Official ONS earnings · 162 occupations compared
North West vs Scotland
Typical pay is about 3% higher in Scotland, but that headline hides a lot: North West pays more for 58 of the 162 occupations measured in both.
North West
£33,462
typical occupation median
- Occupations measured
- 226
- Highest paid
- £83,567
- Lowest paid
- £4,511
Scotland
£34,625
typical occupation median
- Occupations measured
- 224
- Highest paid
- £114,012
- Lowest paid
- £8,510
Where North West pays more
Biggest proportional gaps in North West's favour.
£49,821 in North West · £39,116 in Scotland
Vehicle valeters and cleaners
+24.1%£24,979 in North West · £20,130 in Scotland
Specialist nurses
+21.1%£45,568 in North West · £37,636 in Scotland
Biochemists and biomedical scientists
+20.7%£47,457 in North West · £39,315 in Scotland
Educational support assistants
+16%£19,031 in North West · £16,412 in Scotland
Driving instructors
+14.8%£37,540 in North West · £32,697 in Scotland
£50,806 in North West · £44,511 in Scotland
Other health professionals n.e.c.
+12.9%£38,807 in North West · £34,364 in Scotland
Where Scotland pays more
Biggest proportional gaps in Scotland's favour.
Other psychologists
+40.3%£48,890 in Scotland · £29,182 in North West
Children's nurses
+31.5%£39,306 in Scotland · £26,944 in North West
Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers
+29.9%£56,764 in Scotland · £39,798 in North West
Mental health nurses
+28.6%£40,506 in Scotland · £28,913 in North West
Specialist medical practitioners
+26.7%£114,012 in Scotland · £83,567 in North West
Business associate professionals n.e.c.
+25.9%£37,917 in Scotland · £28,101 in North West
£51,665 in Scotland · £40,417 in North West
Vehicle body builders and repairers
+19.9%£39,108 in Scotland · £31,333 in North West
Jobs that pay the same in both
Where location makes almost no difference to the median.
| Occupation | North West | Scotland | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buyers and procurement officers | £37,048 | £37,063 | -0% |
| Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians | £35,942 | £35,891 | +0.1% |
| Butchers | £28,711 | £28,747 | -0.1% |
| Research and development (R&D) managers | £51,354 | £51,456 | -0.2% |
| Water and sewerage plant operatives | £37,534 | £37,592 | -0.2% |
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional), Table 15. Comparison covers the 162 four-digit SOC 2020 occupations with a published median in both regions. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.