Average Hourly Wage UK: Latest ONS Data
The latest official median is £17.96 an hour, while 2026 weekly earnings data shows continued pay growth.
The latest official average hourly wage UK benchmark available in 2026 is £17.96 an hour across all employee jobs. For full-time employees, median gross hourly earnings were £19.67. These hourly figures come from the April 2025 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings because the 2026 edition is not scheduled for publication until October 2026.
More recent ONS data shows that average regular weekly earnings reached £699 in May 2026, while total weekly earnings including bonuses reached £749. However, the ONS states that its monthly Average Weekly Earnings dataset is not a measure of hourly pay rates. This guide therefore uses the latest verified hourly figures for direct wage comparisons and the 2026 weekly data only to explain the more recent direction of pay.
These figures are the latest complete Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings results available at the time of writing in August 2026. They should not be treated as a guaranteed or live 2026 pay rate because wages vary substantially by occupation, age, experience, working pattern and region. To convert your own hourly rate into annual, monthly or weekly earnings, use the Hourly Rate calculator.
What Is the Average Hourly Wage in the UK?
The latest ONS data puts median gross hourly pay at £17.96 across all UK employee jobs and £19.67 for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in April 2025.
According to the Office for National Statistics low and high pay bulletin, the median across all employee jobs was £17.96 an hour in April 2025. This includes full-time and part-time employee jobs and excludes overtime. The ONS uses employee jobs rather than individual people, meaning someone with two jobs can appear twice in the data.
The separate ONS employee earnings bulletin reports median hourly earnings of £19.67 for full-time employees. That figure increased from £18.66 in April 2024. The 2025 results are provisional and relate to the pay period including 30 April 2025.
| ONS earnings measure | Latest amount | Reference period | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median hourly pay across all employee jobs | £17.96 | April 2025 | Gross pay excluding overtime |
| Median hourly pay for full-time employees | £19.67 | April 2025 | Gross pay excluding overtime |
| Median weekly pay for full-time employees | £766.60 | April 2025 | Gross weekly earnings |
| Median annual pay for eligible full-time employees | £39,039 | April 2025 | Employees in the same job for at least one year |
The annual, weekly and hourly figures should not be expected to convert into one another perfectly. The ONS applies different eligibility conditions to some measures, and weekly earnings are affected by paid hours as well as hourly rates. The annual figure, for example, covers full-time employees who had remained in their job for at least a year.
Average Hourly Wage vs Median Hourly Wage
The median is normally the better measure of typical hourly pay because it identifies the middle employee job and is less distorted by a small number of very high earners.
The word “average” can refer to either a mean or a median. A mean is calculated by adding all hourly rates and dividing by the number of observations. A median arranges the rates from lowest to highest and selects the middle result.
The ONS describes the median as its preferred measure of average earnings because unusually high salaries can pull the mean upwards. If nine employees earn between £13 and £25 an hour while one senior executive earns several hundred pounds an hour, the mean can suggest a level of pay that most of the group does not receive. The median is less affected by that extreme value.
This article therefore uses £17.96 as the broad typical hourly-pay benchmark across all employee jobs and £19.67 when discussing full-time employees specifically. Neither figure represents what every employee should earn. A meaningful personal comparison should use the same employment type, occupation, region and experience level wherever possible.
What Is a Normal Hourly Wage in the UK?
A normal hourly wage depends on the job and worker, but £17.96 is the latest broad median across all employee jobs and £19.67 is the full-time median.
The national median provides a useful starting point, but it is not a universal definition of normal pay. An hourly rate below the median can still be common in hospitality, retail, care, entry-level work and some part-time roles. Rates above the median are more common in certain professional, technical, managerial and specialist occupations.
ONS distribution data provides additional context. In April 2025, hourly pay below £11.97 was classified as low pay under the statistical definition of less than two-thirds of the all-employee median. Hourly pay above £26.94 was classified as high pay because it exceeded one and a half times the median.
| April 2025 statistical position | Hourly amount | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ONS low-pay threshold | Below £11.97 | Less than two-thirds of the median |
| All-employee median | £17.96 | Middle hourly-pay observation |
| Full-time median | £19.67 | Middle rate for full-time employees |
| ONS high-pay threshold | Above £26.94 | More than 1.5 times the all-employee median |
These are statistical measures from April 2025, not current legal minimum rates or official definitions of a good salary. In particular, the low-pay threshold should not be used to decide whether an employer complies with minimum-wage law. The statutory National Living Wage increased after the ONS reference period.
How Does Hourly Pay Vary by Job and Industry?
Hourly pay varies substantially by occupation and industry, with managerial, professional, finance and information roles more concentrated in higher-paid groups.
The latest ONS evidence shows that occupation is one of the most important explanations for differences in hourly pay. Qualifications, specialist skills, responsibility, labour demand and working conditions can all affect the rate attached to a particular role. An economy-wide median should not replace an occupation-specific comparison.
In April 2025, the proportion of jobs classified as high paid was greatest in managerial and professional occupations. The concentration was 51.4% among managerial jobs and 46.9% among professional occupations. By contrast, elementary occupations had the highest major-occupation concentration of low-paid jobs at 11.1%.
Industry differences were also substantial. According to the ONS, 54.1% of employee jobs in finance and insurance and 46.1% in information and communication were within the statistical high-pay group. Hospitality had the highest concentration of low-paid jobs at 16.2%.
| Occupation or industry | ONS distribution evidence | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, directors and senior officials | 51.4% in the high-pay group | High concentration above £26.94 an hour |
| Professional occupations | 46.9% in the high-pay group | Many roles above the national median |
| Finance and insurance | 54.1% in the high-pay group | Highest industry concentration of high pay |
| Information and communication | 46.1% in the high-pay group | Strong concentration of higher-paid jobs |
| Elementary occupations | 11.1% in the low-pay group | Higher exposure to lower hourly rates |
| Hospitality | 16.2% in the low-pay group | Highest industry concentration of low pay |
The figures show the proportion of jobs in the ONS low- or high-pay groups, not the precise average rate for every worker in each category. A senior role within a generally lower-paying industry may still pay well above the national median. Likewise, an entry-level position in a high-paying industry may be below its sector’s typical level.
How Does Average Hourly Pay Vary by Age and Experience?
Hourly earnings generally rise as workers gain experience and responsibility, although occupation and career progression matter more than age alone.
Younger workers are more heavily represented in lower-paid jobs because they are more likely to be entering the labour market, completing training or working in hospitality, retail and other part-time positions. The ONS found that low-paid employment was particularly concentrated among employees aged 16 to 21 in April 2025. Different statutory minimum rates can also apply according to age and apprenticeship status.
Higher-paid employment was most concentrated among workers aged 45 to 49, with 33.3% in the ONS high-pay category. This can reflect accumulated experience, professional advancement, management responsibilities and time spent developing specialist skills. It does not mean pay increases automatically with age.
Career breaks, changes of industry, part-time working and regional labour markets can all affect the pattern. A younger employee in a technical occupation may earn more than an older employee in another sector. Compare qualifications, responsibility and occupation rather than using age as a standalone salary target.
The ONS publishes detailed earnings data by region and age group. These tables provide a more appropriate reference when age or location is central to the comparison.
How Does Average Hourly Pay Vary by Region?
UK hourly pay varies by region, with London containing the greatest concentration of high-paid jobs and the North East the highest regional concentration of low-paid jobs in April 2025.
Regional comparisons reflect the mixture of industries and occupations available in each area, as well as local labour demand and living costs. London has a large concentration of finance, technology, professional-services and senior-management roles. This helps lift its overall pay distribution but does not mean every London worker earns more than an equivalent worker elsewhere.
According to the ONS low and high pay analysis, 40.8% of London employee jobs were in the high-pay category in April 2025. The North East had the highest regional concentration of low-paid jobs at 3.7%. These figures measure the share of jobs within distribution groups rather than providing one hourly rate for every employee in those regions.
Northern Ireland recorded the strongest annual growth in full-time median weekly earnings between April 2024 and April 2025, at 7.4%. The ONS notes that public-sector pay increases and awards contributed to that result. The South East had the lowest regional growth at 2.9%, followed by Wales at 4.2%.
A regional rate should therefore be compared with the same occupation and employment pattern. Using the London figure for a national role or the UK median for a highly localised labour market can produce a misleading result. Local housing and travel costs also affect whether a particular hourly rate provides sufficient disposable income.
Is £15 an Hour Good in the UK?
£15 an hour is above the 2026 National Living Wage for eligible workers aged 21 and over but below the latest £17.96 all-employee and £19.67 full-time medians.
Whether £15 an hour is good depends on working hours, location, household costs, employment benefits and the type of job. The rate is above the statutory £12.71 National Living Wage applying to eligible workers aged 21 and over from April 2026. However, it remains £2.96 below the April 2025 median across all employee jobs.
At 37.5 paid hours a week for 52 weeks, £15 an hour produces gross annual earnings of £29,250. At 40 hours a week, it produces £31,200. Paid overtime, bonuses or unpaid periods can change the actual annual result.
| £15 hourly example | 37.5 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly gross pay | £562.50 | £600.00 |
| Annual gross pay over 52 weeks | £29,250 | £31,200 |
Gross annual earnings do not show the amount available to spend. Enter £29,250 or £31,200 into the Income Tax calculator to estimate the corresponding take-home pay under your chosen pension and student-loan assumptions. A nearby £30,000 after-tax calculation can also provide a quick benchmark.
Is £20 an Hour Good in the UK?
£20 an hour is slightly above the latest £19.67 median for full-time employees and produces £39,000 a year at 37.5 weekly hours.
At the national level, £20 an hour sits 33p above the April 2025 full-time median and £2.04 above the all-employee median. This makes it an above-median hourly rate under those particular ONS measures. It does not automatically mean the rate is competitive for every occupation or region.
Someone working 37.5 paid hours a week earns £750 gross each week and £39,000 over 52 weeks. At 40 hours a week, gross earnings rise to £800 a week and £41,600 a year. The extra working hours must be included when comparing the rate with a fixed salary.
The £39,000 after-tax page shows the estimated annual, monthly and weekly take-home amounts for the 37.5-hour example. For the exact £41,600 result or a different working pattern, enter the annual earnings into the main Income Tax calculator.
What Is £17 an Hour Annually?
£17 an hour equals £33,150 a year at 37.5 weekly hours or £35,360 at 40 weekly hours, assuming 52 paid weeks.
The calculation multiplies the hourly rate by weekly hours and paid weeks. At 37.5 hours, £17 multiplied by 37.5 produces £637.50 a week. Multiplying that amount by 52 gives annual gross earnings of £33,150.
A 40-hour working week produces £680 gross a week and £35,360 annually. These are gross figures before PAYE, National Insurance, pension contributions or student-loan repayments. Unpaid leave would reduce the annual total.
| £17 hourly example | 37.5 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly gross pay | £637.50 | £680.00 |
| Monthly gross equivalent | £2,762.50 | £2,946.67 |
| Annual gross pay | £33,150 | £35,360 |
For nearby salary benchmarks, review the £33,000 after-tax and £35,000 after-tax calculations. Use the Hourly Rate calculator or main tax calculator when an exact £33,150 or £35,360 result is required.
How Do You Convert Hourly Pay into Annual Salary?
Multiply hourly pay by paid weekly hours and the number of paid weeks covered by the employment.
The standard conversion is:
Annual gross earnings = Hourly rate × Paid weekly hours × Paid weeks
Use 52 weeks when an employee is paid throughout the full year, including paid annual leave. Use fewer weeks when the worker is genuinely unpaid for part of the year. The pay and hours must relate to the same period for the result to be meaningful.
For example, £18 an hour at 37.5 weekly hours produces £35,100 over 52 paid weeks. The same hourly rate at 40 hours produces £37,440. The hourly-to-annual salary calculator can apply different hours and weeks without relying on a standard full-time assumption.
Is Average Hourly Pay Before or After Tax?
ONS average and median hourly earnings figures are gross amounts before Income Tax, National Insurance and other payroll deductions.
Gross hourly pay is the appropriate figure for comparing employment rates because employees can have different personal deductions. Two workers earning £20 an hour may receive different net pay because of their tax codes, pension arrangements, student loans, benefits or other income. Scotland also applies different Income Tax bands to employment earnings.
According to GOV.UK Income Tax guidance, taxable employment income moves through progressive rates after available allowances are applied. National Insurance is calculated separately using the employee’s category and earnings for each pay period. The UK Income Tax bands guide explains the marginal-rate system without repeating it here.
To estimate take-home hourly pay, calculate annual net income and divide it by the corresponding annual paid hours:
Net hourly estimate = Annual take-home pay ÷ Annual paid hours
Use the National Insurance calculator when you need to isolate NI from Income Tax. Pension contributions, student-loan deductions and salary sacrifice should be added consistently when comparing two offers.
How Does Minimum Wage Compare with Average Hourly Pay?
The 2026 National Living Wage is £12.71 for eligible workers aged 21 and over, compared with the latest £17.96 median across all employee jobs.
The National Minimum Wage is a legal pay floor, whereas the average or median is a statistical description of earnings across the workforce. Employers must use the correct statutory rate for the worker and pay reference period. The median does not create a legal entitlement to £17.96 an hour.
According to the official 2026 minimum-wage announcement, the following hourly rates apply from 1 April 2026:
| Worker category | Minimum hourly rate from April 2026 |
|---|---|
| National Living Wage: age 21 and over | £12.71 |
| Age 18 to 20 | £10.85 |
| Age 16 to 17 | £8.00 |
| Eligible apprentice | £8.00 |
Age, apprenticeship status and which hours count for minimum-wage purposes can affect compliance. An annual salary that appears sufficient under a simple conversion may still require a formal pay-reference-period calculation. Employees concerned about underpayment should use GOV.UK’s minimum-wage guidance or contact Acas.
What Affects an Employee’s Hourly Pay?
Occupation, experience, qualifications, location, industry, working pattern and employment terms can all affect hourly pay.
Occupation is often the strongest influence because different roles require different skills, responsibilities and training. Scarce expertise or professional accreditation can increase pay, while roles with a large available workforce may face greater wage competition. Management responsibility can also raise the rate.
Industry and location affect demand for particular workers. Finance, technology and professional services contain a larger concentration of higher-paid jobs, while hospitality and some elementary occupations contain more lower-paid roles. Regional living costs and local employer demand can influence the rate offered.
Working patterns also matter. Night shifts, weekends, hazardous duties and unsocial hours may attract premiums. Part-time status does not automatically mean a lower hourly rate, although the mix of occupations available on a part-time basis can reduce the overall part-time average.
Employment benefits should be considered separately from cash pay. Employer pension contributions, paid leave, sick pay, bonuses, private medical cover and flexible working can make one package more valuable than another at the same hourly rate. Contractors may need a higher headline rate because they fund costs and unpaid time that an employer would otherwise cover.
Common Mistakes When Comparing Hourly Wages
Common errors include confusing the mean with the median, comparing gross pay with net pay and ignoring differences in hours, occupations or regions.
Do not describe £17.96 as the amount every UK employee earns or should earn. It is a provisional median for employee jobs in a particular April 2025 pay period. It excludes overtime and combines full-time and part-time jobs.
Another mistake is comparing an hourly rate with annual salary without standardising paid hours. £20 an hour produces £39,000 at 37.5 weekly hours but £41,600 at 40 hours. Paid weeks, unpaid leave and overtime can create further differences.
Gross and net figures should not appear in the same comparison column without clear labels. ONS earnings figures are before tax, while take-home pay is after deductions. Use identical tax, pension and student-loan assumptions when comparing net amounts.
Finally, avoid treating the national median as an occupation-specific benchmark. Compare the role with similar jobs requiring comparable experience in the same labour market. A national figure is useful context, but it cannot determine whether an individual offer is competitive.
This guide provides general information about average hourly wage UK statistics, salary conversions and 2026 minimum-wage rates. ONS figures are survey estimates, the 2025 results are provisional and individual pay varies by occupation, location and circumstances. For employment-rights or personalised tax advice, consult an appropriate professional or contact Acas or HMRC. Always check ONS and GOV.UK for the latest earnings data and statutory pay rates.
Written by
Mia Carragher
Mia writes beginner-friendly UK tax and personal finance guides, with a focus on income tax, National Insurance, salary calculators and simple HMRC explainers.
See more from Mia Carragher