Average Salary for Expats in the UK (2026): What the Numbers Don’t Tell You
The offer letter looked solid on paper. Good title. Decent salary. London postcode. Then the first payslip landed, followed by rent, council tax, transport, and a tax code that quietly did its work.
By the end of month one, the number that mattered wasn’t the salary — it was what survived. To understand the average salary for expats in the UK in 2026, you have to look past the headline and into the mechanics behind it.
Average salaries for expats in the UK (2026)
Let’s anchor this in current, verified numbers — not recycled blog estimates.
- Median full‑time salary (UK): ~£39,800 gross per year
- Mean salary (skewed by high earners): £44,000–£46,000
- Median part‑time salary: ~£14,000 per year
- Median weekly earnings (full‑time): £766 (April 2025 ASHE data)
Here’s the first gap most expats miss:
Median matters more than average. The “average” UK salary is inflated by executives, finance, and tech. Most people — including skilled expats — live closer to the median.
London salaries vs the rest of the UK
London remains a salary outlier — and a cost‑of‑living trap.
In 2026, the median London salary sits around £45,000, roughly £5,000–£7,000 higher than the UK median.
But rent alone often absorbs that difference.
- 1‑bed flat, central London: £2,100–£2,250/month
- Monthly travel pass: ~£180
- Utilities (average flat): £250–£300/month
This is why many expats earning “good money” in London still feel underpaid.
Average hourly wages for expats UK
Hourly pay tells a more honest story.
- Median hourly pay (full‑time): £19.67
- Median hourly pay (part‑time): £14.11
- Gender pay gap (full‑time): ~7%
Women remain far more likely to work part‑time — a structural issue that still shapes expat earnings in Britain.
UK minimum wage for expats (April 2026)
This is one area where the UK has quietly shifted.
From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage increased significantly.
- Age 21+: £12.71/hour
- Age 18–20: £10.85/hour
- Age 16–17: £8.00/hour
- Apprentices: £8.00/hour
At 37.5 hours per week, this sets a minimum annual salary of £24,784.
Enough to survive outside London. Barely enough inside it.
Highest‑paid jobs for expats in the UK
Expats don’t win in Britain by working harder. They win by working strategically.
| Role | Typical Salary (2026) |
| Chief Executive / Director | £95,000–£130,000+ |
| Investment & Finance Manager | £75,000–£100,000 |
| Software Engineer (Senior) | £65,000–£95,000 |
| Data Scientist | £60,000–£90,000 |
| Air Traffic Controller / Pilot | £80,000–£110,000 |
| Legal Specialist / Solicitor | £60,000–£85,000 |
Average salary for expat doctors in the UK
The NHS remains one of the UK’s strongest salary ladders — once you survive the early years.
- Junior doctor: £39,000–£53,000
- GP: £65,000–£100,000
- Consultant: £85,000–£115,000
- Dentist: £75,000–£120,000+
Private practice and seniority can push earnings well beyond £200,000 — but only after years of UK system navigation.
The lowest salaries in Britain for expats
This is where the illusion breaks.
- Hospitality staff: £16,000–£18,000
- Cleaners & service roles: ~£17,000
- Teaching assistants: ~£18,000
- Retail & café staff: £16,500–£19,000
These roles often qualify for visas — but barely for dignity.
Cost of living in the UK (real 2026 prices)
Here’s where salaries quietly evaporate.
- Bread (loaf): £1.55
- Rice (1kg): £1.70
- Eggs (12): £3.80
- Monthly transport (London): £180
- Petrol (1 litre): £1.40
- Gym membership: £55–£60/month
- Private nursery: £1,800–£2,000/month
ONS data shows UK households now spend around 75% of income on essentials. That’s the real constraint expats feel — not taxes.
The benefit no salary chart shows
Despite everything, expats still come.
Because the UK offers something rare: predictability.
Free public healthcare access, world‑class education, rule‑of‑law stability, and global career mobility.
The expats who succeed don’t chase the UK for money.
They use the UK to compound credibility.
That’s the difference no average salary figure will ever show.
