UK Salary Guide · ONS ASHE 2025

Software Engineer salary
in the UK

Real take-home pay, rent costs and disposable income for Software Engineers across 12 UK cities. 2025/26 tax year.

UK Median
£53,000
per year
Highest city
£72,000
London
Lowest city
£46,000
Cardiff
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Software Engineer salary by city

12 cities · sorted highest to lowest

City Gross salary Take-home
London £72,000 £4,360/mo View →
Bristol £58,000 £3,683/mo View →
Manchester £55,000 £3,538/mo View →
Edinburgh £55,000 £3,396/mo View →
Birmingham £52,000 £3,393/mo View →
Leeds £52,000 £3,393/mo View →
Glasgow £52,000 £3,256/mo View →
Sheffield £50,000 £3,293/mo View →
Aberdeen £50,000 £3,164/mo View →
Nottingham £47,000 £3,113/mo View →
Newcastle £46,000 £3,053/mo View →
Cardiff £46,000 £3,053/mo View →

UK salary range

Middle 50% of Software Engineer earners · London reference

25th percentile
£58,000
Median (UK)
£53,000
75th percentile
£92,000

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Software Engineer salary in the UK? +
The UK median Software Engineer salary across 12 cities is £53,000 per year, based on ONS ASHE 2025 data. The middle 50% of earners fall between £58,000 and £92,000. Salaries vary significantly by city — from £46,000 in Cardiff to £72,000 in London.
Which UK city pays Software Engineers the most? +
London offers the highest median Software Engineer salary at £72,000 per year — £19,000 above the UK median. Cardiff is at the lower end with £46,000. See the full city breakdown in the table above.
What is the take-home pay for a Software Engineer in London? +
A Software Engineer in London earns a median £72,000 per year. After income tax and National Insurance (2025/26 tax year), that works out to approximately £4,360 per month take-home. See the full London breakdown →