Overview
Stockport is a prosperous town in Greater Manchester with above-average salaries and strong professional services employment.
The median salary in Stockport is £32,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 68/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £780/month, residents typically retain £24,500 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Stockport vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Stockport 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 Stockport
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Stockport Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 68/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £780/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,500/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4% |
| Population | 291,000 |
Top Industries in Stockport
Finance
Healthcare
Retail
Manufacturing
Technology
Major Employers in Stockport
NHS
Stockport Council
Kellogg's
British Aerospace
Compare Stockport with Other Cities
Stockport vs London
£32,000 vs £52,800
Compare →
Stockport vs Manchester
£32,000 vs £36,500
Compare →
Stockport vs Birmingham
£32,000 vs £33,200
Compare →
Stockport vs Edinburgh
£32,000 vs £38,900
Compare →
Stockport vs Bristol
£32,000 vs £38,200
Compare →
Stockport vs Leeds
£32,000 vs £34,800
Compare →
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk