Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings: 2026

Earnings

Median Full-time Gross Weekly Earnings, Scotland and UK

Gross median weekly earnings for full-time employees in Scotland were £824.80 in 2026. This was an increase of 6.7% over the year in nominal terms, continuing the upward trend seen over time.

In the UK, gross median weekly earnings for full-time employees were £811.20, an increase of 5.8% in nominal terms since April 2025.

When adjusted for inflation (using Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH)), gross median weekly earning for full-time employees in Scotland increased by 3.6% over the year while the UK increased by 2.8% over the year. Note: change over year calculations based on rounded figures.

Figure 1: Nominal median weekly earnings for full-time employees have increased over time for Scotland and the UK. There has been a gradual increase in real median weekly earnings in recent years

Gross median weekly earnings for full-time employees (nominal and real), Scotland and UK, April 2005 to April 2026

Source: Scottish Government Analysis of Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), ONS

Notes:

1. Estimates for 2026 data are provisional.

2. Employees are on adult rates, pay is unaffected by absence unless furloughed.

3. Full-time is defined as employees working more than 30 paid hours per week (or 25 or more for the teaching professions).

4. Real pay is pay adjusted for inflation using Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) for April 2026.

5. Discontinuities in the series in 2006, 2011 and 2021 ASHE estimates. 2021 represents a discontinuity because of a change in occupational coding. Therefore, estimates pre- and post- 2021 are not directly comparable.

6. Due to methodological changes, data for 2023 onwards might not be directly comparable to data for 2022 and earlier years.

7. Data for 2020 and 2021 are subject to more uncertainty and should be treated with caution because of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the data and collection.

8. Weekly pay will be affected by both hourly rates of pay and hours worked or paid for.

Nominal Gross Median Weekly Earnings by Sex and Employment Type, Scotland, 2026

Between April 2025 and April 2026, women's median weekly earnings increased at a faster rate than men’s for all (full-time and part-time) employees (7.2% vs 4.2%). 

In nominal terms, gross median weekly earnings for full-time women increased by 8.4% over the year to £785.80 in 2026 while median weekly earnings for full-time men increased by 5.5% to £854.50 in 2026.

Median weekly earnings for part-time women increased by 5.8% over the year to £321.40 in 2026 while median weekly earnings for part-time men increased by 3.4% to £274.80 in 2026, in nominal terms.

Figure 2: Women’s earnings increased at a faster rate than men’s between 2025 and 2026 for full-time, part-time and all employees

Gross Median Weekly Earnings and annual percentage change by sex and employment type (nominal), Scotland, 2026

Source: Scottish Government Analysis of Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), ONS

Notes:

1. Estimates for 2026 data are provisional.

2. Employees are on adult rates, pay is unaffected by absence

3. Full-time is defined as employees working more than 30 paid hours per week (or 25 or more for the teaching professions).

4. Part-time is defined as employees working less than or equal to 30 paid hours per week (or less than 25 hours for the teaching professions).

5. Weekly pay will be affected by both hourly rates of pay and hours worked or paid for.