UK Average Salaries & Expenditures

 
Contents
Average Employment Income   Average Salary per Job   Average Salary per Sector   Total Personal Average Income   Consumption Expenditure
Workforce Composition   Vacation Time   Exchange Rates   Cost of Living   References
 

Average Employment Income

:
annual, per worker, incl. dependent & self employment
   Disposable   Gross (1)   
2005
26,312
16,761
  
34,854
22,202
  
constant 2005 US$ at PPP
current pounds
(1)    Based on salary & business average income per capita and proportion of workers to household size.
Source: UK Family Expenditure Survey [21], 2004-2005 (1.07 worker and 2.39 persons per household).
 
 

Average Salary in the UK - Job and Sector Comparison.

Job  Net Monthly Income  constant 2005 US$ (1) Notes                                                                               Gross Monthly Average Income (2) Compulsory Deductions (3) Weekly Hours (4)
 
Airline Pilot median salary PPP $ 5,323 $ 6,177 Employees, 2005. 5,217 pounds 35% 37.4
General Physician median salary PPP $ 5,210 $ 6,045 Employees, 2005. 5,106 pounds 35% 40.0
Engineer median salary PPP $ 3,832 $ 4,225 Chemical engineer, April 2004. 3,200 pounds 30% 36.8
Professor median salary PPP $ 3,427 $ 3,977 Employees, 2005. 3,119 pounds 30% 36.0
Accountant median salary PPP $ 3,333 $ 3,867 Employees, 2005. 2,990 pounds 29% 36.9
Teacher median salary PPP $ 3,075 $ 3,568 Employees, 2005. 2,759 pounds 29% 32.5
Dentist median salary PPP $ 3,016 $ 3,500 Employees, 2005. 2,706 pounds 29% 37.0
Computer Programmer median salary PPP $ 2,996 $ 3,476 Employees, programmers in all industries, 2005. 2,688 pounds 29% 37.0
Miner median salary PPP $ 2,503 $ 2,904 Employees, 2005. 2,184 pounds 27% 39.5
Firefighter median salary PPP $ 2,474 $ 2,871 Employees, 2005. 2,159 pounds 27% 42.0
Physiotherapist median salary PPP $ 2,460 $ 2,855 Employees, 2005. 2,147 pounds 27% 36.0
Professional Nurse median salary PPP $ 2,397 $ 2,782 Employees, 2005. 2,092 pounds 27% 35.7
Car Mechanic median salary PPP $ 1,867 $ 2,167 Employees, 2005. 1,586 pounds 25% 39.9
Carpenter median salary PPP $ 1,864 $ 2,163 Employees, 2005. 1,583 pounds 25% 39.0
Postman median salary PPP $ 1,818 $ 2,110 Employees, 2005. 1,524 pounds 24% 40.0
Wood Grinder median salary PPP $ 1,742 $ 2,021 Employees, 2005. 1,441 pounds 23% 39.0
Bus Driver median salary PPP $ 1,650 $ 1,914 Employees, 2005. 1,365 pounds 23% 39.0
Flight Attendant median salary PPP $ 1,628 $ 1,889 Employees, 2005. 1,347 pounds 23% 37.5
Office Clerk median salary PPP $ 1,589 $ 1,844 Employees, 2005. 1,298 pounds 22% 37.0
Baker median salary PPP $ 1,549 $ 1,797 Employees, 2005. 1,265 pounds 22% 39.0
Auxiliary Nurse median salary PPP $ 1,499 $ 1,740 Employees, 2005. 1,209 pounds 21% 37.5
Furniture Finisher median salary PPP $ 1,466 $ 1,701 Employees, 2005. 1,182 pounds 21% 38.5
Hotel Receptionist median salary PPP $ 1,376 $ 1,597 Employees, 2005. 1,096 pounds 20% 37.0
Garment Cutter median salary PPP $ 1,316 $ 1,527 Employees, 2005. 1,048 pounds 20% 39.0
Chambermaid median salary PPP $ 1,224 $ 1,421 Employees, 2005. 975 pounds 20% 37.8
Salesperson median salary PPP $ 1,223 $ 1,419 Employees, 2005. 974 pounds 20% 37.5
Sector              
Financial average income PPP $ 3,483 $ 3,528 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,863 pounds 29% 36.3
Mining-Quarrying average income PPP $ 3,463 $ 3,508 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,847 pounds 29% 43.4
Real Estate average income PPP $ 3,039 $ 3,079 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,464 pounds 28% 39.3
Gas-Electricity-Water average income PPP $ 3,001 $ 3,040 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,433 pounds 28% 39.2
Construction average income PPP $ 2,703 $ 2,738 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,161 pounds 27% 43.2
All Sectors average income PPP $ 2,643 $ 2,677 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,113 pounds 27% 39.6
Education average income PPP $ 2,610 $ 2,644 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,087 pounds 27% 35.5
Manufacturing average income PPP $ 2,583 $ 2,616 Full time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,065 pounds 27% 41.4
Transport-Communication average income PPP $ 2,581 $ 2,615 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 2,064 pounds 27% 42.8
Hotels-Restaurants average income PPP $ 1,780 $ 1,803 Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, 2003. Incl. overtime payments. 1,349 pounds 23% 41.3
 
  (1) The net average income in "constant 2005 US$" is computed using the Interbank nominal exchange rate [a] and the U.S. inflation rate [d]. The net average income in "constant 2005 US$" at PPP is computed using the OECD PPP exchange rates for actual individual consumption [l] and the U.S. inflation rate [d]. The latter reflects the purchasing power in the United States in 2005.
  (2) The gross monthly average income is based on data supplied by the UK Employment Department, Statistical Services Division to the International Labour Organization [9]. The average income includes the salaries and wages of paid employees. Employees include both men and women unless otherwise noted.
  (3) The compulsory deductions are obtained from the UK PAYE Tax Calculator [t] and reflect the 2004-2005 income tax rates in the UK including the national insurance. The deductions are representative of single-earner-married-without-child status.
  (4) The weekly hours are based on data supplied by the UK Employment Department to the International Labour Organization. The hours by sector correspond to the paid for; the hours by job correspond to the normal hours of work.
 
 
 
 

Personal Average Income

:
annual, per capita, incl. non-monetary income
   Disposable   Gross   Salary   Business   Property   Transfer (1)    
2005
16,710
10,644
  
20,534
13,080
  
13,962
8,894
  
1,642
1,046
  
 
4,107
2,616
  
constant 2005 US$ at PPP
current pounds
2000
16,078
8,786
  
19,736
10,785
  
13,026
7,118
  
1,975
1,079
  
 
3,750
2,049
  
(1)    Incl. annuities, pensions, and social security benefits (excl. housing benefits).
Source: UK Family Expenditure Survey [21], 1999-2000, 2004-2005 (2.39 persons per household).
 

Consumption Expenditure

:
annual, per capita, incl. non-monetary expenditure
   Total   Health   Housing (1)  Food   Apparel   Education   Transport     
2005
14,786
9,419
  
168
107
  
5,162
3,288
  
2,802
1,785
  
802
511
  
223
142
  
2,463
1,569
  
constant 2005 US$ at PPP
current pounds
2000
14,779
8,076
  
 
4,848
2,649
  
3,087
1,687
  
864
472
  
267
146
  
2,542
1,389
  
(1)    Incl. net rent, mortgage interest payments, water rates, council tax, repairs, maintenance, decorations, gas, electricity, other fuels, household goods, and household services.
(2)    Incl. alcoholic drinks, cafes, bars, restaurants.
Source: UK Family Expenditure Survey [21], 1999-2000 (2.37 persons per household), 2004-2005 (2.39 persons per household).
 

Workforce Composition

:
percentage of total workforce
   Primary (1)  Manufacturing   Education   Financial   Paid Employees   Unemployed  
2005 1.7   13.2   9.0   4.2   94.3   4.8  
%
(1)    Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying.
Source: International Labour Organization [9].
 

Workforce Size

 :  
28.2 million (2005).
Source:   International Labour Organization [9].
 

Population

 :  
60.6 million (2006).
Source:   CIA World Factbook [b].
 

Compulsory Deductions

 :  
26.5% for a single with no child, 19.2% for a single with two children, 26.5% for a one-earner married couple with no child, and 19.4% for a one-earner married couple with two children.
Source:   OECD Tax Database [k], 2005, combined deductions on a gross monthly salary income of 2,391 pounds including family benefits in terms of cash transfers.
 

Vacation Time

 :  
20 calendar days per year, plus 8 bank holidays (legally required minimum) [e]. Although there is no legal obligation to time off on bank holidays, most of the population not employed in essential services (i.e. health-workers, ambulance, police, fire, etc) receive them as holidays. According to a recent survey by the World Tourism Organization, 28 vacation days per year are taken on average in Britain [f].
 

Inflation

 :  
108.2 (2000), 109.5 (2001), 111.0 (2002), 112.5 (2003), 114.2 (2004), 116.4 (2005);
Source:   IMF inflation rates [d], Index: 1995=100.
 

PPP Exchange Rate

 :  
0.619 (2000), 0.612 (2001), 0.596 (2002), 0.619 (2003), 0.602 (2004), 0.637 (2005), 0.616 (2006), 0.617 (2007), 0.611 (2008);
Source:   OECD PPP exchange rates for actual individual consumption [l], pounds per U.S. dollar.
 

Nominal Exchange Rate

 :  
0.694 (2001), 0.665 (2002), 0.611 (2003), 0.546 (2004), 0.549 (2005);
Source:   Interbank nominal exchange rates [a], pounds per U.S. dollar.
 

Cost of Living

 :  
0.932 (2001), 0.989 (2002), 1.090 (2003), 1.240 (2004), 1.240 (2005);
Source:   Interbank nominal exchange rates [a] and IMF PPP exchange rates [d], US=1.000.
 

 

References
 
[9]   International Labour Organization. Compilation of average salary income worldwide. Classified by country, by employment category, and by gender.
[21]   UK National Statistics Office.
[a]   Interbank nominal exchange rate, Oanda.com; historical currency converter for over 164 currencies and 3 metals.
[d]   World Economic Outlook Database, September 2006, International Monetary Fund.
[e]   Wikipedia, Vacation.
[f]   World Tourism Organization, a United Nations agency; survey of vacation days worldwide, 2000.
[h]   Income Tax Rates in the UK, 2003-2004.
[k]   OECD Tax Database. Annual database providing comparative information on personal and corporate income tax and consumption tax systems and rates in OECD countries since 2000. Information on social security contributions levied on employees and their employers is also reported.
[l]   OECD. PPP exchange rates for actual individual consumption.
[t]   UK PAYE Tax Calculator, 1999-2006.
 
Other links:
Social Security in the UK, Social Security Programs Throughout the World, 2004-2005, compiled by the U.S. Social Security Administration.
UK: Statistics, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
UK: Selected Internet Resources, U.S. Library of Congress.
UK Economy Overview, CIA World Factbook.
UK Income Tax Calculator.
Do we need more holidays?, The British have the lowest number of holidays and the least statutory annual leave in Europe; from the BBC.
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