Overview
Chelmsford is a major commuter city for London with strong professional services and technology sectors.
The median salary in Chelmsford is £35,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 78/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £1,100/month, residents typically retain £24,200 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Chelmsford vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Chelmsford Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £35,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 78/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £1,100/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4% |
| Population | 183,000 |
Top Industries in Chelmsford
Technology
Finance
Healthcare
Retail
Defence
Major Employers in Chelmsford
Anglia Ruskin University
NHS
Writtle University College
Marconi
Compare Chelmsford with Other Cities
Chelmsford vs London
£35,000 vs £52,800
Compare →
Chelmsford vs Manchester
£35,000 vs £36,500
Compare →
Chelmsford vs Birmingham
£35,000 vs £33,200
Compare →
Chelmsford vs Edinburgh
£35,000 vs £38,900
Compare →
Chelmsford vs Bristol
£35,000 vs £38,200
Compare →
Chelmsford vs Leeds
£35,000 vs £34,800
Compare →
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk