Average Earnings: Key Economic Indicators

In April 2021 median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in the UK were £611, up from £586 in April 2020. Adjusted for inflation, median earnings for full-time employees increased by 2.8%.

Timelier but less detailed data show average weekly earnings for all employees in Great Britain increased by 4.0% excluding bonuses in the three months to February 2022 compared with the previous year. Average weekly pay including bonuses increased by 5.4%.

Inflation as measured by the CPI averaged 5.7% over the same period. After adjusting for inflation, average pay excluding bonuses was 1.4% lower than the previous year and average pay including bonuses was 0.3% lower.

Trends by Sector

Average weekly total pay (including bonuses) rose by 6.2% in the private sector and grew by 1.9% in the public sector in the three months to February 2022 compared with the year before.

Pay Levels

Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were £15.59 for full-time employees at April 2021: £16.13 for men working full-time and £14.85 for women.  

Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were £10.65 for part-time employees; £10.45 for men and £10.73 for women. Women are more likely than men to work part-time.

The median is the point at which half earn more and half earn less.