Understanding the Average Salary in the UK

If you're asking "what is average salary in uk", the most reliable answer comes from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). For April 2025, the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees stood at £39,039. This figure is the benchmark for typical full-time pay across the country, covering all industries and regions.

But the average salary is only part of the picture. To make sense of job offers, hourly contracts, or part-time work, you need to understand how hourly rates translate into annual figures and how assumptions about working hours affect the numbers.

The ONS ASHE 2025 Findings

The ONS report provides three key measures for full-time employees:

• Median weekly earnings: £766.60
• Median annual earnings: £39,039
• Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime): £19.67

These figures represent a 5.3% increase in weekly pay (nominal) and a 4.3% increase in annual pay compared to April 2024. When adjusted for inflation (using CPIH), real weekly earnings rose by 1.1%.

It's important to note that the ONS defines full-time as working more than 30 paid hours per week (or 25 for teaching professions). Part-time employees work 30 hours or fewer. The median annual figure is based on employees who have been in the same job for at least a year and includes pay affected by absence such as parental leave.

National Living Wage and Minimum Wage

For lower-paid workers, the government sets statutory minimum rates. As of April 2025:

• National Living Wage (21+): £12.21 per hour
• National Minimum Wage (18–20): £10.00 per hour
• National Minimum Wage (16–17): £7.55 per hour
• Apprentice rate: £7.55 per hour (for apprentices under 19 or in first year)

Using the standard conversion of hourly rate × 37.5 hours × 52 weeks, the National Living Wage gives an annual salary of approximately £23,809.50. However, many workers on the NLW work different hours, and some employers pay above the minimum.

NHS Staff Earnings

For those in healthcare, the NHS Digital Staff Earnings Estimates for June 2026 provide a useful benchmark. In NHS Trusts and CCGs in England:

• Mean annual basic pay per full-time equivalent (FTE): £44,457
• Mean annual earnings per person: £45,163 (including overtime and other payments)

In NHS Support Organisations and Central Bodies (e.g. NHS England, regulatory bodies), the figures are higher:

• Mean annual basic pay per FTE: £56,136
• Mean annual earnings per person: £52,764

These are mean (average) figures, so they can be influenced by senior roles. The median for NHS staff is likely lower. The data also shows that non-basic pay (overtime, bonuses) averaged £5,615 per person in Trusts.

Gender Pay Gap

The ONS also publishes the gender pay gap based on median hourly earnings (excluding overtime). In April 2025:

• Full-time men: £20.27 per hour
• Full-time women: £18.87 per hour
• Gender pay gap: 6.9% (women earn 6.9% less than men)

For part-time workers, women actually earned slightly more per hour (£14.25 vs £13.85 for men), reflecting different job patterns.

Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

When you see an hourly rate on a job advert, you can estimate the annual salary using this formula:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

For a typical full-time week of 37.5 hours:

• £12.21/hr → £23,809.50
• £15.00/hr → £29,250
• £19.67/hr (median) → £38,356.50 (close to the ONS median of £39,039)
• £25.00/hr → £48,750

But remember: this assumes a steady 37.5-hour week with no unpaid overtime, no bonuses, and no salary sacrifice. Actual pay may differ due to:

• Overtime: paid at a higher rate (often time-and-a-half)
• Holiday pay: included in hourly rate or paid separately
• London weighting: additional allowance for working in London (typically 20% on basic salary)
• Part-time hours: pro-rata calculation based on contracted hours

Use our hourly calculator to convert your specific hourly rate to annual, monthly, and weekly figures.

Part-Time vs Full-Time Considerations

The ONS data clearly separates full-time and part-time earnings. Part-time employees (≤30 hours/week) have lower annual earnings because they work fewer hours, but their hourly rates can be comparable or even higher in some sectors. For example, the median hourly earnings for part-time women (£14.25) are higher than the National Living Wage, reflecting skilled part-time roles.

When comparing salaries, always check the hours. A £30,000 full-time salary at 37.5 hours is very different from a £30,000 part-time salary at 20 hours. The latter implies a much higher hourly rate.

Regional and Industry Variations

The national median of £39,039 hides significant variation. London and the South East have higher median earnings, while other regions are lower. Industry also matters: finance and insurance pay above average, while retail and hospitality pay below. For detailed breakdowns by region and occupation, see our salary data page.

Summary

• The median full-time annual salary in the UK is £39,039 (ONS 2025).
• The median full-time hourly rate is £19.67.
• The National Living Wage is £12.21 per hour (2025 rate).
• NHS mean basic pay per FTE is £44,457 (Trusts, June 2026).
• Always consider hours per week when converting hourly to annual.
• Part-time workers have different benchmarks; use hourly rates for fair comparison.

For a personalised conversion, try our hourly calculator. And remember: these are national averages – your actual salary depends on your role, location, experience, and negotiation.