Interactive Tool Reveals Income Disparities Across Professions and Regions

Britons can now compare their income to that of their colleagues, friends, and neighbors with a new interactive tool launched by Money Mail. The tool, which utilizes official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), aims to shed light on earning disparities across various professions and geographical locations.

Users can input their salary and perceived income rank to receive a detailed breakdown of how their earnings stack up against others of similar age, profession, or in the same geographical area. The ONS uses median salary figures, which represent the middle earner when all salaries in a profession are listed from lowest to highest, to provide a more representative picture of typical earnings.

The data, reflecting figures up to April 2025, includes individuals who have held their current job for at least a year. The average salary for full-time workers in the UK is £39,039 annually, or approximately £31,628 after tax and national insurance.

Highest and Lowest Earners

At the top of the earning spectrum, chief executives and other senior officials report a median annual pay of £99,944, placing them in the top 5% of earners. Marketing, sales, and advertising directors follow with a median pay of £94,135, and specialist medical practitioners earn a median of £92,847 annually. Headteachers earn £72,192, and senior police officers are paid £66,690.

Conversely, teaching assistants and educational support staff are among the lowest earners, with annual salaries of £21,239 and £21,448, respectively. Leisure and theme park attendants earn £22,294, kitchen assistants £22,886, waiters £22,936, and bar staff £23,182.

Regional Income Differences

The tool also highlights geographical income variations. The highest-paid areas are predominantly in the South-East and East of England. St Albans in Hertfordshire leads with a median full-time salary of £57,400, which is 47% higher than the UK average. Richmond, a London borough, ranks second with a median salary of £57,233. Warwick (£48,500) is noted as the only area outside the South-East with typical earnings exceeding £48,000.

The lowest earners are concentrated in Wales, the East Midlands, and parts of the South-West. Boston, Lincolnshire, reports the lowest median salary at £29,805 annually.

Gender Pay Gap

Data indicates a gender pay gap across nearly all age groups, with women earning less than men. The most significant disparity is observed in the 50 to 59 age bracket, where men earn a median of £45,608 and women earn £37,024. The interactive tool and a more detailed online calculator are available at thisismoney.co.uk/howrich.