Global Wealth Explorer·Europe

🇬🇧Income and wealth in United Kingdom

A high-income country where London pulls the top of the distribution upward.

Higher confidence

In the United Kingdom, a typical income is about £29,000 ($36,800) a year. To reach the top 10%, income is around £65,000+, and an estimated top 1% starts near £210,000+ ($267,000+).

Income tiers in United Kingdom

Income tier
Typical income (median)

The middle of the range. Half earn less, half earn more.

£29,000
$36,800
≈ USD
Middle class

Roughly 75% to 200% of the median, a common way to define the middle.

£21,800 to £58,000
$27,600 to $73,700
≈ USD
Upper middle class

Above the middle band, up to the start of the top 10%.

£58,000 to £65,000
$73,700 to $82,600
≈ USD
Top 10%

Income at or above this level is in roughly the top tenth.

£65,000+
$82,600+
≈ USD
Top 1% (estimated)

An approximate threshold for the top one percent.

£210,000+
$267,000+
≈ USD

The income ladder

How income climbs from typical to the top, in United Kingdom. Shown on a compressed scale so every step stays visible.

Typical income$36,800
Upper middle starts$73,700
Top 10%$82,600
Top 1% (est.)$267,000

Bars use a compressed (logarithmic) scale. USD values are approximate, converted at mid-2024 exchange rates.

How United Kingdom compares

A typical income in the United Kingdom is many times the global median income, so even middle earners here rank highly worldwide.

See how far that income stretches from London

Where do you stand in United Kingdom?

Enter your own income and net worth in Wealth Rank to see your exact percentile here and worldwide.

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Common questions about income in United Kingdom

What is a typical income in United Kingdom?

A typical (median) income in the United Kingdom is about £29,000 per year, or roughly $36,800. Half of earners make less and half make more.

What income is considered middle class in United Kingdom?

Middle-class incomes in the United Kingdom run roughly from £21,800 to £58,000 a year, about 75% to 200% of the median. In dollars that is around $27,600 to $73,700.

What income puts you in the top 10% in United Kingdom?

An income of about £65,000 or more a year, roughly $82,600, is near the top 10% in the United Kingdom.

What income puts you in the top 1% in United Kingdom?

An estimated £210,000 or more a year, roughly $267,000, places someone near the top 1% in the United Kingdom. Top-percentile figures are approximate.

How does income in United Kingdom compare to the rest of the world?

A typical income in the United Kingdom is many times the global median income, so even middle earners here rank highly worldwide. Worldwide, an income near $200,000 is already in roughly the global top 1%.

Higher confidence. Based on strong national survey or tax data. Data reflects 2022–2023.

Educational tool: Global Wealth Explorer shows approximate income estimates based on public data from national statistics offices, the World Bank, and published research. Figures are for perspective and learning, not official determinations. Incomes are pre-tax and individual where possible. Amounts are converted to USD at approximate mid-2024 exchange rates for comparison, so dollar figures shift with currency moves.

Sources: ONS Income Statistics · ONS Wealth and Assets Survey