The London Premium for UK Tech Has Quietly Compressed in 2024-2026
Just published a longer piece on Blogger about the genuine shift in UK tech compensation since 2022.
The headline numbers most candidates miss:
✅ London senior tech salaries in 2026 represent ~80-85% of their 2022 real purchasing power for many roles. Nominal numbers held but inflation and housing costs ate the difference.
✅ A senior software engineer earning 95-110K GBP in London in 2026 might have earned 105-120K GBP in 2022. The differential isn't dramatic but combined with London's housing trajectory (which hasn't compressed correspondingly), the disposable-income picture has changed meaningfully.
✅ Edinburgh produces the strongest after-rent income for senior UK tech roles — 70-90K GBP salary, 850-1,200 GBP/mo rent, ~36K GBP after tax+rent, comparable to London's ~38K despite the lower nominal pay.
✅ Manchester mid-level 50-72K GBP, 1BR rent 750-1,100 vs London's 1,400-2,000. Strongest growth among UK secondary tech metros.
✅ Bristol's South West tech corridor has grown substantially — aerospace heritage (Airbus, Rolls-Royce) plus growing software/gaming. Tech salaries 50-72K mid-level.
✅ Belfast tech grew faster than expected — major Citi, Allstate, PwC technology operations. Salaries 45-65K but cost of living substantially below mainland UK.
The remote work narrative has substantially regressed. Most "remote-friendly" UK tech employers in 2026 require 1-3 days/week in office; some larger employers returned to 4-5 day requirements. Candidates expecting fully remote UK tech employment will find a narrow market.
Full breakdown with city-by-city disposable income calculations:
Just published a longer piece on Blogger about the genuine shift in UK tech compensation since 2022.
The headline numbers most candidates miss:
✅ London senior tech salaries in 2026 represent ~80-85% of their 2022 real purchasing power for many roles. Nominal numbers held but inflation and housing costs ate the difference.
✅ A senior software engineer earning 95-110K GBP in London in 2026 might have earned 105-120K GBP in 2022. The differential isn't dramatic but combined with London's housing trajectory (which hasn't compressed correspondingly), the disposable-income picture has changed meaningfully.
✅ Edinburgh produces the strongest after-rent income for senior UK tech roles — 70-90K GBP salary, 850-1,200 GBP/mo rent, ~36K GBP after tax+rent, comparable to London's ~38K despite the lower nominal pay.
✅ Manchester mid-level 50-72K GBP, 1BR rent 750-1,100 vs London's 1,400-2,000. Strongest growth among UK secondary tech metros.
✅ Bristol's South West tech corridor has grown substantially — aerospace heritage (Airbus, Rolls-Royce) plus growing software/gaming. Tech salaries 50-72K mid-level.
✅ Belfast tech grew faster than expected — major Citi, Allstate, PwC technology operations. Salaries 45-65K but cost of living substantially below mainland UK.
The remote work narrative has substantially regressed. Most "remote-friendly" UK tech employers in 2026 require 1-3 days/week in office; some larger employers returned to 4-5 day requirements. Candidates expecting fully remote UK tech employment will find a narrow market.
Full breakdown with city-by-city disposable income calculations:
Just published a longer piece on Blogger about the genuine shift in UK tech compensation since 2022.
The headline numbers most candidates miss:
✅ London senior tech salaries in 2026 represent ~80-85% of their 2022 real purchasing power for many roles. Nominal numbers held but inflation and housing costs ate the difference.
✅ A senior software engineer earning 95-110K GBP in London in 2026 might have earned 105-120K GBP in 2022. The differential isn't dramatic but combined with London's housing trajectory (which hasn't compressed correspondingly), the disposable-income picture has changed meaningfully.
✅ Edinburgh produces the strongest after-rent income for senior UK tech roles — 70-90K GBP salary, 850-1,200 GBP/mo rent, ~36K GBP after tax+rent, comparable to London's ~38K despite the lower nominal pay.
✅ Manchester mid-level 50-72K GBP, 1BR rent 750-1,100 vs London's 1,400-2,000. Strongest growth among UK secondary tech metros.
✅ Bristol's South West tech corridor has grown substantially — aerospace heritage (Airbus, Rolls-Royce) plus growing software/gaming. Tech salaries 50-72K mid-level.
✅ Belfast tech grew faster than expected — major Citi, Allstate, PwC technology operations. Salaries 45-65K but cost of living substantially below mainland UK.
The remote work narrative has substantially regressed. Most "remote-friendly" UK tech employers in 2026 require 1-3 days/week in office; some larger employers returned to 4-5 day requirements. Candidates expecting fully remote UK tech employment will find a narrow market.
Full breakdown with city-by-city disposable income calculations: jobnescom.blogspot.com