Overview
Bolton is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing roots and growing digital and professional services sectors.
The median salary in Bolton is £29,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 63/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £680/month, residents typically retain £23,100 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Bolton vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Bolton 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 Bolton
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Bolton Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £29,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 63/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £680/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £23,100/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 285,000 |
Top Industries in Bolton
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Retail
Education
Finance
Major Employers in Bolton
NHS
Bolton Council
Warburtons
University of Bolton
Compare Bolton with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk