles), total compensation can be substantially higher than the base salary shown.