Overview
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire with a strong public sector and growing tourism economy.
The median salary in Shrewsbury is £28,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 63/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £720/month, residents typically retain £22,400 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Shrewsbury vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Shrewsbury Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £28,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 63/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £720/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,400/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3% |
| Population | 77,000 |
Top Industries in Shrewsbury
Healthcare
Retail
Agriculture
Manufacturing
Tourism
Major Employers in Shrewsbury
NHS
Shropshire Council
Ironbridge Institute
Shrewsbury Town FC
Compare Shrewsbury with Other Cities
Shrewsbury vs London
£28,500 vs £52,800
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Shrewsbury vs Manchester
£28,500 vs £36,500
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Shrewsbury vs Birmingham
£28,500 vs £33,200
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Shrewsbury vs Edinburgh
£28,500 vs £38,900
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Shrewsbury vs Bristol
£28,500 vs £38,200
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Shrewsbury vs Leeds
£28,500 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk