Overview
Worcester is a historic cathedral city with a strong manufacturing base and growing professional services sector.
The median salary in Worcester is £30,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 67/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £780/month, residents typically retain £23,200 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Worcester vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Worcester 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 Worcester
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Worcester Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £30,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 67/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £780/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £23,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.5% |
| Population | 105,000 |
Top Industries in Worcester
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Education
Retail
Agriculture
Major Employers in Worcester
NHS
University of Worcester
Morgan Motor Company
Worcester City Council
Compare Worcester with Other Cities
Worcester vs London
£30,000 vs £52,800
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Worcester vs Manchester
£30,000 vs £36,500
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Worcester vs Birmingham
£30,000 vs £33,200
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Worcester vs Edinburgh
£30,000 vs £38,900
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Worcester vs Bristol
£30,000 vs £38,200
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Worcester vs Leeds
£30,000 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk