Overview
Reading is the UK's Silicon Valley with major tech company headquarters and above-average salaries driven by its proximity to London.
The median salary in Reading is £42,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 85/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £1,300/month, residents typically retain £27,200 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Reading vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Reading 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 Reading
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Reading Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £42,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 85/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £1,300/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £27,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4.8% |
| Population | 229,000 |
Top Industries in Reading
Technology
Finance
Healthcare
Telecommunications
Retail
Major Employers in Reading
Microsoft
Oracle
Cisco
Thames Valley Police
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Compare Reading with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk