Overview
Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage City with a thriving technology and creative sector anchored by the University of Bath.
The median salary in Bath is £36,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 82/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £1,200/month, residents typically retain £24,000 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Bath vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Bath is highlighted.
London
100
Edinburgh
79
Bristol
78
Manchester
72
Leeds
70
Birmingham
68
Cardiff
66
Liverpool
65
Sheffield
63
Newcastle
61
Best Paying Jobs in Bath
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Bath Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £36,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 82/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £1,200/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,000/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4% |
| Population | 94,000 |
Top Industries in Bath
Tourism
Technology
Healthcare
Education
Creative
Major Employers in Bath
NHS
University of Bath
Bath Spa University
Dyson
Compare Bath with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk