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November 25, 2025
Quick Answer: Average wages vary significantly between the UK and European countries, with differences driven by taxation, cost of living, and local economies—meaning higher salaries don’t always translate to better overall living standards.
Key Takeaways
Wondering if you would be better off working in the UK or Europe? You’re not alone. In 2021, nearly 100,000 people moved from the UK to countries throughout the EU. While the UK was once known for its high wages, which were much higher than salaries that could be found in many EU countries, Brexit has brought this to an end.
A weaker UK economy has led to a perfect storm with stagnant wage growth and a sharp increase in the cost of living. This means that UK wages don’t stand up to EU averages like they used to. Some employers used Brexit as an opportunity to relocate, and now some employees are thinking about following in their footsteps.
Before you decide where you could be better off working in a European country, you first need to consider the variables that make up these averages. The EU is made up of lots of different country states with vastly different economies. Just like in the UK, wages between cities and towns can also vary wildly. Wages will also vary between industries and sectors.
The local taxation policy will also have a significant impact on your take-home pay. For example, while wages in Nordic countries like Sweden and Finland might be quite high, these countries also pay a higher tax rate.
Sweden has a statutory income tax rate of 52.2% while Finnish workers pay 31.1%. Compare this to the UK where the lowest tax bracket is 20% and the highest earners pay up to 45% tax on income over £125,140.
These are just some of the factors you will need to consider when making comparisons between the UK and European countries. You should also take into the account any employee benefits on offer with certain companies.
It’s difficult to say with certainty if wages are higher in Europe or the UK as there are so many variables to consider. This includes things like the differences between the individual countries and the variable rates for different industries. Local restrictions, such as restrictions on banker bonuses in the UK, will also make direct comparisons more difficult for certain sectors. The minimum wage in each region will also be different, which can skew the averages.
The average salary in the UK in 2020 was £38,600. To get more granular, we can also look at the average salary across age groups. According to the ONS, the average salary for different age groups in the UK is as follows:
| Age Range | Average Annual Salary |
| 18-21 | £22,932 |
| 22-29 | £30,316 |
| 30-39 | £37,544 |
| 40-49 | £40,040 |
| 50-59 | £37,804 |
| 60+ | £33,852 |
As you can see, many workers will hit their stride in their careers around the age of 40. This is when they have the highest earning potential. After this age, salaries begin to fall, usually because workers are less likely to continue chasing promotions and may even switch to part-time hours.
The biggest jump appears to be when workers enter their 20s. This could be the result of completing education, so we’re seeing a comparison of workers doing casual work at the age of 18-21 and then when they graduate or leave education, they see a significant boost in their earnings.
It’s difficult to compare salaries across the whole of Europe, as different countries can pay wildly different rates for the same role. However, it is estimated that in 2021, the average full-time salary in the EU was around €33,500. This is around £29,000.
From this simple statistic, you’d be forgiven for thinking that salaries are lower in the EU and you are therefore better off in the UK. However, we need to look at individual countries to see which nations offer the best remuneration packages.
Next, we’ll look at monthly salaries across a number of European countries so you can see which locations offer the best opportunities. We have looked at the monthly gross salary and net salary, so you can see how taxation impacts your take-home pay.
This topic explores how salaries differ between the UK and European countries, considering not just income but also taxation, cost of living, and overall quality of life.
Understanding salary differences helps individuals make informed decisions about relocation, career opportunities, and financial wellbeing.
Job seekers can better evaluate international opportunities, while employers can understand competitive salary expectations across different regions.
Looking for your next career opportunity? CMD Recruitment works with employers and candidates across Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol and the wider South West.
Browse the latest job vacancies or speak with one of our recruitment consultants today.
About the Author
CMD Recruitment Career Team
This article was written by recruitment specialists at CMD Recruitment, a UK recruitment consultancy supporting employers and candidates across Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol and the wider South West.
The team regularly shares insights on recruitment trends, hiring challenges and career advice to help professionals navigate the evolving job market.
Reviewed by senior recruitment consultants at CMD Recruitment.
