Design occupations n.e.c. salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£37,017
Employment patterns
- 88% of Design occupations n.e.c. work full-time
- 28% are self-employed
- 95.6% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Design occupations n.e.c. pay in the UK
The typical design occupations n.e.c. in the UK earns a median salary of £37,017 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 £41,839. 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 design occupations n.e.c. actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 28% of Design occupations n.e.c. 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: design occupations n.e.c. pay ranges from £14,904 in South West up to £42,837 in London, a difference of £27,933 (187%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see design occupations n.e.c. pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for design occupations n.e.c. at £42,837 — 16% above the UK median. South West is lowest at £14,904.
UK median £37,017
| Region | Median payUK median £37,017 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £42,837 | £42,837 | £47,343 | +16% |
| East of England | £38,524 | £38,524 | £37,907 | +4% |
| Scotland | £38,329 | £38,329 | £40,355 | +4% |
| North West | £37,628 | £37,628 | £40,674 | +2% |
| South East | £37,366 | £37,366 | £44,927 | +1% |
| East Midlands | £33,823 | £33,823 | £39,826 | -9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £32,923 | £32,923 | £37,982 | -11% |
| West Midlands | £29,823 | £29,823 | £28,747 | -19% |
| Wales | £24,913 | £24,913 | £25,926 | -33% |
| North East | £22,266 | £22,266 | £24,895 | -40% |
| South West | £14,904 | £14,904 | £14,107 | -60% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £42,837 | £42,837Mean £47,343 | +16% |
| East of England £38,524 | £38,524Mean £37,907 | +4% |
| Scotland £38,329 | £38,329Mean £40,355 | +4% |
| North West £37,628 | £37,628Mean £40,674 | +2% |
| South East £37,366 | £37,366Mean £44,927 | +1% |
| East Midlands £33,823 | £33,823Mean £39,826 | -9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £32,923 | £32,923Mean £37,982 | -11% |
| West Midlands £29,823 | £29,823Mean £28,747 | -19% |
| Wales £24,913 | £24,913Mean £25,926 | -33% |
| North East £22,266 | £22,266Mean £24,895 | -40% |
| South West £14,904 | £14,904Mean £14,107 | -60% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£37,017); ‘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 design occupations n.e.c. pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow design occupations n.e.c. pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for design occupations n.e.c. by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Related roles in Design Occupations
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →