The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) published its 2026 NISRA Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings results on 22 October 2026. This page summarises the headline numbers and explains how to use them. Every figure below comes from that release.
The headline numbers
| Measure (full-time employees) | Northern Ireland | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross weekly earnings, April 2026 | £754 | £811 |
| Change on 2025 | +£44 (+6.1%), from £711 | +£45 (+5.8%) |
| Median annual earnings, 2026 | £38,200 | £40,900 |
| Real-terms weekly change, 2026 | +3.1% | +2.8% |
NISRA also reports that the highest 10% of full-time earners in Northern Ireland earned at least £68,400 a year, that this was the sixth consecutive annual increase in nominal weekly earnings, and that real (inflation-adjusted) weekly earnings are now at their highest level in the series.
In one line: the typical full-time employee in Northern Ireland earned £38,200 in 2026, around £2,700 less than the UK median of £40,900, but pay is growing slightly faster than inflation.
"Average" here means the median
NISRA uses the median, the middle earner, rather than the mean. A handful of very high salaries pull a mean upwards, so the median is the better guide to what a typical person is paid. Half of full-time employees earn less than the median and half earn more. Medians cover all full-time jobs together, so most individual roles will sit well above or below them.
How to use it when you read a job advert
- Below £38,200: the role pays less than the typical full-time salary. That is normal for entry-level, retail, hospitality and many care roles.
- Around £38,200: the advert is paying the typical NI full-time rate. Check the hours, pension and holiday, which can matter as much as the headline figure.
- Well above £38,200: typically experienced, specialist or senior roles. NISRA's top-10% threshold of £68,400 is a useful marker for genuinely high pay locally.
For pay in specific sectors, see our NI salary guide, the IT, healthcare, construction, hospitality, retail and social care guides, and our look at the best-paid jobs in Northern Ireland. Those sector pages give indicative ranges, not official statistics.
Weekly versus annual figures
NISRA publishes weekly and annual medians as separate statistics, so do not convert one into the other yourself by multiplying by 52. Quote each figure directly from the release. NISRA also publishes median earnings by occupation, industry and area in the detailed tables and an interactive earnings chart on its website, which are the right place to check a specific job title.
What to do with this
If you are job hunting, use the median as a sense check, not a target: your own number depends on your sector, experience and employer. If you are negotiating, compare the offer with similar roles on a job board rather than with the all-jobs median. You can search live roles with salaries on NIjobsearch, and our interview questions guide covers how to handle the salary question.
See what Northern Ireland employers are paying
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Browse Jobs on NIjobsearch →Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Northern Ireland in 2026?
According to NISRA, median annual earnings for full-time employees in Northern Ireland were £38,200 in 2026, and median gross weekly earnings were £754 in April 2026.
How does Northern Ireland pay compare with the UK?
The UK median annual full-time figure was £40,900 in 2026, about £2,700 higher than Northern Ireland. UK median weekly earnings were £811, against £754 in Northern Ireland.
Is pay in Northern Ireland rising?
Yes. NISRA reports that median weekly earnings rose by 6.1% between 2025 and 2026, and by 3.1% after adjusting for inflation, the highest real-terms level in the series.