Britain's Wage Landscape Shifts: Gender Pay Gap Narrows as Salaries Rise

The median full-time salary in Britain increased by 4.3% to 39,039 pounds in 2025, with notable pay growth in care and leisure sectors due to minimum wage hikes. Despite being the smallest increase since 2021, the gender pay gap narrowed to 6.7%, continuing a multi-decade decline.

The median full-time salary in Britain rose by 4.3% to reach 39,039 pounds ($52,394) before tax this year, official figures disclosed on Thursday. This annual increase, though modest compared to last year's rise, marks a continued upward trajectory in earnings, reflecting partial recovery from pandemic-related economic challenges.

Notably, the growth in salaries was predominantly observed in the care and leisure sectors, fueled by a substantial 6.7% minimum wage hike implemented in April. According to the Office for National Statistics' comprehensive Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, there is a marked decline in the proportion of low-paid jobs, which fell to 2.5% of the workforce.

The data also highlighted a decrease in the gender pay gap, which narrowed to 6.7% in 2025 from 7.1% in the previous year, underscoring a steady improvement in earnings equality since monitoring began in 1997. For full-time employees eyeing the top 10% earnings bracket, an income of 1,473.50 pounds per week, or nearly 77,000 pounds annually, is required.

(With inputs from agencies.)