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Is £30,000/year a Good Salary in United Kingdom?

About half of full-time workers in United Kingdom earn below this and roughly half earn above. It's a true "normal" salary.

Average~39th percentile · 14% below median

A gross salary of this level in United Kingdom sits around the 39th percentile — average for the country. After estimated tax, take-home is roughly 24,114 GBP/year.

Net / year
£24,114
Net / month
£2,010
Vs. median
0.86×
Big-city rent
high pressure

What does this salary mean?

In United Kingdom, £30,000 per year lands close to entry-level pay. Essentials are covered; savings and lifestyle spending require active budgeting.

Broken down monthly, that is roughly £2,500 gross per month — and about £2,010/month (£24,114/year) after estimated tax in United Kingdom.

Supporting a family on a single income at this level in United Kingdom is difficult — most households would need a second earner or significant cost-cutting.

Monthly affordability snapshot

Directional pressure across the main spending categories at this income in United Kingdom.

HousingComfortable

Comfortable rent budget across most United Kingdom regions, including London.

Food & basicsManageable

Day-to-day food and household basics are covered without strain.

TransportManageable

Owning a modest car or commuting daily is sustainable.

Savings potentialManageable

A 5–15% savings rate is realistic with discipline, more outside metro areas.

Lifestyle flexibilityManageable

Occasional travel, hobbies, and extras fit, but require planning.

Rent pressure

In London, rent would consume about 42% of take-home, leaving a usable but watchful budget. Sheffield feels noticeably easier. These are directional figures based on typical 1-bedroom rent benchmarks; actual rent depends heavily on neighbourhood, size, and timing.

Take-home pay context

Gross pay is what's listed on the offer; net pay is what arrives after income tax and National Insurance (Class 1). For this level in United Kingdom, the combined effective deduction is roughly 20%, leaving about £2,010 per month. Actual take-home varies with state/regional taxes, filing status, retirement contributions, and benefits — treat these as planning figures rather than payroll numbers.

Lifestyle tier

Estimated tier
Tight

Manages basic needs but with little slack. Rent, transport, and food consume most of the monthly budget.

Practical interpretation

  • Family expenses (childcare, healthcare) can make this stretch — dual income helps.
  • Pay-period choice (monthly vs yearly) doesn't change the underlying purchasing power.
  • Comfortable in mid-cost United Kingdom cities; tighter in London.
  • Targeting a 10–15% savings rate is realistic with steady budgeting.

How it stacks up in United Kingdom

Minimum wage£23,795
National median£35,000
National average£41,000
This salary£30,000
Top 10%£65,000

What this salary means in practice

Family support

A family can live on this salary in United Kingdom, but it's tight in major cities. Many households at this level run as dual-income.

Saving potential

Realistic savings rate at this level is in low single digits — most income is consumed by essentials.

Renting in the city

Renting in London eats a heavy share of net pay; smaller cities like Sheffield feel much more sustainable.

London vs Sheffield

In London, costs run roughly 45% above the national baseline — so the same salary feels meaningfully different than it does in Sheffield.

What earners at this level can usually afford

Small apartment (solo)Realistic

Realistic in most cities

Used car ownershipRealistic

Affordable with monthly budgeting

1 vacation per yearRealistic

Comfortable to plan annually

Eating out weeklyTight

Occasional, not routine

Mortgage in mid-cost cityTight

Difficult without dual income

Save 20%+ of net payTight

Hard while covering essentials

Premium housing in metroTight

Generally out of range

Adjust the numbers

Try a different country or amount to see how the verdict shifts.

Average~39th percentile · 14% below median
A gross salary of this level in United Kingdom sits around the 39th percentile — average for the country. After estimated tax, take-home is roughly 24,114 GBP/year.
Minimum wage£23,795
National median£35,000
National average£41,000
This salary£30,000
Top 10%£65,000
Net / year
£24,114
Net / month
£2,010
Big-city rent
high pressure

Compared against London cost-of-living baseline. Estimates only — not financial advice.

Other United Kingdom salary verdicts

Is £40,000/year good in United Kingdom?
Average · ~58th percentile
Is £60,000/year good in United Kingdom?
Upper-Middle · ~82th percentile
Is £85,000/year good in United Kingdom?
High Income · ~92th percentile
Is £110,000/year good in United Kingdom?
High Income · ~94th percentile

Go deeper

See full tax breakdownSalary & Tax Calculator
What this means in practice

In United Kingdom, £30,000/year is below the national median — about 14% below the median. After ~20% in income tax and social contributions, take-home is around £2,010/month (£24,114/year). Living costs in London run noticeably higher than the national average, so the same paycheck stretches further in smaller cities.

  • Below national median
  • Tight for single person
  • Tight for family of 4
  • High big-city housing pressure
  • Limited savings room
  • Low tax burden

Compare nearby United Kingdom salaries

Common questions

Last updated: 2026. Verdict uses simplified national statistics. Estimates only — not financial advice.