Is £120,000 a good salary in the UK?

A straight-answer comparison of £120,000 against the UK median, typical rent, and cost of living.

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Short answer

£120,000 is top 1–2% territory. That's roughly £61.54/hour and about £6,500/month take-home after tax and NI.

How it compares

  • UK median full-time salary: around £35,000 (ONS, 2024).
  • London median: around £44,000.
  • Living wage (outside London): around £25,000 for full-time.
  • Your £120,000: 243% above the UK median.

What it actually buys

After income tax and NI, £120,000 gross leaves roughly £69,600 net per year — around £5,800/month. Applied to the 30% rent-affordability rule, that suggests a rent budget of roughly £1,740/month.

Calculator deep-dive

Full £120,000 salary breakdown All salaries by band Rent affordability Monthly budget

What it depends on

  • Location: £120,000 in London covers roughly 273% of the London median; in Manchester, Leeds, or Glasgow it comfortably exceeds the local median.
  • Household structure: single earner, dual-income household, or supporting children changes the real spending power far more than the gross number does.
  • Housing status: if you own outright or have low-LTV equity, £120,000 goes much further. If you rent privately in a high-demand city, the same gross salary feels materially smaller.
  • Pension sacrifice: sacrificing 5–10% into pension reduces take-home but compounds into a significantly larger total compensation picture over a career.

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