Wales average salary comparison
The average salary in Wales is £42.8k. The UK average salary is £52.1k in 2026. Gross average salary is calculated for full-time employees. Employee has to be in the same job for over 12 months. The income includes incentive payments.Full-time Employee Average Salary Compared to UK Average in Wales and Nearby Regions| Region | Average salary in 2026 |
|---|
| Wales | £42.8k |
| North West | £45.4k |
| West Midlands | £45.5k |
| South West | £45.7k |
| United Kingdom | £52.1k |
Wales average salary comparison by sex
The average salary for female in Wales is £39.1k. The UK average salary for female is £45.2k in 2026. The average salary for male in Wales is £45.7k. The UK average salary for male is £57.2k in 2026.Full-time Employee Male and Female Average Salary in Wales and Nearby Regions Compared to UK| Region | Female average salary, 2026 | Male average salary |
|---|
| Wales | £39.1k | £45.7k |
| North West | £40.2k | £49.4k |
| West Midlands | £39.6k | £49.4k |
| South West | £40.1k | £49.4k |
| United Kingdom | £45.2k | £57.2k |
Wales median salary comparison
The median salary in Wales is £37.3k. The UK median salary is £40.9k in 2026.Full-time Employee Median Salary Compared to UK Median Salary in Wales and Nearby Regions| Region | Median salary in 2026 |
|---|
| Wales | £37.3k |
| North West | £38.6k |
| West Midlands | £38.6k |
| South West | £39.1k |
| United Kingdom | £40.9k |
Wales median salary comparison by sex
The median salary for female in Wales is £34.9k. The UK median salary for female is £37.5k in 2026. The median salary for male in Wales is £39.0k. The UK median salary for male is £43.9k in 2026.Full-time Employee Male and Female Median Salary in Wales and Nearby Regions Compared to UK| Region | Female median salary in 2026 | Male median salary |
|---|
| Wales | £34.9k | £39.0k |
| North West | £35.0k | £41.6k |
| West Midlands | £34.8k | £41.5k |
| South West | £35.2k | £41.9k |
| United Kingdom | £37.5k | £43.9k |
Wales unemployment rate comparison
The unemployment rate in Wales is 3.9%. The UK unemployment rate is 4.4% in 2026.Unemployment Rate Compared to UK Unemployment Rate in Wales and Nearby Regions| Region | Unemployment rate in 2026 |
|---|
| South West | 3.4% |
| Wales | 3.9% |
| North West | 4.3% |
| United Kingdom | 4.4% |
| West Midlands | 5.5% |
Wales house price to earnings ratio
The median property price to median earnings ratio in Wales is 5.8. Ie. Wales resident with middle-income needs 5.8 gross annual salaries to buy a medium-priced property. The England and Wales ratio is 7.54 in 2024.Median House Price to Median Salary Ratio Compared to UK ration in Wales and Nearby Regions| Region | Median house price / salary ratio in 2024 |
|---|
| North West | 5.8 |
| Wales | 5.8 |
| West Midlands | 6.9 |
| England and Wales | 7.54 |
| South West | 8.4 |
Wales 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 Mid Glamorgan, with £28.6k. The area with the highest average net income was South Glamorgan, with £33.9k. Median income was £29.7k - i.e. half of the areas had income equal or above £29.7k. 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 Wales region.| The lowest income | £28.6k |
| The median income | £29.7k |
| The highest income | £33.9k |
Wales working age population share
2024 population estimates.
42.5
Wales
average age40.8
England & Wales
average age
Population Distribution in Wales region by Age Group vs. England and Wales| age group | head-count | % share of population | % for Eng & Wales |
|---|
| 0-15 | 546k | 17.1% | 18.3% |
| 16-64 | 1.9M | 61.1% | 62.8% |
| 65+ | 693k | 21.7% | 18.9% |
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