Shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£35,083
Employment patterns
- 70% of Shopkeepers work full-time
- 85% are self-employed
- 100.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale pay in the UK
The typical shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale in the UK earns a median salary of £35,083 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.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 85% of Shopkeepers are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves; only 70% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale pay ranges from £12,904 in Scotland up to £37,807 in South West, a difference of £24,903 (193%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale pay in South West or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South West is the highest-paying region for shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale at £37,807 — 8% above the UK median. Scotland is lowest at £12,904.
UK median £35,083
| Region | Median payUK median £35,083 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | £37,807 | £37,807 | £41,470 | +8% |
| South East | £37,683 | £37,683 | £41,436 | +7% |
| North West | £32,139 | £32,139 | £32,225 | -8% |
| East Midlands | £28,242 | £28,242 | £27,437 | -19% |
| East of England | £24,130 | £24,130 | £26,148 | -31% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £23,378 | £23,378 | £24,063 | -33% |
| London | £23,247 | £23,247 | £24,855 | -34% |
| West Midlands | £22,944 | £22,944 | £24,594 | -35% |
| North East | £19,367 | £19,367 | £20,143 | -45% |
| Wales | £15,077 | £15,077 | £14,492 | -57% |
| Scotland | £12,904 | £12,904 | £13,324 | -63% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South West £37,807 | £37,807Mean £41,470 | +8% |
| South East £37,683 | £37,683Mean £41,436 | +7% |
| North West £32,139 | £32,139Mean £32,225 | -8% |
| East Midlands £28,242 | £28,242Mean £27,437 | -19% |
| East of England £24,130 | £24,130Mean £26,148 | -31% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £23,378 | £23,378Mean £24,063 | -33% |
| London £23,247 | £23,247Mean £24,855 | -34% |
| West Midlands £22,944 | £22,944Mean £24,594 | -35% |
| North East £19,367 | £19,367Mean £20,143 | -45% |
| Wales £15,077 | £15,077Mean £14,492 | -57% |
| Scotland £12,904 | £12,904Mean £13,324 | -63% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£35,083); ‘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 shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table