Salary comparison: how much do people earn in your area?
LMspencer / Shutterstock.com
The regions thriving and surviving
New data has revealed just how much our income is influenced by where we live. We’ve compiled the list of median income per region, based on Government data. So how do you compare to those living around you? Read on to find out. Note that incomes are based on 2015 figures, which are the latest available.
chris2766 / Shutterstock.com
North East: average salary £20,800
Those living in the North East of England have the lowest median income, with the average income standing at around £20,800, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Digging a little deeper into the data, we found that self-employed workers took home just £11,800 on average, while pension income was only slightly better at £13,500. Within the region there are obvious variations: workers in Stockton-on-Tees earn on average £21,900, but those in Redcar and Cleveland are paid £18,900.
Northern Ireland: average salary £20,900
Across the Irish Sea we come to Northern Ireland, where people earn an average of £20,900. Although employees earn slightly more on average than those in the North East, the self-employed are actually worse off, with average income of just £11,500. On the plus side, we checked separate ONS data and found house prices are cheaper than anywhere else in the UK, with the average home costing £124,000.
Jacek Wojnarowski / Shutterstock.com
West Midlands: average salary £20,900
Tied with Northern Ireland, those in the West Midlands take home £20,900 on average. The highest earners live in Bromsgrove, with average salaries of £24,900, while the lowest-earners are in Stoke-on-Trent earning £18,100 on average.
Yorkshire and the Humber: average salary £21,000
Those living in Yorkshire and the Humber enjoyed one of the sharpest income rises compared to the previous year (2014), with salaries jumping £600 (almost 3%) to £21,000. The highest earners are in Hambleton, taking home £24,000 per year on average, while those in Scarborough earn £18,900 on average. Does your pay cheque stack up?
Wales: average salary £21,000
Next we venture over to Wales, where the average income stands at £21,000 per year. The figure is far lower for the self-employed, who take home £11,200, while pensioners earn £13,600. The joint lowest earners per year get an average of £19,100 in Blaenau Gwent and Pembrokeshire, while those earning the most can be found in The Vale of Glamorgan (£23,600).
North West: average salary £21,100
Those living in the North West of England enjoyed a healthy £400 increase to their income between 2014 and 2015. Employees in particular fared well, with average salaries jumping from £19,600 to £20,100.
East Midlands: average salary £21,200
In the East Midlands average income stands at £21,200. Pensioners are said to earn £13,500 per year, which is £100 less than retirees in Wales. As for workers, the biggest salaries can be found in Rutland at £25,400, according to ONS data. The lowest earners can be found in Leicester (£18,700).
MK Jones / Shutterstock.com
South West: average salary £21,600
On average, those who live in the picturesque Cotswolds are said to earn £25,600 per year on average, compared to people from Torbay who earn an average of £18,800. Retirees who live in the region are said to receive an average yearly pension income of £13,800.
LMspencer / Shutterstock.com
Scotland: average salary £22,100
The average salary in Scotland is slightly higher at £22,100 per year. Surprisingly, the capital city of Edinburgh doesn’t boast the highest incomes – that honour falls to Aberdeenshire, where they earn an average of £27,500 per year. Scotland also remains one of the most affordable places to buy a home, with average property prices of £143,000.
East of England: average salary £23,200
As we move into the top three regions for average salaries, we come to the East of England, where people earn an average of £23,200. Diving into a little more detail, we found the median income for self-employed workers is £13,300; worker income stands at £21,900, while pensioners can expect to earn an average income of £14,000. The workers who earn the least on average are from Great Yarmouth, earning £18,700, and the highest earners live in Three Rivers in Hertfordshire County with an average salary or £28,600. That’s a soaring difference of almost £10,000!
South East: average salary £24,400
Said to be one of the more affluent regions in Britain, workers in the South East earn a median salary of £24,400. But that doesn’t mean it’s affordable: the average home costs a whopping £313,000 – almost 13 times the median income.
London: average salary £26,400
Surprise, surprise! Workers in London earn the highest annual salary in all of Britain. Breaking down the numbers, Londoners earn £26,400 per year on average, a solid £2,000 jump for workers in the South East. The average self-employed workers earn £14,100, whereas pension income stands at £14,100 per year. Workers in the City rake in £51,100 on average, while at the other end of the spectrum, workers in Newham earn a median salary of £20,200. Talk about contrasting fortunes.