How Do Salaries in Swindon Compare To The Rest of the UK?

However, as the technology industry advances quickly, thanks to the role of artificial intelligence (AI), it is actually becoming significantly easier to predict which jobs will be in demand, as well as to more accurately predict which towns and cities around the UK will have the best salaries for workers, and to estimate areas for growth in specific industries.

In the UK, it may come as no surprise that London is not the only area that is predicted to grow. So, if you want to move away from the capital, it may not seem like a predictable choice, but it may be worth looking into Swindon.

Earnings Above Average

An ONS-based dataset, which was collected in 2024, has found that the earnings in Swindon are above average compared to the rest of the UK.

There are a few reasons why. Even though the cost of living has to be accounted for, there are many industries in Swindon that are not found in other parts of the country. Many of these are outsourcing industries that cover the whole of the UK, from HR outsourcing to a company like the HR Dept. This allows for more people in Swindon to work remotely, which impacts how much they take home and have to spend.

However, what has to be noted is that when it comes to minimum wage, the demand for minimum wage workers in Swindon is lower than in other parts of the UK. So, the above-average earnings apply to medium-skilled to highly skilled workers.

Housing Costs and Cost of Living

So, what about housing costs and the average cost of living in Swindon compared to other places of comparable size?

Private rent in Swindon is £873 per calendar month, which is around £121 lower than in similar-sized cities in the UK. As for mortgage payments, the average cost of a three-bedroom home in Swindon was £256,000, which is around £100,000 lower than that of three-bedroom homes in nearby cities.

Therefore, if you are looking to rent or buy, this could be a suitable city to move to, with lower monthly costs, as well as lower energy bills and council tax rates. So, what does this mean in relation to the cost of living? Studies conducted in 2024 by the Office of National Statistics have found that there is still a north-south divide in the UK, with Swindon having lower inflation levels than many parts of the south.

This means that rent has been estimated to take 70% of median wages, with the addition of energy bills and food being estimated at around 40% lower than in London. It would be unwise to assume, however, that people in Swindon have not been impacted by the cost-of-living; it is just that the average wage and rental/housing costs have a better ratio than is seen in other parts of the country.

Main Industries

At the time of writing, the main areas of employment in Swindon are retail, repair and car dealerships, as well as supply and logistics, which are linked to mechanics and the wholesale of retail goods.

Also, nearly 12% of all jobs in Swindon are in the healthcare sector, with the majority being frontline roles, such as nurses and support workers in care and hospitals. Lastly, insurance and financial roles are prominent, with this area predicted to remain one of the most stable areas going into 2026. However, there are few entry-level jobs in this sector, so these roles are aimed more at mid-to-high level professionals.  

Industry Predictors

As Swindon already has a large number of private sector jobs, it is predicted that this trend will continue, especially in tech areas and manufacturing, while retail jobs are predicted to reduce in demand.

If you are interested in growing your career in tech, or you want to advance to a managerial role while getting onto the property ladder, then it may be worth looking into Swindon for your next role. Remember, like many cities in the UK, the retail sector is predicted to shrink by 30% over the next five years, with most stores moving online. So, it may be worth looking into re-skilling, becoming qualified in tech, or moving into the IT industry if you want a potentially more certain source of income.