Am I Paid Fairly? FAQs
Why does location affect salary so much?
The cost of living varies significantly across the UK. London commands a premium of 35% above the national median because housing, commuting and general living costs are far higher. Employers in London and the South East typically pay more to attract staff. Conversely, salaries in Wales, North England and Scotland tend to be 5–8% below the national median, reflecting lower local costs. ONS ASHE data confirms these regional gaps are persistent across almost every occupation.
Should I use gross or net salary to compare?
Always use gross (before tax) salary when comparing. ONS ASHE data, job adverts and industry benchmarks all quote gross figures. Your net (take-home) pay depends on your personal tax code, pension contributions, student loan plan and other deductions · these vary per person. Use our Salary Calculator to convert your gross figure to a net take-home estimate.
How often does ONS update salary data?
The Office for National Statistics publishes the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) every autumn, covering the previous April. So the 2024 ASHE dataset (published October 2024) reflects salaries as of April 2024. This is the most comprehensive official source for UK pay data, covering around 180,000 employees across all occupations.
My job isn't listed · what should I do?
Choose the closest equivalent role from the dropdown. For example, a "Data Engineer" could use "Data Scientist" or "Software Developer" as a benchmark. Alternatively, search for your job on sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary Insights or Totaljobs to get more granular market data. ONS publishes a full SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) breakdown if you need detailed occupation-level data.
I'm underpaid · what should I do?
First, document your case with data: print the result from this calculator and gather evidence of your contributions and market rates. Then request a salary review meeting with your manager · frame it around market data, not personal need. If your employer won't budge, consider a job search: switching employers is historically the fastest way to achieve a significant pay increase in the UK (typically 10–20% vs 2–5% for internal raises). Resources like Citizens Advice can help if you believe you're being paid unlawfully below minimum wage.
For informational purposes only · Data sourced from ONS ASHE 2024 · Not financial or employment advice · Figures are approximate benchmarks and individual salaries vary widely