Overview
Hereford is a market city with a strong agricultural economy and the nearby SAS base driving defence sector employment.
The median salary in Hereford is £27,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 62/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £700/month, residents typically retain £22,100 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Hereford vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Hereford 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 Hereford
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Hereford Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £27,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 62/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £700/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,100/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 2.8% |
| Population | 62,000 |
Top Industries in Hereford
Agriculture
Defence
Healthcare
Retail
Tourism
Major Employers in Hereford
NHS
SAS Regiment
Herefordshire Council
Wye Valley NHS
Compare Hereford with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk