Overview
Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands with strong healthcare and public sector employment and growing tourism and energy sectors.
The median salary in Inverness is £30,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 70/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £800/month, residents typically retain £22,800 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Inverness vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Inverness 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 Inverness
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Inverness Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £30,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 70/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £800/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.5% |
| Population | 70,000 |
Top Industries in Inverness
Healthcare
Tourism
Energy
Public Sector
Agriculture
Major Employers in Inverness
NHS Highland
Highland Council
SSE
Caledonian MacBrayne
Compare Inverness with Other Cities
Inverness vs London
£30,000 vs £52,800
Compare →
Inverness vs Manchester
£30,000 vs £36,500
Compare →
Inverness vs Birmingham
£30,000 vs £33,200
Compare →
Inverness vs Edinburgh
£30,000 vs £38,900
Compare →
Inverness vs Bristol
£30,000 vs £38,200
Compare →
Inverness vs Leeds
£30,000 vs £34,800
Compare →
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk