UK Salary by Profession 2026/27

Median £21,239 · range £18,000–£27,000

Teaching assistants earn a full-time median of £21,239 (ONS ASHE 2025), with most roles paying £18,000 to £27,000. Because the large majority of TA contracts are term-time-only, actual annual pay is usually pro-rated below the full-time figure. The role sits entirely inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £23,717 · range £16,583–£26,521

Early education and childcare practitioners had a full-time median gross pay of £23,717 in ONS ASHE 2025, with the middle half between £20,610 and £26,521. That median is below the bottom of the NJC local government pay spine for the same year, 2025/26, which was £24,413 at SCP 2 before that point was deleted in April 2026. That is the clearest measure of how much of the sector is private and voluntary rather than council-employed.

Median £24,130 · range £20,000–£33,000

Cleaners earn a full-time median of £24,130 (ONS ASHE 2025), sitting right at the National Living Wage floor of £24,784 for full-time hours. Most cleaning work is part-time, so the all-employee median is far lower. Supervisory and specialist cleaning roles reach the top of the £20,000 to £33,000 range.

Median £24,678 · range £19,000–£33,000

Receptionists earn a full-time median of £24,678 (ONS ASHE 2025), typically £19,000 to £33,000 depending on sector, location and seniority. Corporate, legal and medical front-of-house roles pay above hotel and general reception work. The role sits entirely inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £24,784 · range £22,000–£32,000

Care worker pay sits at or just above the National Living Wage floor for most full-time workers. April 2026 NLW £12.71/hr × 37.5 hours × 52 weeks = £24,784/year full-time equivalent. ONS ASHE 2025 median was £22,105 (held down by widespread part-time contracts). Most care workers qualify for Universal Credit top-up given household composition.

Median £25,272 · range £25,272–£25,272

Band 2 covers healthcare assistants, porters and ward clerks at a flat 2026/27 Agenda for Change rate of £25,272 (no spine progression). London weighting and unsocial-hours enhancements add on top.

Median £26,374 · range £25,272–£27,476

NHS Healthcare Assistants sit on Agenda for Change Band 2, a single point of £25,272 for 2026/27, or Band 3, £25,760 to £27,476, depending on responsibility and clinical setting. Unsocial hours enhancements and a High Cost Area Supplement of 20% of basic pay in inner London are paid on top.

Median £26,618 · range £25,760–£27,476

Band 3 covers senior healthcare assistants, clinical support workers and pharmacy technicians at the trainee end. 2026/27 AfC pay is £25,760-£27,476 across a 2-year progression.

Median £27,035 · range £22,000–£35,000

Customer service and contact centre advisors earn a full-time median of £27,035 (ONS ASHE 2025), typically £22,000 to £35,000 once performance bonus, shift premiums and team-lead progression are included. Financial services and technical support pay above general retail and utilities. The median sits inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £27,832 · range £21,000–£40,000

Warehouse operatives earn a full-time median of £27,832 (ONS ASHE 2025), typically £21,000 to £40,000 once shift premiums, overtime and forklift tickets are added. The median sits comfortably inside the 20% basic-rate tax band. Night, weekend and peak-season premiums are the biggest swing on take-home.

Median £27,857 · range £23,786–£31,223

Full-time refuse and salvage workers had a median gross pay of £27,857 in ONS ASHE 2025, with the middle half of the occupation between £25,803 and £31,223. That median sits close to spine point 10 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£27,694), the scale most council waste services are graded on.

Median £28,000 · range £24,000–£31,157

UK Dental Nurses work in NHS Band 4 (£28,392-£31,157) or private practice (£24,000-£32,000 typical, with variance by practice size + locality). GDC registration required from 2008. Most enter via Level 3 apprenticeship or NEBDN qualification.

Median £28,000 · range £22,000–£55,000

UK delivery drivers earn £23,000-£35,000 full-time PAYE (£10-£15/hour typical), averaging £28,000-£30,000. Amazon Flex self-employed rates £13-£17/hour (Amazon UK published) = approximately £35,000/year for full-time hours. DPD owner-operators £54,563 average (Indeed). Self-employed must absorb fuel + vehicle + insurance costs.

Median £28,020 · range £25,500–£31,990

Administrative Officer is the grade above Administrative Assistant. Cabinet Office publishes the two as one combined band: the median across the whole Civil Service was £28,020 as at 31 March 2026, the most recent departmental breakdown available, ranging from £25,500 to £31,990 depending on the department. Take-home below is calculated on 2026/27 tax rates.

Median £28,294 · range £22,000–£42,000

Office administrators and admin assistants earn a full-time median of £28,294 (ONS ASHE 2025), typically £22,000 to £42,000 depending on sector and seniority. Specialist admin (legal, finance, HR, project support) pays above general office admin. The median sits inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £28,950 · range £23,022–£32,942

Full-time caretakers had a median gross pay of £28,950 in ONS ASHE 2025, with the middle half of the occupation between £25,678 and £32,942. That is around spine point 13 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£29,064), the scale most school and council site staff sit on.

Median £29,775 · range £28,392–£31,157

Band 4 covers Assistant Practitioners, Nursing Associates and pharmacy technicians at the registered end. 2026/27 AfC pay is £28,392-£31,157 across a 3-year progression.

Median £29,775 · range £28,392–£31,157

UK Ambulance Technicians (associate ambulance practitioners) sit at NHS Agenda for Change Band 4 (£28,392-£31,157), above emergency care assistants at Band 3 and below registered paramedics at Band 5-6. Unsocial-hours enhancements add materially to base pay. SOC 2020 6132 (ambulance staff excluding paramedics).

Median £29,864 · range £18,000–£85,000

UK personal trainers split roughly evenly between gym-employed and self-employed. Glassdoor records a UK average of £29,864 total pay; self-employed PT total pay range £14,673-£87,722 depending on caseload, with most full-time trainers in the £30,000-£40,000 band. Experienced self-employed PT charging £50-£65/session running 20-25 sessions/week grosses £52,000-£84,000 pre-expenses.

Median £30,453 · range £18,000–£65,000

UK graphic designers earn an Indeed-recorded UK average of £30,453 employed, £35,016 freelance (Glassdoor). Career trajectory: junior £15,500-£25,000 → mid £32,500 → senior £47,500. London commands a 15-25% premium. Freelance hourly £17 UK average, £30-£60/hour for established commercial designers.

Median £30,648 · range £23,011–£38,085

Estate agents and auctioneers had a full-time median of £30,648 in ONS ASHE 2025, with a quarter of the group below £25,879 and a quarter above £38,085. Pay is typically a low basic plus commission, and because ASHE measures gross pay actually received, the published figures already include commission earned rather than an on-target estimate.

Median £30,886 · range £23,820–£36,188

Local government administrative occupations had a full-time median gross pay of £30,886 in ONS ASHE 2025, with the middle half between £26,393 and £36,188. That median lands close to spine point 17 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£31,022). Council administrative pay runs a little below the national government equivalent, which had a median of £33,000.

Median £30,960 · range £22,000–£90,000

UK chef pay is heavily structured by brigade hierarchy. ONS ASHE 2024 revised data shows the all-chef UK median at £30,960 (£15.88/hour) - low compared to other skilled trades because the figure includes kitchen porters + commis chefs at the bottom of the scale. Head Chefs £35,000-£57,000 (London average £40,600); Sous Chefs £29,000-£40,000 (national average £33,034); Chef de Partie £24,000-£36,000. Outside London tracks 3-5% below the UK median.

Median £31,044 · range £23,050–£39,043

Pharmacy technicians earn a full-time median of £31,044 (ONS ASHE 2025). In the NHS they sit on Agenda for Change Band 4-5 (£28,392 to £39,043 in 2026/27); community pharmacy pay starts near the National Living Wage. The role sits inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £31,560 · range £23,000–£50,845

ONS does not measure payroll managers separately. The role sits in "Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks" (SOC 2020 4122), whose full-time median was £31,560 in ASHE 2025. That group mixes clerical payroll work with the manager grade, so a manager running end-to-end payroll sits in the upper part of the range rather than at the median: the 75th percentile is £40,123 and the 90th is £50,845.

Median £32,000 · range £25,000–£55,000

UK Bookkeepers manage day-to-day financial records for small businesses + sole traders. Employed bookkeepers £25,000-£40,000; self-employed (sole trader or via Ltd) £30,000-£55,000 typical. AAT or ICB qualification adds 10-20% pay premium.

Median £32,000 · range £26,000–£48,000

UK bus driver pay is collectively bargained per operator. National pay range £28,000-£34,000 (£15.43/hour UK average per Indeed June 2026); London drivers earn 13-20% premium with average £31,748 (£18.04/hour). Transport for London (TfL) drivers earn £30,000-£45,000 depending on length of service + overtime. The Lea Interchange (Stagecoach London) 3-year deal agreed March 2026 set 4% rise from March 2025 backdated, then CPI+1% from April 2026.

Median £32,140 · range £26,950–£43,280

EO is the standard early-to-mid-career grade across most departments. The median across the whole Civil Service was £32,140 as at 31 March 2026, the most recent departmental breakdown Cabinet Office publishes, ranging from £26,950 to £43,280 between departments. Take-home below is calculated on 2026/27 tax rates.

Median £32,480 · range £24,000–£65,000

UK bricklayers form one of the highest-paid skilled trades. ONS ASHE 2025 records a median annual employee salary of £32,480 at £16.64/hour. Self-employed bricklayers (the majority of the trade) typically charge £300-£320/day = £55,000-£60,000/year pre-expenses; sole-trader hourly rates run £35-£40, Ltd-company rates £40-£45. London + South East commands 15-25% premium over national figures.

Median £32,654 · range £24,054–£37,934

Youth and community workers had a full-time median gross pay of £32,654 in ONS ASHE 2025, with the middle half of the occupation between £27,248 and £37,934. That median is close to spine point 20 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£32,597). Much of the sector is charity-funded rather than council-employed, and pay follows the funder.

Median £33,797 · range £24,000–£65,000

UK carpenters and joiners (ONS SOC 5315) are one of the most in-demand skilled trades in the construction labour shortage. ONS ASHE 2025 records median employee annual salary of £33,797 at £17.00/hour; mean £36,363 (skewed by high earners). Regional variation £28,888 East Midlands to £37,899 London. Self-employed hourly rates £20 (Belfast) to £36 (London), most national average £27/hour.

Median £33,823 · range £27,282–£41,164

Private is the entry rank for a British Army soldier, OR-2 on the NATO scale, and the equivalent of an RAF Aircraftman or a Royal Navy Able Rating. Pay in 2026/27 starts at £27,282 and reaches £41,164 at the top increment on the highest trade supplement. Those figures already include X-Factor, and carry the 3.6% award the Government accepted in full on 9 June 2026.

Median £33,823 · range £27,282–£41,164

Able Rating is the entry rank for a Royal Navy rating, OR-2 on the NATO scale the Armed Forces pay tables are built on. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £27,282 to £41,164: the bottom is the first increment on any of the four trade supplements, the top is the tenth increment on supplement 4. The figures already include X-Factor and carry the 3.6% award the Government accepted in full on 9 June 2026, backdated to 1 April 2026.

Median £33,832 · range £24,000–£45,000

Security guards earn a full-time median of £33,832 (ONS ASHE 2025), typically £24,000 to £45,000 driven mainly by long shift patterns and unsocial-hours premiums. An SIA licence is a legal requirement for most roles. The median sits inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £34,069 · range £34,069–£36,042

First-year teacher pay in England is set by the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document. The main pay range starts at £34,069 outside London under the 2026 award, in force from 1 September 2026, with separate and higher columns for the fringe, outer London and inner London. Induction under the Early Career Framework runs for two years.

Median £34,396 · range £28,753–£43,208

Most private tutors are self-employed, and no official statistic measures what they earn: ASHE surveys employee jobs only. The closest published figure is for the ONS unit group tutoring falls under, teaching professionals n.e.c. (SOC 2020 2319), whose full-time median was £34,396 in ASHE 2025 - a measure of employed teaching staff rather than of self-employed tutoring income, and worth reading as a reference point rather than a target.

Median £34,500 · range £20,000–£90,000

UK journalists earn an NCTJ-surveyed average of £34,500 (NCTJ Journalists at Work 2024 survey, most recent published). Indeed reports £30,000 (live 2026 data). London commands £45,547 average (15-25% premium). NUJ-affiliated regional papers pay trainee reporters at least £25,500 in 2026. National newspaper staff reporters £40,000-£55,000; specialist correspondents £65,000-£90,000. AI-skilled journalists average £38,292 vs £33,734 for non-users per the same NCTJ 2024 survey.

Median £34,592 · range £32,073–£39,043

Registered Mental Health Nurses sit on NHS Band 5, which has three points for 2026/27: £32,073 at entry, £34,592 after two years and £39,043 at the top. A High Cost Area Supplement of 20% of basic pay is paid on top in inner London, 15% in outer London, and the Section 2 unsocial hours enhancement on top of that.

Median £34,592 · range £32,073–£39,043

A registered operating department practitioner starts on Agenda for Change Band 5, which has three points for 2026/27: £32,073 at entry, £34,592 after two years and £39,043 at the top. The NHS pension tier boundary at £35,155 falls between the second and third of those points, so the last step up the band is the one where the contribution rate changes and the net gain is smaller than the gross suggests.

Median £34,688 · range £25,066–£39,300

Full-time housing officers had a median gross pay of £34,688 in ONS ASHE 2025, with the middle half between £29,267 and £39,300. That median is close to spine point 23 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£34,434). The group covers council housing teams and housing associations, which do not all use the same scale.

Median £35,000 · range £26,000–£60,000

Plumbers split between PAYE employed (~30%, typical for new entrants and large contractor employees) and self-employed sole trader (~70%, established tradespeople). 2026/27 PAYE median around £35,000; self-employed gross billings £45,000-£70,000 with around 65% retained after materials, vehicle and tools.

Median £35,000 · range £24,000–£100,000

UK recruitment consultants earn a low base salary topped up by aggressive commission on placement fees. Base salaries: trainee £24-30k, established £25-35k regional / £30-38k London. Commission typically 10-30% of fees generated; full-billing consultants reach £50,000-£70,000+ total OTE in London. Senior + permanent-side specialists £60,000-£100,000+.

Median £35,000 · range £22,000–£91,609

UK Dietitians (BDA-registered HCPC professionals) qualify via 3-4 year BSc + HCPC registration, entering NHS Band 5 (£32,073-£39,043). Career trajectory: Band 5 → Band 6 (£39,959-£48,117) → Band 7 (£49,387-£56,515) → Band 8a/8b/8c consultant. NHS average £43,042. Nutritionists (separate non-protected title, often AfN-registered) average £31,000-£33,000.

Median £35,106 · range £31,164–£50,256

England and Wales constable pay runs across seven pay points, £31,164 to £50,256, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026 - below the 3.9% the Police Remuneration Review Body recommended - and the revised pay points are not published yet. Scottish and Northern Irish rates are close but set separately.

Median £35,558 · range £32,073–£39,043

Band 5 is the entry grade for a registered nurse. 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay is £32,073–£39,043 across three spine points; after tax, NI and pension the actual take-home is materially different.

Median £36,457 · range £29,616–£44,122

Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants had a full-time median gross pay of £36,457 in ONS ASHE 2025. ONS suppressed the upper quartile for this group, so the range shown runs from the published lower quartile (£29,616) up to the group mean (£44,122), which sits above the median because senior consultancy roles pull it up.

Median £36,816 · range £29,107–£41,417

Prison officers in England and Wales are Fair and Sustainable Band 3. From 1 April 2026 the national scale is £29,107 to £30,648 for a 37 hour week, after the 3.5% award the Lord Chancellor accepted in full. Most officers earn more: the Unsocial Working Hours allowance adds 20% and Additional Committed Hours raise the contract above 37 hours, so a 39 hour officer at the top of the scale is on £38,766. Inner London adds a fixed £5,218 to the scale maximum, outer London £3,432.

Median £36,892 · range £35,310–£41,164

Lance Corporal is the first rank above Private, OR-3 on the NATO scale. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £35,310 to £41,164 across three increment levels and four trade supplements. The scale carries the 3.6% award accepted in full on 9 June 2026, and the figures already include X-Factor.

Median £37,000 · range £27,000–£47,000

UK large goods vehicle (HGV) drivers earn from about £27,000 as a starter to £47,000 experienced (National Careers Service); the median hourly rate was £16.25 in 2025 (ASHE). Class 1 (C+E), night trunking, ADR and tramping work pay above the base. SOC 2020 8211 (heavy and large goods vehicle drivers).

Median £37,000 · range £27,000–£75,000

Electricians follow the Joint Industry Board (JIB) graded structure when employed in the construction trade. 2026/27 JIB Approved Electrician rate sits at around £37,000 for 37.5-hour week; Technician grade £41,000. Self-employed gross billings £50,000-£75,000 (£35,000-£50,000 net after expenses).

Median £37,924 · range £25,377–£56,989

ONS classifies sales engineers and solutions consultants as business sales executives (SOC 2020 3552), whose full-time median was £37,924 in ASHE 2025. The group spans a wide range - £25,377 at the 10th percentile to £56,989 at the 80th - because it mixes field sales with technical pre-sales, and specialist technical roles sit towards the top of it rather than at the middle.

Median £38,068 · range £32,191–£44,525

Librarians had a full-time median gross pay of £38,068 in ONS ASHE 2025. ONS suppressed the upper quartile, so the range shown runs from the published lower quartile (£32,191) to the group mean (£44,525), which is pulled up by academic and specialist library posts. The median sits close to spine point 27 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£38,220).

Median £38,305 · range £37,417–£49,600

Custodial Manager is Band 5 in the HMPPS Fair and Sustainable structure, the first operational management rung, typically running a wing or a functional area. Base pay runs across three points from £37,417 to £39,214, reaching £49,600 on a 39 hour contract with committed hours payments and the 20% unsocial hours addition. The 3.5% PSPRB award was accepted in full on 26 March 2026.

Median £38,447 · range £26,000–£76,000

Retail and wholesale managers earn a full-time median of £38,447 (ONS ASHE 2025), with a wide £26,000 to £76,000 range driven by store size, turnover and format. Small-store and assistant managers sit at basic rate; large-format and multi-site managers cross the £50,270 higher-rate threshold.

Median £38,696 · range £29,557–£50,062

Junior accountants span AAT-trained finance assistants to final-year trainees. ONS does not measure them separately, so the anchor is where they sit within chartered and certified accountants (SOC 2020 2421): the lower quartile was £38,696 in ASHE 2025 and the 10th percentile £29,557, against a group median of £50,062 that includes fully qualified accountants.

Median £39,043 · range £32,073–£48,117

UK Dental Hygienists in the NHS sit at Agenda for Change Band 5 (£32,073-£39,043) rising to Band 6 (£39,959-£48,117); private and mixed practice often pays more, frequently on a sessional or percentage-of-fees basis. GDC registration is mandatory. SOC 2020 3213 (medical and dental technicians).

Median £39,959 · range £32,073–£48,117

Dental therapists and hygienists in salaried NHS or community roles sit on Agenda for Change Band 5-6 (£32,073 to £48,117 in 2026/27). Most work in private or mixed practice on sessional day rates that can push earnings above the NHS band. The role sits inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £40,000 · range £30,000–£55,000

Paraplanners - the technical research and report-writing support behind financial advisers - typically earn £30,000 to £55,000. Reed reports a UK average of £43,053, while Indeed and Glassdoor put the market average nearer £34,000 to £38,000. A mid-career paraplanner around £40,000 sits inside the 20% basic-rate tax band.

Median £40,358 · range £31,539–£50,034

Firefighter pay is negotiated in the National Joint Council and published in the Grey Book, not set by a review body. Rates from 1 July 2026, after the agreed 3.8% rise: Development £31,539, Competent £40,358, Crew Manager £42,892-£44,742, Watch Manager £45,711-£50,034. Control room roles are paid 95% of the equivalent firefighting role, and on-call firefighters get a retainer set at 15% of the wholetime salary.

Median £41,128 · range £28,891–£53,567

UX researchers run qualitative and quantitative research across product, design and customer insight teams. The ONS coding index lists "Researcher, user" under two unit groups; the closer fit is "Business and related research professionals" (SOC 2020 2434), whose full-time median was £41,128 in ASHE 2025, with a quarter of the group below £34,995 and the 80th percentile at £53,567.

Median £41,226 · range £41,226–£47,610

F1 is the first year of medical foundation training. Basic pay in England is £41,226 at nodal point 1 for 2026 to 2027, rising to £47,610 at FY2. That figure carries both the accepted 3.5% DDRB award from 1 April 2026 and the negotiated nodal point reform. Rota supplements for nights, weekends and on-call are paid on top of basic.

Median £41,328 · range £34,440–£43,562

Supervising Officer is Band 4 in the HMPPS Fair and Sustainable structure, the first supervisory rung above a prison officer. Base pay is a spot rate of £34,440 rather than a range, rising to £41,328 with the 20% unsocial hours addition and £43,562 on 39 contracted hours with two committed hours payments. The 3.5% PSPRB award was accepted in full on 26 March 2026 and backdated to 1 April.

Median £41,725 · range £39,109–£44,767

Environmental health professionals had a full-time median gross pay of £41,725 in ONS ASHE 2025. It is a small occupation and ONS suppressed both quartiles, so the range shown is the only pair of published points either side of the median: the 40th percentile at £39,109 and the 60th at £44,767. The median sits close to spine point 31 on the 2025/26 NJC pay spine (£41,771).

Median £42,000 · range £30,000–£90,000

UK Marketing Manager pay sits at £41,908 (Indeed, April 2026), £39,438 (PayScale), £44,558 (Glassdoor mean). Typical range £40,000-£60,000 depending on sector, B2B vs B2C focus, headcount managed. Senior Marketing Manager median £62,500 (ITJobsWatch June 2026); Digital Marketing Manager median £56,500. CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) qualifications carry modest 5-10% premium where directly relevant.

Median £42,170 · range £39,959–£48,117

NHS Health Careers says paramedics are paid on Agenda for Change "typically starting at band 5 and progressing to band 6 after two years", so Band 6 is the career grade rather than the starting one. Band 6 runs £39,959 at entry, £42,170 at the intermediate point and £48,117 at the top for 2026/27. Unsocial hours payments for nights and weekends are paid on top of basic under Section 2 of the AfC handbook.

Median £42,170 · range £39,959–£48,117

Newly qualified diagnostic radiographers enter NHS Band 5, £32,073 to £39,043. Most progress to Band 6 after two years, the career grade for hospital radiographers, which runs £39,959 at entry, £42,170 at the intermediate point and £48,117 at the top for 2026/27.

Median £42,170 · range £39,959–£48,117

Newly qualified occupational therapists enter NHS Band 5, £32,073 to £39,043. After a preceptorship year most progress to Band 6, which covers rotational and specialist hospital and community posts and runs £39,959 at entry, £42,170 at the intermediate point and £48,117 at the top.

Median £42,170 · range £39,959–£70,000

UK physiotherapists qualify with a BSc + HCPC registration. NHS Band 6 (England, 2026/27) spans £39,959 (entry) to £48,117 (3+ years). Private practitioners earn £35,000-£70,000+ depending on caseload + specialism (sports physio, MSK, neuro). Locum NHS Band 6 rates £25-£45/hour.

Median £42,170 · range £39,959–£64,000

NHS midwives sit on Agenda for Change Band 6. 2026/27 (England, effective 1 April 2026): entry £39,959, after 2 years £42,170, after 3 years £48,117. Unsocial hours premiums (30% Saturdays + nights, 60% Sundays + bank holidays) typically add £4,000-£9,000 to base for hospital-based midwives.

Median £42,289 · range £32,835–£56,914

ONS does not measure junior roles separately, so the honest anchor is where juniors sit within their unit group. For programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2020 2134) the lower quartile was £42,289 in ASHE 2025 and the 10th percentile £32,835, against a group median of £56,914 that includes engineers at every level of experience.

Median £42,660 · range £40,989–£48,497

Corporal is the first NCO rank above Lance Corporal. On the AFPRB pay scales in force from 1 April 2026, an OR-4 is paid £40,989 to £43,826 on trade supplement 1 and up to £48,497 on trade supplement 4. Those figures already include X-Factor, and reflect the 3.6% award the Government accepted in full on 9 June 2026, backdated to 1 April 2026.

Median £43,000 · range £30,000–£60,000

UK Local Authority social workers (children's + adult services) earn an average of £43,000 in 2025 according to BASW - up 25% nominally from £34,200 in 2017 but a real-terms fall of around 5.5%. Newly-qualified starting £30,000-£35,000; experienced practitioner £40,000-£48,000.

Median £43,326 · range £28,000–£90,000

UK electrical engineers design, develop, test and maintain electrical systems across power, transport, manufacturing, defence and renewables. PayScale UK average is £36,930 (2026); Indeed UK average sits higher at £43,326 (updated 9 June 2026). Glassdoor UK average £38,025 (June 2026). Chartered Engineer status (CEng) via the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) typically lifts pay 15-25% over the non-chartered baseline.

Median £43,613 · range £20,000–£90,000

UK mortgage brokers earn a low basic plus procuration-fee commission share, typically 0.35% of mortgage value per case arranged. Indeed records a UK average of £43,613. CeMAP qualification is the entry standard. CeMAP-qualified brokers typically reach £45,000-£55,000 within 2-3 years of qualifying; senior independent advisers and network principals £60,000-£90,000+.

Median £43,930 · range £38,020–£54,730

HEO covers deputy team leads, technical specialists and middle managers. Cabinet Office does not publish an HEO-only median: HEO and SEO are reported as one combined band, which stood at £43,930 across the Civil Service as at 31 March 2026 and ranged from £38,020 to £54,730 by department. Take-home below is calculated on 2026/27 tax rates.

Median £43,930 · range £38,020–£54,730

SEO is the senior delegated grade above HEO, usually the first management-of-managers role or a senior individual contributor. Cabinet Office reports SEO and HEO as one combined band rather than separately: it stood at £43,930 across the Civil Service as at 31 March 2026, ranging from £38,020 to £54,730 by department. A settled SEO sits in the upper part of that band.

Median £44,038 · range £39,959–£48,117

Band 6 is the first genuinely specialist grade — team leaders, practice nurses, community specialists, and clinical educators. Pay ranges £39,959–£48,117 (Agenda for Change 2026/27).

Median £44,038 · range £32,073–£56,515

Dietitians are HCPC-registered clinical professionals who sit on NHS Agenda for Change Band 5-7 (£32,073 to £56,515 in 2026/27), with advanced and consultant roles at Band 8a and above. Band 5-6 pay stays at basic rate; Band 7 crosses the £50,270 higher-rate threshold.

Median £44,038 · range £32,073–£56,515

Podiatrists (chiropodists) are HCPC-registered clinicians on NHS Agenda for Change Band 5-7 (£32,073 to £56,515 in 2026/27). Many run private practices where earnings vary with caseload. Band 5-6 pay stays at basic rate; Band 7 crosses the £50,270 higher-rate threshold.

Median £44,415 · range £35,925–£47,351

OF-1 covers both Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant, the first two commissioned ranks. Pay in 2026/27 starts at £35,925 on commissioning from Sandhurst and rises to £47,351 across five increment levels. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Median £44,742 · range £42,892–£44,742

Crew Manager is the first role above Firefighter on the NJC Grey Book scale and has two pay points, not a run of increments: £42,892 at the development rate and £44,742 at the competent rate, from 1 July 2026. The rates come from circular NJC/2/26 dated 3 July 2026, which applied an agreed 3.8% rise that Fire Brigades Union members voted to accept by 54% on a 68% turnout. Both points fall in the same Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 contribution band, 12.59%, so nothing about the pension changes as you move up the role.

Median £45,000 · range £30,000–£80,000

Data analyst is a broad category — from reporting/BI analyst through product analyst through data scientist. Typical UK range £30–50k junior/mid, £55–80k senior, £80–120k lead/principal.

Median £45,000 · range £35,000–£80,000

UK HR Managers typically earn £40,000-£55,000 with a national median around £45,000. Sector + organisation size + CIPD qualification level drive the spread. Large corporates and London-based roles £50,000-£65,000. Senior HR Managers and HR Business Partners £55,000-£80,000. CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualification adds approximately 15-17% to base salary.

Median £46,143 · range £29,787–£61,139

Logistics and supply chain managers coordinate warehouse, transport, procurement and inventory. ONS classifies them as managers in logistics (SOC 2020 1243), whose full-time median was £46,143 in ASHE 2025, with a quarter of the group below £36,461 and a quarter above £61,139.

Median £46,980 · range £45,711–£50,034

Watch Manager has three points on the NJC Grey Book scale from 1 July 2026: £45,711 in development, £46,980 at competent A and £50,034 at competent B, set by circular NJC/2/26 dated 3 July 2026 after an agreed 3.8% rise that Fire Brigades Union members accepted by 54% on a 68% turnout. The role starts just above a pension band boundary, so all three points pay 14.09% into the Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 rather than the 12.59% a Crew Manager pays.

Median £47,610 · range £47,610–£47,610

F2 is the second and final foundation year, the point at which a doctor gains full GMC registration. Basic pay in England is £47,610 at nodal point 2 for 2026 to 2027. That is a 7.1% rise on the £44,439 paid in 2025 to 2026, the largest increase anywhere on the resident doctor scale, because the negotiated nodal point reform loaded extra investment into the foundation years on top of the accepted 3.5% DDRB award.

Median £48,000 · range £30,000–£110,000

IMechE 2024 data put the median UK mechanical engineer salary at £48,000 nationally for general engineers and £62,000 for Chartered Engineers (CEng MIMechE). PayScale UK average £43,188 (broader sample including junior + technician grades). Mid-career mechanical engineers typically earn £40,000-£65,000+ depending on sector + project complexity. CEng chartership adds approximately £14,000 (+29%) to base.

Median £48,243 · range £46,022–£56,611

Sergeant is the senior NCO rank above Corporal. On the AFPRB pay scales in force from 1 April 2026, an OR-6 is paid £46,022 to £50,598 on trade supplement 1 and up to £56,611 on trade supplement 4, figures that already include X-Factor. They reflect the 3.6% award the Government accepted in full on 9 June 2026, backdated to 1 April 2026.

Median £49,193 · range £38,464–£86,528

Chartered surveyor median pay sits around £49,193 (Glassdoor May 2026) with London at £54,719 - an 11% London premium. Range £38,464 (25th percentile, AssocRICS / newly chartered) to £64,881 (75th percentile, established MRICS); FRICS senior fellows reach £86,528+.

Median £49,565 · range £35,000–£96,376

UK optometrists qualify with a BSc + Scheme for Registration year + GOC registration. Specsavers (the largest UK employer of optometrists) pays a median of £49,565 (Glassdoor June 2026), with experienced practitioners reaching £73,051 at the 90th percentile. NHS hospital optometrists sit on Agenda for Change Band 7 (£47,810-£54,710 in 2026/27); senior NHS roles reach Band 8d at £96,376.

Median £49,850 · range £30,317–£63,605

The CTA is the senior tax qualification, administered by the Chartered Institute of Taxation. ONS classifies the work as taxation experts (SOC 2020 2423), whose full-time median was £49,850 in ASHE 2025. ONS suppressed the upper percentiles for this group as not statistically robust, but the mean of £63,605 sits £13,755 above the median, which is the signature of a long upper tail.

Median £50,000 · range £25,000–£71,000

UK Quantity Surveyors earn roughly £25,000-£32,000 as graduates, £44,500-£56,000 once chartered (MRICS), and £57,000-£71,000 or more at senior/management level. Chartered status and sector (main contractor vs consultancy vs client-side) drive pay. SOC 2020 2453 (quantity surveyors).

Median £50,330 · range £30,000–£75,000

Financial analysts earn a full-time median of £50,330 (ONS ASHE 2025), typically £30,000 to £75,000 by sector and seniority. The median sits almost exactly on the £50,270 higher-rate threshold, so many analysts pay 40% tax on the top slice of their pay and any bonus.

Median £50,956 · range £49,134–£52,835

Teachers who pass the performance threshold move to the upper pay range, U1 to U3. Outside London that is £49,134 to £52,835 under the 2026 award, in force from 1 September 2026. These are classroom teachers without a leadership post, though many hold a Teaching and Learning Responsibility payment on top of the scale point.

Median £51,260 · range £47,810–£70,000

NHS hospital pharmacists sit on Agenda for Change Band 7 (£47,810-£54,710 for 2026/27 in England). Community pharmacists (Boots, Lloyds, Tesco, Asda, independents) earn £38,000-£55,000 as staff pharmacists with the cross-sector pharmacist median around £57,500 (Pharmacy Job Board, April 2026). Locum pharmacist rates run £35-£45/hour.

Median £51,932 · range £49,387–£56,515

Specialist Paramedics in critical care, HEMS, prescribing roles and advanced paramedic practice sit on NHS Band 7. Base pay for 2026/27 runs £49,387 at entry, £51,932 at the intermediate point and £56,515 at the top, with the Section 2 unsocial hours enhancement paid on top on operational rotas.

Median £51,932 · range £49,387–£91,609

UK Clinical Psychologists qualify through a three-year NHS-funded Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and enter at NHS Band 7, £49,387 to £56,515 for 2026/27. From there the route runs to Band 8a, £57,528 to £64,750, and to consultant posts at Band 8b and 8c, £66,582 to £91,609. The scales took effect on 1 April 2026 after the 3.3% award.

Median £52,000 · range £42,000–£65,000

Mid-level SWE (2–5 years experience) — typical UK private-sector £42–55k outside London, £55–75k London scale-ups, £85–120k at US tech. Near or at the £50,270 higher-rate threshold for most UK-average roles.

Median £52,000 · range £38,000–£90,000

The 2025 RIBA / Fees Bureau Employment & Earnings Survey put the full-time architect median at £52,000 (a 4% rise on 2024). London leads at £64,000 - £12,000 above the national median. Newly qualified architects (Part 3 / ARB registered) earn £38,000-£45,000 typically, with London Stage 1 at £42,000 median.

Median £52,000 · range £38,000–£78,000

Business analysts typically earn £38,000 to £78,000, with a mid-career figure around £52,000. ONS ASHE 2025 splits them across two SOC 2020 groups with full-time medians of £53,295 and £60,288. Most mid and senior analysts sit above the £50,270 higher-rate threshold and pay 40% on the excess.

Median £52,500 · range £35,000–£100,000

The Association for Project Management (APM) 2025 Salary Survey put the UK project management median salary at £52,500 - up 10% from £47,500 in 2023. Construction + IT + financial services + business + professional services average £57,500. Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status adds 15-25% above non-chartered. London + senior PMs reach £70,000-£100,000+.

Median £52,951 · range £49,387–£56,515

Band 7 covers senior clinical roles — Advanced Nurse Practitioners, ward sisters, team leads, clinical educators. Pay range £49,387–£56,515 (Agenda for Change 2026/27).

Median £53,295 · range £40,000–£93,362

Management consultants and business analysts had a full-time median of £53,295 (ONS ASHE 2025), with a very wide spread - a 90th percentile of £93,362 and MBB and Big Four partners far above that. Most consultants sit above the £50,270 higher-rate threshold, and senior pay hits the 60% personal-allowance-taper band.

Median £53,342 · range £36,160–£74,372

Actuaries qualify through the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries over several years of exams. ONS groups them with economists and statisticians (SOC 2020 2433), whose full-time median was £53,342 in ASHE 2025, with a quarter of the group below £41,906 and a quarter above £74,372.

Median £54,660 · range £53,568–£56,208

Sergeant is the first supervisory rank above Constable. Pay in England and Wales runs across three pay points, £53,568 to £56,208, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026 - below the 3.9% the Police Remuneration Review Body recommended - and the revised pay points are not published yet.

Median £54,845 · range £51,615–£65,249

Staff Sergeant is OR-7, known as Colour Sergeant in the infantry and equivalent to an RAF Chief Technician and a Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £51,615 to £65,249 across twelve increment levels and four trade supplements, including X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Median £55,000 · range £35,000–£150,000

Solicitor pay in the UK is a three-tier market: high-street and legal aid £28–40k, regional commercial £40–55k, City commercial £80–110k, and US firms in London £130,000+ NQ.

Median £55,000 · range £32,000–£110,000

UK civil engineers follow the ICE / IStructE / CIWEM chartership route. The ICE 2024 Salary Survey put the median Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE) at £55,000 nationally, with stronger rates in the South East and on large infrastructure projects (HS2, Hinkley Point C, Lower Thames Crossing). Non-chartered 5-10 year engineers sit at £48,000 median; chartership adds £10,000-£20,000 to base.

Median £55,175 · range £45,585–£67,348

UK university lecturers sit on UCEA single pay spine, typically Grade 7 (£45,585-£54,395) for new lecturers and Grade 8 (£55,755-£67,348) for senior lecturers. USS pension contribution 6.1% (post-2024 reform).

Median £55,355 · range £55,355–£55,355

ST1-2 is the first two years of specialty training after foundation. Basic pay in England is £55,355 for 2026 to 2027, the same at nodal points 3a and 3b, so ST1 and ST2 are paid alike on basic. Rota supplements for nights, weekends and on-call are paid on top.

Median £56,438 · range £33,208–£97,048

ONS codes engineering managers in software to IT managers (SOC 2020 2132), whose full-time median was £56,438 in ASHE 2025. The group runs from £33,208 at the 10th percentile to £97,048 at the 90th, which is wide enough to hold both a first-time manager and a director of engineering.

Median £56,914 · range £32,835–£102,860

The ONS coding index puts a web developer in "Programmers and software development professionals" (SOC 2020 2134), whose full-time median was £56,914 in ASHE 2025. The group is wide: £32,835 at the 10th percentile, £42,289 at the lower quartile, £75,794 at the upper quartile and £102,860 at the 90th.

Median £57,625 · range £32,651–£106,958

ONS groups account executives with sales accounts and business development managers (SOC 2020 3556), whose full-time median was £57,625 in ASHE 2025. The upper tail is long for a sales occupation, as you would expect where commission is a large part of pay: £79,598 at the upper quartile and £106,958 at the 90th percentile.

Median £58,277 · range £37,000–£100,000

UK vets are MRCVS-registered surgeons. The 2025 SPVS Salary Survey put the median full-time package (including benefits) at £58,277 - up 2.2% on 2024. BVA 2024 survey put median base at £50,000. Newly qualified vets earn £37,000-£45,000; mid-career (10-20 yrs) approximately £60,000; 20+ years £74,200. Locum vets command £500/day.

Median £59,784 · range £54,716–£64,852

Flight Lieutenant is the senior junior-officer rank in the RAF, equivalent to Captain in the Army and Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. On the AFPRB officer pay scale in force from 1 April 2026, an OF-2 is paid £54,716 at level 1 rising to £64,852 at level 8, figures that already include X-Factor. They reflect the 3.6% award the Government accepted in full on 9 June 2026, backdated to 1 April 2026.

Median £59,834 · range £35,097–£98,923

Product managers work across software, fintech and ecommerce. SOC 2020 has no unit group for the role: the ONS coding index scatters "Manager, product" across manufacturing and sales groups, none of which describes software product management. The closest fit is business and financial project management professionals (SOC 2020 2440), whose full-time median was £59,834 in ASHE 2025, ranging from £35,097 at the 10th percentile to £98,923 at the 90th.

Median £60,417 · range £57,528–£64,750

Consultant Paramedics are the most senior clinical paramedic role, leading advanced practice teams, research and workforce development. Band 8a pay for 2026/27 runs £57,528 at entry, £60,417 at the intermediate point and £64,750 at the top, and most consultant paramedics also hold advanced practitioner and prescribing rights.

Median £61,139 · range £57,528–£64,750

Band 8a covers service managers, matrons, senior AHPs and clinical leads with budget and people responsibility. Pay £57,528–£64,750 (2026/27 AfC).

Median £61,139 · range £57,528–£64,750

Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) hold prescribing rights and assess/diagnose/treat patients independently within their scope. 2026/27 AfC pay typically Band 8a (£57,528-£64,750) but some trusts cap at Band 7 senior or extend to Band 8b (£66,582+) for consultant-level ANPs.

Median £65,000 · range £45,000–£150,000

UK Independent Financial Advisers are split between employed (at network firms or banks) earning £45,000-£90,000, and self-employed practice owners earning £80,000-£200,000+. Most carry Level 4 Diploma (DipFA) minimum, many Level 6 Chartered.

Median £65,000 · range £45,000–£120,000

UK Financial Services Compliance Officers monitor FCA / PRA regulatory obligations across banking, asset management, fintech and insurance. Typical pay £45,000-£100,000+, with significant variance by sector (banking + asset management premium) + ICA / CISI qualifications.

Median £65,505 · range £63,768–£68,982

Inspector is the senior shift-commander rank above Sergeant. Pay in England and Wales runs across four pay points, £63,768 to £68,982, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026 - below the 3.9% the Police Remuneration Review Body recommended - and the revised pay points are not published yet. London forces have a separate, higher Inspector scale.

Median £65,802 · range £64,704–£68,982

Warrant Officer Class 1 is OR-9, the most senior non-commissioned rank, held as Regimental Sergeant Major and equivalent appointments. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £64,704 to £68,982 across six increment levels, a narrower band than any rank below it. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Median £65,830 · range £58,300–£89,790

Grade 7 is the first genuinely senior policy grade - branch head, team lead, senior analyst. Cabinet Office reports Grade 6 and Grade 7 as one combined band: it stood at £65,830 across the Civil Service as at 31 March 2026, ranging from £58,300 to £89,790 by department. Grade 7 sits in the lower part of that band.

Median £65,830 · range £58,300–£89,790

Grade 6 is the most senior delegated grade below the Senior Civil Service. Cabinet Office reports Grade 6 and Grade 7 as one combined band: it stood at £65,830 across the Civil Service as at 31 March 2026, ranging from £58,300 to £89,790 by department. Grade 6 sits in the upper part of that band.

Median £67,998 · range £67,325–£67,998

ST3-5 covers mid-specialty training, typically registrar grade. Basic pay in England for 2026 to 2027 is £67,325 at ST3 (nodal point 4a) and £67,998 at ST4 and ST5 (4b and 4c). Rota supplements are paid on top of basic.

Median £68,000 · range £48,000–£130,000

Newly-qualified ACAs in Big 4 London earn £55–65k in 2024; regional firms £45–55k. Progression to manager (3–5 yrs PQ): £65–85k. Senior manager / director (5-10 yrs): £90–170k.

Median £70,896 · range £66,582–£77,368

Band 8b covers directorate-level managers, senior consultant AHPs and assistant directors. Pay for 2026/27 runs £66,582 at entry, £70,896 at the intermediate point and £77,368 at the top.

Median £71,715 · range £70,344–£73,149

Chief Inspector is the rank above Inspector and the last of the federated ranks below superintending level. Pay in England and Wales runs across three pay points, £70,344 to £73,149, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026 - below the 3.9% the Police Remuneration Review Body recommended - and the revised pay points are not published yet.

Median £72,000 · range £60,000–£90,000

Deputy heads are paid on the leadership group pay range. the accepted 2026 award sets that range at £53,586 to £148,829 outside London and £63,709 to £158,863 in inner London, and the governing body sets an individual pay range for each post inside that span. Where a post sits depends on school size, headteacher group and the governing body's own pay policy.

Median £72,000 · range £58,000–£85,000

Senior SWE (5+ years experience, technical ownership, mentoring) typical range £58–85k UK private-sector, £90–140k+ at London scale-ups or US tech London offices. Firmly into the 40% tax band.

Median £75,264 · range £37,223–£110,752

There is no published median for charity chief executive pay. ONS suppresses ASHE entirely for charitable organisation managers and directors (SOC 2020 1135) - no median, no mean, no percentiles - so the figures here are for the wider minor group it belongs to, functional managers and directors, whose full-time median was £75,264 in ASHE 2025. That group also contains corporate finance, HR and marketing directors, so read it as context rather than as a charity figure. For an actual number, charity accounts are the place to look.

Median £75,292 · range £68,624–£81,960

Major is OF-3 on the NATO scale, equivalent to an RAF Squadron Leader and a Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £68,624 to £81,960 across eight increment levels. The published OF-3 scale carries five further increments to £90,371, but the pay tables reserve those for RAF Engineer Officers by selection, so no Army Major reaches them. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Median £75,292 · range £68,624–£90,371

Squadron Leader is OF-3 on the Armed Forces pay tables, the same rank level as an Army Major and a Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander and paid the same money. In 2026/27 the scale runs £68,624 to £81,960 over eight increments, then continues to £90,371 over five more that the tables reserve for RAF Engineer Officers by selection. The figures include X-Factor and carry the 3.6% award the Government accepted in full on 9 June 2026, backdated to 1 April 2026.

Median £76,327 · range £49,736–£86,763

Train and tram drivers had a full-time median of £76,327 in ONS ASHE 2025, one of the highest of any occupation without a degree requirement. The group is tightly clustered at the top and spread at the bottom: the 25th percentile is £68,924 and the 75th is £83,129, but the 10th percentile is £49,736, reflecting drivers still in or recently out of training.

Median £77,348 · range £76,582–£77,348

ST6-8 covers the final years of specialty training, senior registrar grade in many specialties. Basic pay in England for 2026 to 2027 is £76,582 at ST6 (nodal point 5a) and £77,348 at ST7 and ST8 (5b and 5c). Rota supplements are paid on top.

Median £77,509 · range £56,977–£84,961

ONS measures solicitors and lawyers as one occupation (SOC 2020 2412) without splitting by post-qualification experience. A senior solicitor sits in the upper part of it: the 75th percentile was £77,509 in ASHE 2025 and the 80th £84,961, against a group median of £56,977 covering every level of call. ONS suppressed the 90th percentile for this group as not robust.

Median £78,200 · range £78,200–£78,200

Most NHS dentists are self-employed, working as associates under General Dental Services contracts rather than on a salary. NHS England, using HMRC tax records, put average taxable income for self-employed primary care dentists in England at £78,200 in 2023/24, up 3.2% on the £75,800 recorded for 2022/23. That figure covers both NHS and private work. ONS suppresses ASHE entirely for dental practitioners, so this is the only published measure of what the profession earns.

Median £80,864 · range £73,513–£80,864

Deputy Governor sits at Band 9 in the HMPPS structure, below Governor at Bands 10 and 11 and above Head of Function. Base pay runs from £73,513 to £80,864, and with the 20% required hours addition the range becomes £88,216 to £97,037. The 3.5% PSPRB award was accepted in full on 26 March 2026 and backdated to 1 April.

Median £81,804 · range £63,696–£102,689

Specialty doctor is one of the two SAS grades still open to new entrants after the 2021 reform. Basic pay in England runs from £63,696 to £102,689 across five distinct pay points, with a pay threshold between the eighth and ninth year. The scale carries the 3.5% DDRB award accepted on 25 March 2026 and effective from 1 April.

Median £84,346 · range £79,504–£91,609

Band 8c covers senior service managers, deputy chief AHPs and consultant clinicians on the managerial track. Pay for 2026/27 runs £79,504 at entry, £84,346 at the intermediate point and £91,609 at the top.

Median £85,000 · range £60,619–£148,829

Headteacher pay is set by the school's headteacher group, which STPCD assigns from its total unit score rather than from pupil numbers alone. Under the accepted 2026 award the rest-of-England ranges run from £60,619 to £80,652 for Group 1 up to £104,059 to £148,829 for Group 8, with higher ranges in the fringe area and the two London areas.

Median £88,449 · range £84,177–£99,015

Superintendent is the first of the superintending ranks, above Chief Inspector and below Chief Superintendent. Pay in England and Wales runs across four pay points, £84,177 to £99,015, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026, below the 3.9% recommended, and the revised pay points are not published yet.

Median £89,472 · range £81,338–£100,694

Governing governors sit on Fair and Sustainable Bands 10 and 11: £81,338 to £89,472 at Band 10 and £91,540 to £100,694 at Band 11 from 1 April 2026, with a 20% Required Hours Addition on top where it applies. Below them, Band 9 deputy governors are on £73,513 to £80,864 and Band 8 deputy governors and heads of function on £57,398 to £63,139. Above them, a Prison Group Director (Band 12) is on a £125,902 spot rate.

Median £95,000 · range £40,000–£220,000

UK commercial airline pilots earn from £40,000 (regional First Officer) to over £220,000 (senior easyJet Captain). British Airways Captains £100,000-£167,000+; senior long-haul exceed £200,000. easyJet post-2024 BALPA deal pays FOs £68,000-£98,000 and Captains £170,000-£220,000 - now one of the highest-paying A320 operators in Europe with RPI-linked pay rises.

Median £98,729 · range £78,699–£118,759

DDRB salaried GP pay range for 2026/27 in England rose to £78,699-£118,759 after the DDRB 54th Report 3.5% uplift (up from £76,038-£114,743 in 2025/26). Salaried GPs (employed by GP partners or PCNs) sit between newly qualified at the bottom of the range and senior or extended-hours GPs at the top.

Median £98,729 · range £78,699–£118,759

Locum GPs are self-employed, filling sessions at practices and PCNs ad hoc. No official statistic measures what they earn: NHS England publishes GP earnings for contractor and salaried GPs only, and ONS surveys employee jobs, so locums fall outside both. The nearest published anchor is the salaried GP contract range for 2026/27, £78,699 to £118,759, against which sessional rates are negotiated - there is no nationally fixed locum rate.

Median £100,140 · range £94,356–£108,814

Band 8d covers deputy directors, lead consultants and head-of-department roles. Pay for 2026/27 runs £94,356 at entry, £100,140 at the intermediate point and £108,814 at the top, with the whole band inside the 12.5% pension tier.

Median £103,328 · range £95,850–£110,806

Lieutenant Colonel is OF-4, equivalent to an RAF Wing Commander and a Royal Navy Commander, and typically a battalion or regiment commanding officer. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £95,850 to £110,806 across eight increment levels. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Median £107,226 · range £103,797–£115,785

Chief Superintendent is the most senior rank covered by the Police Remuneration Review Body; everything above it is set by the Senior Salaries Review Body. Pay runs across three pay points, £103,797 to £115,785, on the scale awaiting the determination that implements the 3.5% award from 1 September 2026. The Home Secretary awarded 3.5% from 1 September 2026, below the 3.9% recommended, and the revised pay points are not published yet.

Median £108,484 · range £104,401–£115,341

Specialist is the senior SAS grade, created by the 2021 reform alongside the specialty doctor. Basic pay in England runs from £104,401 to £115,341 across three pay points reached at 0, 3 and 6 years in the grade. The scale carries the 3.5% DDRB award effective 1 April 2026.

Median £119,583 · range £112,782–£129,783

Band 9 covers executive directors, chief AHPs and clinical executives. Pay for 2026/27 runs £112,782 at entry, £119,583 at the intermediate point and £129,783 at the top. Two of those three points are inside the personal allowance taper once the pension contribution is taken off, and none reaches the £125,140 additional-rate threshold.

Median £120,200 · range £72,200–£158,700

GP income splits sharply by contract type. NHS England, using HMRC Self Assessment records for 2023/24, put average income before tax at £158,700 for contractor GPs (partners), £72,200 for salaried GPs and £120,200 across both. Those are averages including part-time working and private income, not a pay scale. The salaried GP contract range for 2026/27 is separately set at £78,699 to £118,759.

Median £121,577 · range £115,881–£127,272

Colonel is OF-5, equivalent to an RAF Group Captain and a Royal Navy Captain. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £115,881 to £127,272 across eight increment levels. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026. This is the rank at which the personal allowance is largely, and at the top entirely, tapered away.

Median £123,672 · range £113,565–£150,569

Consultant is the senior career grade after CCT. Basic pay in England under the 2003 contract runs from £113,565 at appointment to £150,569 at the top, across five thresholds reached over 14 years as a consultant. The scale carries the 3.5% DDRB award accepted from 1 April 2026.

Median £140,640 · range £137,874–£143,406

Brigadier is OF-6, equivalent to an RAF Air Commodore and a Royal Navy Commodore, and the first rank above Colonel. Pay in 2026/27 runs from £137,874 to £143,406 across six increment levels. Figures include X-Factor and the 3.6% award accepted on 9 June 2026.

Median £144,350 · range £144,350–£144,350

District Judges hear civil and family work in the County Court, on salary group 7 of the judicial schedule: £144,350 from 1 April 2026, a 3.5% uplift on the £139,469 paid the year before. The pension is the part that catches people out. The Judicial Pension Scheme 2022 is tax-unregistered, so the 4.26% contribution comes out of already-taxed pay instead of reducing the tax bill.

Median £144,350 · range £144,350–£144,350

A salaried Employment Judge decides disputes between workers and employers in the Employment Tribunals, on salary group 7 of the judicial schedule: £144,350 from 1 April 2026. One line in the schedule covers England and Wales and Scotland together, so residence rather than jurisdiction is what changes take-home. Northern Ireland is a separate office, still shown at £139,469 pending its own pay decision.

Median £179,939 · range £179,939–£179,939

Circuit Judges are appointed to one of the six circuits of England and Wales and sit in the Crown Court and the County Court, on salary group 5.2: £179,939 from 1 April 2026. That is £35,589 more than a District Judge on group 7, but only about £17,346 of it survives to the bank account: every pound of the increase is taxed at the additional rate, National Insurance takes 2% on top, and the judicial pension takes 4.26% of it with no tax relief.