Overview
Sheffield has transformed from a steel city into a centre for advanced manufacturing and digital with very affordable living costs.
The median salary in Sheffield is £30,800 per year. With a cost of living index of 63/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £700/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: Sheffield vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Sheffield 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 Sheffield
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Sheffield Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £30,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 63/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £700/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.5% |
| Population | 584,000 |
Top Industries in Sheffield
Advanced Manufacturing
Healthcare
Digital
Education
Steel
Major Employers in Sheffield
NHS
Boeing
Rolls-Royce
ASOS
University of Sheffield
Compare Sheffield with Other Cities
Sheffield vs London
£30,800 vs £52,800
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Sheffield vs Manchester
£30,800 vs £36,500
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Sheffield vs Birmingham
£30,800 vs £33,200
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Sheffield vs Edinburgh
£30,800 vs £38,900
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Sheffield vs Bristol
£30,800 vs £38,200
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Sheffield vs Leeds
£30,800 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk