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Software Engineer salary in London

2025/26 tax year · ONS ASHE 2025 · 1-bed median rent

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Gross salary
£72,000
avg per year
Take home pay
£4,360
per month
Avg rent/1 bed
£2,150
per month
After rent
£2,210
per month
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Full pay breakdown

Item Annual Monthly
Gross salary £72,000 £6,000
Income tax −£16,232 −£1,353
National Insurance −£3,451 −£288
Net take-home £52,317 £4,360
Rent (1-bed median) — −£2,150
Council tax (est.) — −£165
Transport cost — −£185
After rent monies left in pocket — £2,210
Rent-to-income ratio: 49%
Rent as a share of net monthly pay
High pressure

Salary range in London

Salary distribution of Software Engineer earners · ONS ASHE 2025

MEDIAN£72,000P0P25P50P75P100
25th percentile earns
£58,000
Median earnings
£72,000
75th percentile earns
£92,000

Housing affordability

Rent-to-income analysis · Software Engineer in London

51High pressure49% RTIRent-to-Income
Affordability score
Monthly breakdown
Take-home£4,360
Rent (1-bed)−£2,150
Council tax−£165
Transport−£185
Disposable£1,860
💡 Aim for rent ≤ 30% of gross income
Rent-to-Income (RTI) scale
0% = no rent · 100% = all income on rent
04070100
Comfortable
Moderate
High Risk
Full affordability breakdown for London →
Recommendations
Explore nearby areas
Commuter towns 30 min out often cut rent by 20–30% with minimal extra travel time.
Prioritise income growth
At this RTI, a salary increase or second income stream makes the biggest impact.
House-share now
Sharing costs is the fastest route to dropping your RTI below the 33% comfort zone.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Software Engineer salary in London? +
The median Software Engineer salary in London is £72,000 per year, based on ONS ASHE 2025 data. The middle 50% of earners fall between £58,000 and £92,000. The UK median for this role across all cities is approximately £54,500.
What is the monthly take-home pay for a Software Engineer in London? +
On a gross salary of £72,000, a Software Engineer in London pays £16,232 in income tax and £3,451 in National Insurance (2025/26 tax year), leaving a net monthly take-home of £4,360.
Can a Software Engineer afford to live in London? +
With take-home pay of £4,360/mo and a median 1-bed rent of £2,150/mo, a Software Engineer in London has £2,210/mo left after rent — a rent-to-income ratio of 49% (high pressure). After council tax (£165/mo) and transport (£185/mo), disposable income is approximately £1,860/mo.

Software Engineer salary in other cities

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