Biological scientists salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£43,781
Employment patterns
- 86% of Biological scientists work full-time
- 14% are self-employed
- 92% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Biological scientists pay in the UK
The typical biological scientists in the UK earns a median salary of £43,781 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £48,939. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical biological scientists actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 14% of Biological scientists are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: biological scientists pay ranges from £26,820 in North East up to £52,244 in London, a difference of £25,424 (95%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see biological scientists pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for biological scientists at £52,244 — 19% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £26,820.
UK median £43,781
| Region | Median payUK median £43,781 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £52,244 | £52,244 | £59,379 | +19% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £51,693 | £51,693 | £52,435 | +18% |
| South West | £41,582 | £41,582 | £43,712 | -5% |
| South East | £38,948 | £38,948 | Value unavailable | -11% |
| North West | £38,811 | £38,811 | £41,391 | -11% |
| Scotland | £35,975 | £35,975 | £36,358 | -18% |
| West Midlands | £35,616 | £35,616 | £36,927 | -19% |
| Wales | £33,576 | £33,576 | £39,971 | -23% |
| East of England | £32,891 | £32,891 | £34,549 | -25% |
| East Midlands | £31,096 | £31,096 | £31,805 | -29% |
| North East | £26,820 | £26,820 | £29,735 | -39% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £52,244 | £52,244Mean £59,379 | +19% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £51,693 | £51,693Mean £52,435 | +18% |
| South West £41,582 | £41,582Mean £43,712 | -5% |
| South East £38,948 | £38,948 | -11% |
| North West £38,811 | £38,811Mean £41,391 | -11% |
| Scotland £35,975 | £35,975Mean £36,358 | -18% |
| West Midlands £35,616 | £35,616Mean £36,927 | -19% |
| Wales £33,576 | £33,576Mean £39,971 | -23% |
| East of England £32,891 | £32,891Mean £34,549 | -25% |
| East Midlands £31,096 | £31,096Mean £31,805 | -29% |
| North East £26,820 | £26,820Mean £29,735 | -39% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£43,781); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local biological scientists pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow biological scientists pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for biological scientists by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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