Accountant Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Accountant salary is £42,000 per year. Entry-level: £28,000 · Senior: £78,000. Also known as: Chartered Accountant, Management Accountant, Financial Accountant.
UK-wide salary distribution
Accountant hiring market in the UK
Demand for Accountants in the UK has been steady, neither contracting nor expanding sharply, with employer hiring tracking broadly in line with replacement need. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £53,760 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Accountant in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and, for those who pursue it, a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Accountant salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £40,960 | £53,760 | £74,240 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £36,800 | £48,300 | £66,700 | +15% |
| Oxford | £36,160 | £47,460 | £65,540 | +13% |
| Reading | £35,840 | £47,040 | £64,960 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £34,560 | £45,360 | £62,640 | +8% |
| Bristol | £33,920 | £44,520 | £61,480 | +6% |
| Brighton | £33,600 | £44,100 | £60,900 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £33,600 | £44,100 | £60,900 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £33,280 | £43,680 | £60,320 | +4% |
| Southampton | £33,280 | £43,680 | £60,320 | +4% |
| Manchester | £32,640 | £42,840 | £59,160 | +2% |
| Leeds | £32,000 | £42,000 | £58,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £31,360 | £41,160 | £56,840 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £31,040 | £40,740 | £56,260 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £30,400 | £39,900 | £55,100 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £30,080 | £39,480 | £54,520 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £29,760 | £39,060 | £53,940 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £29,760 | £39,060 | £53,940 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £29,440 | £38,640 | £53,360 | -8% |
| Belfast | £28,800 | £37,800 | £52,200 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Accountant
£32,248/yr · £620/wk · effective rate 23.2%
| Gross salary | £42,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,100 |
| Income tax | −£5,466 |
| National Insurance | −£2,186 |
| Net take-home | £32,248 |
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Core skills for Accountants
- ACCA
- ACA
- IFRS
- Tax
- Audit
- Xero
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Accountant salary in the UK?
The average UK Accountant salary is £42,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £32,000 and the upper quartile is £58,000.
Where do Accountants earn the most in the UK?
Accountants earn most in London (£53,760 median), followed by Cambridge (£48,300) and Oxford (£47,460). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Accountant need?
Core skills and qualifications for Accountants include: ACCA, ACA, IFRS, Tax, Audit, Xero. Entry-level roles start at around £28,000; senior positions reach £78,000+.
Is Accountant a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Accountants is medium. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.