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.