Median wage calculator

UK Median Wage Calculator

See whether a wage is above or below the UK full-time median, with estimated percentile and take-home pay context.

Use this calculator when you want to compare an annual salary, monthly wage, weekly wage or hourly rate with the UK full-time median. Results are estimates based on benchmark pay data and do not replace payroll, career or financial advice.

Median wage comparison

Enter your wage

Compare annual, monthly, weekly or hourly wage with the UK full-time median, then see take-home pay context using the same 2026/27 salary assumptions as the main calculator.

Results update as you edit the wage.

At the UK full-time median

£0

above the UK full-time median gross annual wage of £39,039.

Annual gross wage
£39,039
Estimated percentile
50th
Monthly take-home
£2,635.64

Where this wage sits

LowerMedianHigher

50th percentile

Above the UK full-time median

Estimated pay split

Take-home
£31,628
Deductions
£7,411

Median wage breakdown

UK median annual wage
£39,039
UK median monthly wage
£3,253.25
UK median weekly wage
£750.75
Your distance from median
+£0 (0%)
Estimated annual take-home
£31,628
Estimated deduction rate
18.98%

Estimate only. Median wage comparison uses UK full-time gross annual pay benchmarks. It does not adjust for region, occupation, household income, part-time work or cost of living.

How this median wage calculator works

The calculator converts the wage you enter into a gross annual figure. Annual, monthly and weekly wages are multiplied directly; hourly wages are multiplied by weekly hours and 52 weeks.

It then compares that annual gross wage with the UK full-time median salary benchmark and estimates the percentile band. Take-home pay is shown separately using 2026/27 salary calculator assumptions for tax region, pension type and student loan plan.

Example: £18.77 per hour for 37.5 hours per week

An hourly wage of £18.77 for 37.5 hours per week is about £36,602 gross annual pay before deductions. The calculator compares that annualised figure with the UK full-time median and then estimates take-home pay using the selected tax settings.

What this estimate includes

The estimate includes gross annual wage conversion, comparison with the UK full-time median, estimated percentile position, income tax, employee National Insurance, pension contribution and student loan where selected.

What this estimate does not include

It does not adjust the median for region, age, occupation, sector, household income, part-time work, bonus-heavy roles, cost of living, benefits, overtime patterns or unusual tax codes.

When this estimate may be wrong

The comparison may be misleading if your hours vary, your wage includes irregular bonus or overtime, your role has unusually high regional variation, or you are trying to compare household income rather than individual full-time gross pay.

Frequently asked questions

What is the UK median wage?

This calculator uses the UK full-time gross annual median from the salary benchmark dataset used on WageCalculator.uk. It is a benchmark for full-time employee jobs, not household income or part-time earnings.

Is median wage the same as average wage?

No. The median is the middle point where half of full-time employee jobs are below and half are above. The average or mean can be pulled upward by very high earners.

Can I compare hourly wage with the median?

Yes. Enter an hourly wage and weekly hours. The calculator annualises it as hourly wage x weekly hours x 52 before comparing it with the full-time median.

Does this use take-home pay or gross pay?

The median comparison uses gross annual pay because that is how the benchmark data is structured. The calculator also shows take-home pay as supporting context.

Does the median wage change by region or job?

Yes. Regional, occupation, age and sector medians can be very different. This page uses a UK-wide full-time benchmark, so it should be treated as broad context.

Why is my percentile only estimated?

The percentile is interpolated between benchmark points. It is useful for broad positioning, not as an exact ranking of every worker in the UK.

Related calculators and methodology