Average Earnings: Key Economic Indicators

In April 2022 median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in the UK were £640, up from £611 in April 2021. Adjusted for inflation, median earnings for full-time employees decreased by 3.7%.

Timelier but less detailed data show average weekly earnings for all employees in Great Britain increased by 6.5% excluding bonuses in the three months to January 2023 compared with the previous year. Average weekly pay including bonuses increased by 5.7%.

Inflation as measured by the CPI averaged 10.4% over the same period. After adjusting for inflation, average pay excluding bonuses was 3.5% lower than the previous year and average pay including bonuses was 4.3% lower.

Trends by Sector

Average weekly total pay (including bonuses) rose by 5.9% in the private sector and by 4.8% in the public sector in the three months to January 2023 compared with the year before.

Pay Levels

Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were £16.30 for full-time employees at April 2022: £16.86 for men working full-time and £15.47 for women.  

Median hourly earnings (excluding overtime) were £11.19 for part-time employees; £10.98 for men and £11.29 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.