To answer salary expectations in the UK, give a researched range in pounds as a gross annual figure (before tax), anchored to the advertised band if there is one, and say you are flexible on the overall package. For example: "Based on the role and the market, I'm looking for £42,000 to £46,000, depending on the full package." Keep the bottom of your range at a figure you would genuinely accept.
This guide covers the official UK pay data to anchor your range, what UK employers must disclose about pay as of October 2026, and example answers for different situations. For the general tactics of deflecting and anchoring, see our main salary expectations guide.
How do you answer salary expectations in a UK interview?
- Check the advert first. Many UK adverts show a salary or range, and public-sector adverts usually state the pay band. If the advert shows a band, your range should sit inside it unless you have a strong reason.
- Research the market. Use the job's band, similar adverts in the same city, and official data (below). Pay for the same role varies by region, so compare adverts in the same city or region.
- Quote gross annual pay. UK conversations use pounds per year before tax and National Insurance. Contractors may quote a day rate instead.
- Give a range of about 10%. Narrow enough to be credible, wide enough to negotiate.
- Mention the package. Employer pension contributions, bonus, holiday allowance, hybrid working and training budgets can be worth real money. Ask about them before you fix on base salary.
- Do not volunteer your current salary. If asked, you can redirect to the value of the role (examples below).
What is the average salary in the UK?
The Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE, "Employee earnings in the UK: 2025", published 23 October 2025, provisional figures for April 2025) is the standard official source:
| Measure (ONS ASHE, April 2025) | Figure | Change on April 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross weekly earnings, full-time employees | £766.60 | +5.3% |
| Median gross annual earnings, full-time employees in the same job for at least a year | £39,039 | +4.3% |
| Median hourly earnings excluding overtime, full-time | £19.67 | +5.4% |
| Median full-time weekly earnings, public sector | £807.67 | +5.3% |
| Median full-time weekly earnings, private sector | £752.28 | +5.4% |
The ONS says the full-time weekly increase was 1.1% after adjusting for inflation (CPIH). The 2026 edition had not been dated by the ONS at the time of writing, so check for a newer release. National medians are a sense check, not a target: your range should come from the specific role, level and location. The ASHE datasets break pay down by occupation, region and age if you want a closer benchmark.
Do UK employers have to show the salary in the job advert?
Not yet, as of October 2026. The government's equal pay and pay discrimination consultation (published 14 July 2026, closing at 5pm on 27 October 2026) proposes requiring all employers to publish pay information in job adverts, or, where there is no advert, to give candidates the information in writing before the interview. The consultation notes that most employers already publish pay ranges voluntarily. The detail, such as how wide a range may be, would come later in regulations, so treat it as a proposal until rules are made.
Separately, employers with 250 or more employees must report their gender pay gap each year, and you can search an employer's gender pay gap report. It will not tell you a role's salary, but it shows how pay is distributed across the organisation and is useful background for a negotiation.
If an advert has no salary, it is normal to ask early: "Could you share the budgeted range for this role?"
Example answers in GBP (written by us)
| Situation | Example answer |
|---|---|
| Advert shows a band | "The advertised range of £38,000 to £44,000 fits what I'm looking for. Given my experience with X, I'd expect to be in the upper half, and I'm happy to discuss the full package." |
| No band shown | "I'd like to understand the range you have budgeted first. From my research on similar roles in Manchester, I'd expect somewhere between £45,000 and £50,000." |
| Graduate role | "I understand the graduate salary is fixed at £32,000, which works for me. I'm more interested in the training and rotation structure." |
| London role | "For a London-based role at this level, I'm looking for £58,000 to £64,000 base, depending on bonus and pension." |
| Asked your current salary | "I'd rather focus on the value of this role. Based on the responsibilities, I'm looking for £52,000 to £57,000." |
| Moving to the UK from abroad | "I've researched UK pay for this role rather than converting my current salary. I'm looking for £48,000 to £53,000." |
The figures are illustrations, not benchmarks. Replace them with numbers from your own research. If you need sponsorship, also read our visa sponsorship interview questions guide, because visa routes can carry their own salary requirements, which you should check on GOV.UK.
Common mistakes with the UK salary question
- Quoting take-home pay. UK employers think in gross annual salary. Quoting net pay makes you look cheaper than you are.
- Converting a foreign salary directly. Exchange rates do not reflect UK pay levels or living costs. Research UK pay for the role.
- Ignoring the package. A lower base with a stronger employer pension contribution or bonus can be worth more overall.
- A range that is too wide. "£35,000 to £55,000" tells the employer you have not done the research, and they will hear the bottom number.
- Negotiating too early. Give the range when asked, then negotiate in detail once you have an offer.
Practise saying your number
Salary answers go wrong in the delivery: hesitation, apology or a range that drifts down mid-sentence. Rehearse out loud until your range comes out in one steady sentence. CoPilot Interview's Mock Interview builds a practice interview from your CV and the job description and scores each spoken answer out of 10 with what to fix and a model answer; the free plan gives you 15 minutes a day with no account. The salary negotiation calculator helps you set a target and walk-away figure first. For the rest of the UK process, see our UK job interview tips and how to answer the notice period question.
Rehearse your salary answer out loud
Run a mock interview built from your CV and the job description, then get a score out of 10 and a model answer for each response. Free for 15 minutes a day, no account.
Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
Should I give a salary range or a single number in the UK?
A range is usual. Keep it to about 10% wide, with the bottom at a figure you would accept, for example "£42,000 to £46,000 depending on the package".
Do I quote salary before or after tax in the UK?
Before tax. UK salaries are discussed as gross annual pay, before income tax and National Insurance. Contractors often quote a day rate instead.
What is the average full-time salary in the UK?
According to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, median gross annual earnings for full-time employees in the same job for at least a year were £39,039 in April 2025 (provisional, published October 2025).
Do I have to tell a UK employer my current salary?
You can choose how much to share. Many candidates redirect to the value of the new role and give their expected range instead.
Is it a legal requirement to put salary in UK job adverts?
Not as of October 2026. The government is consulting until 27 October 2026 on requiring all employers to publish pay information in job adverts or give it in writing before interview. It is a proposal until regulations are made.
Should I mention pension and bonus when discussing salary?
Yes. Ask about employer pension contributions, bonus, holiday and hybrid working before fixing on base salary, because they can change the value of an offer significantly.