Overview
Wolverhampton is a major West Midlands city with a strong manufacturing base and significant investment in regeneration.
The median salary in Wolverhampton is £28,800 per year. With a cost of living index of 62/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £660/month, residents typically retain £22,600 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Wolverhampton vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Wolverhampton 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 Wolverhampton
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Wolverhampton Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £28,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 62/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £660/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,600/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.4% |
| Population | 263,000 |
Top Industries in Wolverhampton
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Education
Retail
Public Sector
Major Employers in Wolverhampton
NHS
City of Wolverhampton Council
University of Wolverhampton
Compare Wolverhampton with Other Cities
Wolverhampton vs London
£28,800 vs £52,800
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Wolverhampton vs Manchester
£28,800 vs £36,500
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Wolverhampton vs Birmingham
£28,800 vs £33,200
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Wolverhampton vs Edinburgh
£28,800 vs £38,900
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Wolverhampton vs Bristol
£28,800 vs £38,200
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Wolverhampton vs Leeds
£28,800 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk