Overview
Derby is a major aerospace and manufacturing hub. Rolls-Royce headquarters here makes it one of the UK's leading engineering cities.
The median salary in Derby is £31,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 65/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £730/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: Derby vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Derby 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 Derby
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Derby Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £31,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 65/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £730/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.8% |
| Population | 257,000 |
Top Industries in Derby
Aerospace
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Education
Rail
Major Employers in Derby
Rolls-Royce
NHS
Bombardier
Toyota
University of Derby
Compare Derby with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk