Bedfordshire average salary comparison

The average salary is ranging between £41.6k in Central Bedfordshire and £48.9k in Bedford. The UK average salary was £48.5k in 2025. Gross average salary is calculated for full-time employees. Employee has to be in the same job for over 12 months. The data collected is Tax Year Ending. The income includes incentive payments and are available for local government districts/counties.

Full-time Employee Average Salary Compared to UK Average in Bedfordshire Nearby Areas
Local authority	Average salary in 2025
Central Bedfordshire	£41.6k
Luton	£46.3k
United Kingdom	£48.5k
Bedford	£48.9k

Bedfordshire average salary comparison by sex

The average salary for female is ranging between £35.1k in Central Bedfordshire and £38.5k in Bedford. The UK average salary for female was £42.6k in 2025. The average salary for male is ranging between £46.4k in Central Bedfordshire and £55.8k in Bedford. The UK average salary for male was £52.8k in 2025.

Full-time Employee Male and Female Average Salary in Bedfordshire Nearby Areas Compared to UK
Local authority	Female average salary, 2025	Male average salary
Central Bedfordshire	£35.1k	£46.4k
Luton	£36.9k	£55.0k
United Kingdom	£42.6k	£52.8k
Bedford	£38.5k	£55.8k

Bedfordshire median salary comparison

The median salary is ranging between £36.9k in Luton and £38.0k in Bedford. The UK median salary was £39.0k in 2025.

Full-time Employee Median Salary Compared to UK Median Salary in Bedfordshire Nearby Areas
Local authority	Median salary in 2025
Luton	£36.9k
Central Bedfordshire	£37.7k
Bedford	£38.0k
United Kingdom	£39.0k

Bedfordshire median salary comparison by sex

The median salary for female is ranging between £33.2k in Luton and £35.6k in Bedford. The UK median salary for female was £35.7k in 2025. The median salary for male is ranging between £41.8k in Luton and £39.7k in Bedford. The UK median salary for male was £41.8k in 2025.

Full-time Employee Male and Female Median Salary in Bedfordshire Nearby Areas Compared to UK
Local authority	Female median salary in 2025	Male median salary
Luton	£33.2k	£41.8k
Central Bedfordshire	£30.7k	£42.0k
Bedford	£35.6k	£39.7k
United Kingdom	£35.7k	£41.8k

Bedfordshire unemployment rate comparison

The unemployment rate is ranging between 3% in Central Bedfordshire and 5.6% in Luton. The UK unemployment rate was 4% in 2025.

Unemployment Rate Compared to UK Unemployment Rate in Bedfordshire Nearby Areas
Local authority	Unemployment rate in 2025
Central Bedfordshire	3%
Bedford	3.9%
United Kingdom	4%
Luton	5.6%

Bedfordshire house price to earnings ratio

The median property price to median earnings ratio is ranging between 8.3 in Bedford and 9 in Luton. Ie. Bedford resident with middle-income needs 8.3 gross annual salaries to buy a medium-priced property. Resident in Luton needs 9 annual salaries. The England and Wales ratio was 7.54 in 2024.

Median House Price to Median Salary Ratio Compared to UK ration in Bedfordshire Nearby Areas
Local authority	Median house price / salary ratio in 2024
England and Wales	7.54
Bedford	8.3
Central Bedfordshire	8.4
Luton	9

Bedfordshire net household income map

Map shows the net average household income in 2020 by middle layer super output area (MSOA). The lowest average net household income was in Luton 018, with £26.8k. The area with the highest average net income was Luton 007, with £44.9k. Median income was £37.4k - i.e. half of the areas had income equal or above £37.4k. Median income for England and Wales was 34.5k ( the lowest income was in Middlesbrough 001, £19.3k, the highest in Westminster 019, £67.0k).

The lowest, the Median and the Highest Household Income in Bedfordshire county.
The lowest income	£26.8k
The median income	£37.4k
The highest income	£44.9k

Bedfordshire working age population share

2024 population estimates.

38.6

Bedfordshire
average age

40.8

England & Wales
average age

Bedfordshire working age population share

Population Distribution in Bedfordshire county by Age Group vs. England and Wales
age group	head-count	% share of population	% for Eng & Wales
0-15	158k	21.0%	18.3%
16-64	474k	63.2%	62.8%
65+	118k	15.7%	18.9%