£40,000 is one of the most searched salary benchmarks in the UK. It feels like a milestone — a round number that many people use as a marker of whether they have made it financially. So is it actually a good salary? The honest answer is: it depends where you live and how old you are.
How £40,000 compares to the UK median
The UK median full-time salary is approximately £39,900 according to the latest ONS data. This means a £40,000 salary puts you just above the national median — you earn more than roughly half of all full-time workers in the UK.
That sounds reassuring, but the national median is a blunt instrument. It includes everyone from a 19-year-old in their first job in Sunderland to a 52-year-old senior manager in Bristol. A more meaningful comparison is against the median for your specific age group and region.
Is £40,000 a good salary by age group?
| Age group | Regional median (outside London) | £40k vs median |
|---|---|---|
| 22–29 | £28,000 – £32,000 | Well above median ✓ |
| 30–39 | £36,000 – £42,000 | At or slightly above median |
| 40–49 | £38,000 – £44,000 | Around median |
| 50–59 | £36,000 – £40,000 | At or above median |
For someone in their mid to late 20s, £40,000 is a strong salary — well above the median for that age group in most parts of the UK. For someone in their 40s, it sits closer to average and may indicate scope to push for more.
Is £40,000 a good salary by region?
| Region | Regional median (all ages) | £40k vs regional median |
|---|---|---|
| London | £52,000 – £58,000 | Below median |
| South East | £44,000 – £50,000 | Slightly below median |
| Scotland | £39,000 – £42,000 | Around median |
| North West | £36,000 – £40,000 | At or above median |
| Yorkshire | £33,000 – £38,000 | Above median ✓ |
| North East / Wales | £31,000 – £35,000 | Well above median ✓ |
This is where it gets interesting. In London, £40,000 is actually below the regional median — you would be earning less than half of full-time London workers. In Yorkshire or the North East, the same salary puts you comfortably above median. The same number means very different things depending on your postcode.
What is the take-home pay on £40,000?
£40,000 salary — take home pay (2025/26)
After tax and National Insurance, a £40,000 salary becomes approximately £32,280 per year — around £2,690 per month. This does not include student loan repayments or pension contributions, which would reduce this further.
Can you live comfortably on £40,000 in the UK?
Outside London, £2,690 per month take-home is genuinely comfortable for a single person. Rent on a one-bedroom flat in most UK cities runs from £700 to £1,100 per month, leaving meaningful room for bills, food, transport, savings, and discretionary spending.
In London it is a different story. A one-bedroom flat in most zones costs £1,600 to £2,200 per month, which leaves very little room on a £2,690 take-home. Many people on £40,000 in London share accommodation or rely on significant commuting distances to find affordable housing.
Bottom line: £40,000 is a good salary in most of the UK outside London. In London, it is below average and can feel financially tight. The same salary has genuinely different purchasing power depending on where you live.
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