According to the Country Cassette research, the United Kingdom takes the 17th place in the top list of the highest-paying countries. An average employee gets $2,897.26 of net salary per month. Age is among the crucial factors influencing wages, as more experienced employees are paid more than youngsters. Furthermore, with age, the gender pay gap gradually increases. What is the average UK salary by age, and are there any strategies to augment the wage?
Average UK Salaries by Age
The ONS Annual Survey for Hours and Earnings stated that the age group from 40 to 49 years contains employees who get the highest average salaries – 40,040 GBP annually (£770 per week). The fullest distribution of average salaries by age looks as follows:
| Age group | Weekly wage (GBP) | Annual salary (GBP) |
| 18 – 21 years | 441 | 22,932 |
| 22 – 29 years | 583 | 30,316 |
| 30 – 39 years | 722 | 37,544 |
| 40 – 49 years | 770 | 40,040 |
| 50 – 59 years | 727 | 37,804 |
| 60+ years | 651 | 33,852 |
Overview of How Average Salaries Differ by Age due to Different Factors
The given data reflects the median pay depending on certain age groups but doesn’t take into account other factors like gender, location, industry, etc. To understand the full picture, those numbers should be analyzed from diverse scopes.
Here are the interdependencies between age groups and other factors that influence average salaries in the United Kingdom:
The interdependence between age group and gender
| Age group | Men (GBP) | Women (GBP) |
| 18 – 21 years | 23,244 (annually), 447 (weekly) | 22,516 (annually), 433 (weekly) |
| 22 – 29 years | 31,408 (annually), 604 (weekly) | 29,380 (annually), 565 (weekly) |
| 30 – 39 years | 39,260 (annually), 755 (weekly) | 35,100 (annually), 675 (weekly) |
| 40 – 49 years | 42,900 (annually), 825 (weekly) | 36,192 (annually), 696 (weekly) |
| 50 – 59 years | 40,768 (annually), 784 (weekly) | 33,592 (annually), 646 (weekly) |
| 60+ years | 36,244 (annually), 697 (weekly) | 29,068 (annually), 559 (weekly) |
The interdependence between age group and location
| Age group | 18 – 21 years (GDP) | 22 – 29 years (GDP) | 30 – 39 years (GDP) | 40 – 49 years (GDP) | 50 – 59 years (GDP) | 60+ years (GDP) |
| North East | 12,792 (annually), 246 (weekly) | 24,128 (annually), 464 (weekly) | 27,248 (annually), 524 (weekly) | 28,704 (annually), 552 (weekly) | 26,000 (annually), 500 (weekly) | 20,852 (annually), 401 (weekly) |
| North West | 12,272 (annually), 236 (weekly) | 24,700 (annually), 475 (weekly) | 29,432 (annually), 566 (weekly) | 30,316 (annually), 583 (weekly) | 28,444 (annually), 547 (weekly) | 20,800 (annually), 400 (weekly) |
| Yorks and Humberside | 12,480 (annually), 240 (weekly) | 24,180 (annually), 465 (weekly) | 27,456 (annually), 528 (weekly) | 28,652 (annually), 551 (weekly) | 26,104 (annually), 502 (weekly) | 19,708 (annually), 379 (weekly) |
| East Midlands | 11,700 (annually), 225 (weekly) | 24,908 (annually), 479 (weekly) | 27,664 (annually), 532 (weekly) | 29,536 (annually), 568 (weekly) | 26,988 (annually), 519 (weekly) | 22,412 (annually), 431 (weekly) |
| West Midlands | 15,340 (annually), 295 (weekly) | 24,908 (annually), 479 (weekly) | 29,952 (annually), 576 (weekly) | 30,836 (annually), 593 (weekly) | 28,184 (annually), 542 (weekly) | 21,216 (annually), 408 (weekly) |
| East | 14,820 (annually), 285 (weekly) | 25,896 (annually), 498 (weekly) | 29,796 (annually), 573 (weekly) | 30,160 (annually), 580 (weekly) | 29,016 (annually), 558 (weekly) | 23,296 (annually), 448 (weekly) |
| London | 12,584 (annually), 242 (weekly) | 31,876 (annually), 613 (weekly) | 42,068 (annually), 809 (weekly) | 42,224 (annually), 812 (weekly) | 38,636 (annually), 743 (weekly) | 28,548 (annually), 549 (weekly) |
| South East | 10,452 (annually), 201 (weekly) | 26,104 (annually), 502 (weekly) | 31,876 (annually), 613 (weekly) | 33,332 (annually), 641 (weekly) | 31,252 (annually), 601 (weekly) | 23,296 (annually), 448 (weekly) |
| South West | 12,896 (annually), 248 (weekly) | 24,908 (annually), 479 (weekly) | 29,484 (annually), 567 (weekly) | 30,264 (annually), 582 (weekly) | 27,820 (annually), 535 (weekly) | 20,540 (annually), 395 (weekly) |
| Scotland | 12,480 (annually), 240 (weekly) | 25,688 (annually), 494 (weekly) | 29,744 (annually), 572 (weekly) | 32,448 (annually), 624 (weekly) | 29,432 (annually), 566 (weekly) | 22,828 (annually), 439 (weekly) |
| Wales | 11,336 (annually), 218 (weekly) | 24,492 (annually), 471 (weekly) | 28,600 (annually), 550 (weekly) | 30,212 (annually), 581 (weekly) | 26,312 (annually), 506 (weekly) | 21,684 (annually), 417 (weekly) |
The interdependence between age group and industry
| Age group | 18 – 21 years (GDP) | 22 – 29 years (GDP) | 30 – 39 years (GDP) | 40 – 49 years (GDP) | 50 – 59 years (GDP) | 60+ years (GDP) |
| Travel sector | 10,036 (annually), 193 (weekly) | 20,488 (annually), 394 (weekly) | 19,500 (annually), 375 (weekly) | 21,840 (annually), 420 (weekly) | 20,852 (annually), 401 (weekly) | 17,108 (annually), 329 (weekly) |
| Education | – | 33,176 (annually), 638 (weekly) | 40,924 (annually), 787 (weekly) | 43,524 (annually), 837 (weekly) | 43,212 (annually), 831 (weekly) | 28,444 (annually), 547 (weekly) |
| Healthcare | 18,824 (annually), 362 (weekly) | 33,228 (annually), 639 (weekly) | 37,700 (annually), 725 (weekly) | 37,700 (annually), 725 (weekly) | 37,544 (annually), 722 (weekly) | 28,028 (annually), 539 (weekly) |
| Transport | 17,056 (annually), 328 (weekly) | 26,832 (annually), 516 (weekly) | 29,588 (annually), 569 (weekly) | 30,472 (annually), 586 (weekly) | 29,432 (annually), 566 (weekly) | 29,432 (annually), 566 (weekly) |
| Administration | 20,384 (annually), 392 (weekly) | 24,752 (annually), 476 (weekly) | 24,908 (annually), 479 (weekly) | 24,908 (annually), 479 (weekly) | 24,024 (annually), 462 (weekly) | 20,436 (annually), 393 (weekly) |
| Sales and customer service | 8,320 (annually), 160 (weekly) | 18,304 (annually), 352 (weekly) | 18,824 (annually), 362 (weekly) | 17,992 (annually), 346 (weekly) | 16,328 (annually), 314 (weekly) | 12,636 (annually), 243 (weekly) |
| Management | 25,064 (annually), 482 (weekly) | 33,436 (annually), 643 (weekly) | 43,836 (annually), 843 (weekly) | 50,128 (annually), 964 (weekly) | 49,660 (annually), 955 (weekly) | 37,856 (annually), 728 (weekly) |
Based on the stated statistics, we conclude that other factors like location and industry affect the average salary in the United Kingdom even more than age.
Trends in Average Salaries in the UK by Age for 2024
Analysis of the current trends in average salary UK by age in 2024
The 18 – 21 age group is the least paid in the UK. Inexperienced employees with no or basic education and the lowest skill level get the lowest average salaries. Depending on the industry, representatives of this age group may earn from £193 to £482 per week. Furthermore, some industries are unavailable for employees aged between 18 and 21 (e.g., education).
British employees get higher salaries alongside increasing their education levels and experience. From the age of 22 to the late 40s, specialists usually see their wages gradually rising. According to statistics, employers aged between 40 and 49 years are recognized as the most experienced and qualified specialists, so they get the highest salaries.
Hence, the median pay rises during the period linked with most career advancements. Workers upgrade their skills, get promotions, change their positions, etc. When a person hits 50, they have crossed the professional equator as further wages typically decrease.
In recent years, the average earnings of a person aged between 40 and 49 years is 74.6% higher than youngsters under 21. After 60 years, workers receive 15.5% lower than their career picks.
Comparison of salary trends across different age brackets and regions
Location is the next important factor affecting the median pay in Great Britain. London offers the highest salaries for all age groups, with the exception of employees aged 18 to 21. Youngsters are paid the most in the West Midlands.
South East and Wales are the worst locations for inexperienced earners. The average salary of ‘newcomers’ ranges from £201 to £218. The best places for young workers are East and West Midlands, with the average pay from £285 to £295.
For earners between 22 and 29 years, most regions offer more or less equal salaries. The weekly median pay varies from £464 to £479 in North East, North West, Yorks and Humberside, East Midlands, West Midlands, South West, and Wales. Higher wages are offered in London (£613), South East (£502), East (£498), and Scotland (£494). The same situation is observed for age groups 30-39 years and 40-49 years: four regions offer better conditions than the rest of the kingdom.
For employees aged between 50 and 59 (the first age group where average salaries commence to decline), London offers the highest wages (£743 per week). West Midlands, North West, East, Scotland, and South East pay from £542 to £601 weekly, while North East, Yorks and Humberside, Wales, and East Midlands may offer the lowest salaries (from £500 to £519 per week).
When talking about senior workers (60+), their wages differ from £379 (Yorks and Humberside) to £448 (South East) per week. The stats exclude London where aged employees get £549 weekly.
Gender pay gap and its consequences
The pay gap is still a problem when analyzing UK salaries of men and women. According to the governmental report, the UK average gender pay gap reached 14.3% in 2023 (0.6% higher than in 2022). The United Kingdom occupies the 15th position in the pay equity ranking. Meanwhile, the numbers are still high enough to understand the gender pay gap as a problem.
At the same time, the gender factor plays different roles attached to different age groups. What does it mean? The national statistics don’t take into account the gap distribution by age. For instance, younger male workers get average earnings of £447 per week (£23,244 annually). Female employees between 18 and 21 years are paid £433 weekly (£22,516 annually). The difference is £14 per week or 3.132% (almost 10% lower than the average gap index in the UK).
Within other age groups, the gap continues to grow. Female earners between 22 and 29 years get 6.457% smaller salaries than males of the same age. For workers aged 30-39 years, the gap is 10.6%. The highest-paid age group between 30 and 39 years experiences a gap of 15.63%.
After the career equators, the gender pay gap still increases: female employees of 50-59 years receive 17.6% less than male workers, and 60+ women get median earnings that are 19.8% lower than senior male workers’.
Hence, the gap problem is almost invisible for youngsters who earn minimum wage. When talking about chief executives and very senior and highly paid posts, the total number of female employees is significantly lower than the number of male workers in roles.
How Individuals Can Proactively Manage Their Careers to Maximize Earning Potential?
The earning potential of a ‘newcomer’ consists of the following parts:
- The higher education you get, the better positions are unlocked.
- According to statistics, skilled employees are much more valuable than inexperienced ones.
- In some industries, experienced and skilled workers face lower competition and higher compensation.
- The statistics above show that the average salary in different regions may vary significantly.
Based on the mentioned components of earning potential, one can build an effective strategy to get the highest-paid jobs.
Strategies for Salary Growth
Which steps are effective enough to maximize the average salary?
- Constantly upgrade your skills. When talking about your education level, there are no borders. Dive into the latest tendencies, investigate innovative methodologies, and and upgrade your professional skills. This will definitely help you get promotions and higher salaries.
- Learn the latest technologies. Innovations like blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning penetrate into most sectors; this is why skilled employees who can handle those innovative trends are much more valuable and paid.
- Change your location. If possible, choose the other part of the UK to earn more. For instance, a person aged 20 lives in the South East, where salaries for youngsters are the lowest. The decision to move to the West Midlands may bring up to £90 per week.
Bottom Line: The Average Salary in the UK: Trends, Problems, Ways to Improve
In the UK, youngsters aged between 18 and 21 get the lowest salaries. Median wages grow gradually till 49 together with the growth of the education level, skills, and experience. The gender pay gap is among the most important problems as the median pay for male and female workers differ by 3.13% – 19.8%. As for the ways to increase average earnings, the most effective ones lie in getting higher education, upgrading professional skills, diving into innovations and the latest technologies, and changing location.
Sources
Country Cassette
ONS Annual Survey for Hours and Earnings
2023 gender pay gap report
Global Gender Gaps, 2023
