Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities: average pay and jobs in the UK
Full-time employees in libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities earned a median £32,449 in the year to 5 April 2025 (ONS ASHE), £6,590 less than across all industries.
What the figures show
That is in the lowest third of 84 divisions.
65% of jobs are full-time.
Full-time medians: women £31,812, men £32,758.
The median rose 13.7% from £28,536 in 2021.
The Business Register and Employment Survey counts 115,000 people working in it in Great Britain in 2024, up 10% since 2019; 19% are in London.
There were 5,875 business sites in March 2026, 45 of them employing 250 or more (UK Business Counts).
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £21,986 | £465.80 | £12.50 | £8,533* | £150.20* | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | £24,554 | £501.20 | £13.35 | £14,376* | £291.20 | £12.60 |
| 25th percentile | £25,784 | £527.50 | £13.80 | £17,987* | £351.40 | £12.98 |
| 30th percentile | £27,367 | £543.40 | £14.38 | £20,990 | £416.10 | £13.53 |
| 40th percentile | £30,183 | £592.60 | £15.97 | £23,624 | £478.60 | £14.36 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £32,449 | £627.30 | £17.26 | £27,280 | £534.60 | £15.74 |
| 60th percentile | £35,325 | £684.80 | £18.42 | £30,695 | £592.80 | £17.07 |
| 70th percentile | £38,457 | £743.30 | £20.36 | £34,411 | £662.60 | £18.48 |
| 75th percentile | £40,701 | £784.40 | £21.39 | £36,632 | £702.40 | £19.85 |
| 80th percentile | £43,509* | £854.60* | £23.74* | £39,046 | £745.90 | £21.22 |
| Mean | £35,603 | £709.90 | £19.18 | £28,646 | £558.40 | £18.46 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £28,536 | £554.00 | £14.83 | £25,035 | £489.30 | 72 |
| 2022 revised | £29,287 | £563.10 | £15.41 | £26,483 | £498.30 | 85 |
| 2023 revised | £29,994 | £576.90 | £15.55 | £27,286 | £507.90 | 89 |
| 2024 revised | £32,689 | £624.30 | £16.84 | £29,772 | £550.30 | 96 |
| 2025 provisional | £32,449 | £627.30 | £17.26 | £27,280 | £534.60 | 83 |
Where the 115,000 jobs are, 2024
| Region or nation | Employees | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| London | 22,000 | 22,000 |
| Scotland | 21,000 | 21,000 |
| South East | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| South West | 11,000 | 11,000 |
| East of England | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| North West | 7,000 | 7,000 |
| West Midlands | 7,000 | 7,000 |
| East Midlands | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Wales | 4,500 | 5,000 |
| North East | 4,500 | 4,500 |
| Great Britain | 115,000 | 115,000 |
5,875 business sites by size
| Staff | Sites, March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Micro (0 to 9) | 3,990 |
| Small (10 to 49) | 1,445 |
| Medium (50 to 249) | 400 |
| Large (250 or more) | 45 |
| Total | 5,875 |
2021: 5,865; 2022: 5,890; 2023: 5,915; 2024: 5,860; 2025: 5,815; 2026: 5,875.
Related
Arts, entertainment and recreation · Creative, arts and entertainment activities · Gambling and betting activities · UK average weekly earnings growth
ASHE Table 16: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · notes · 15 October 2026