There's no single answer to what counts as a "good" salary in London — it depends entirely on what you're comparing against. Good relative to the cost of living? Good relative to your role's market rate? Good relative to your peers? Each question gives a different number.
The basics: what is the average salary in London?
The median gross annual salary for full-time workers in London is around £44,000–£48,000, according to ONS data. But this figure is heavily skewed by the distribution of roles across all sectors — it includes retail, hospitality, and public sector workers alongside tech and finance. For professional and knowledge-work roles, the relevant benchmark is considerably higher.
By sector: what counts as a good salary
For tech roles, a "good" starting salary for a mid-level professional in London is typically in the £65,000–£85,000 range. Senior and specialist roles regularly reach £100,000–£130,000+. Financial services roles track similarly. For marketing, operations, and business roles, the ranges are lower: mid-level typically £50,000–£75,000, senior £75,000–£100,000.
The cost-of-living reality check
London has one of the highest costs of living of any European city. A £60,000 gross salary in London has roughly the same purchasing power as €52,000–€55,000 in Berlin or Amsterdam, once you factor in higher rent, transport, and general living costs. So a salary that looks strong on paper may feel tighter in practice.
As a rough guide: to live comfortably as a single professional in London (renting, no children), most people find they need at least £45,000–£55,000 gross per year. To live well — central location, occasional travel, saving — most aim for £65,000+.
The percentile benchmark
A more useful question than "is my salary good?" is "where does my salary sit in the market for my role?" If you're earning at or above the 50th percentile for your role and experience level, you're at or above market. Below the 40th percentile is a clear signal to consider negotiating.
How to benchmark your specific salary
Use our free salary checker to see where you sit for your specific role, location, and years of experience. It takes 30 seconds and gives you a percentile estimate based on public salary data.