Other researchers, unspecified discipline: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time other researchers, unspecified discipline in the UK earned a median £44,580 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £5,541 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That ranks 98th of 382 occupations on this measure.
Median full-time pay: women £41,149 a year, men £45,387 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 22,000 employee jobs, 86% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 18.9%, from £37,486, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 78,200 people in this line of work, 25% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £641.90 | £17.29 | – | – | £17.43 |
| 20th percentile | £38,052* | £746.10 | £20.81 | £36,039* | £625.50 | £20.74 |
| 25th percentile | £38,838 | £769.50 | £21.25 | £38,019* | £722.50 | £21.37 |
| 30th percentile | £40,334 | £787.30 | £21.52 | £38,689 | £740.50 | £21.59 |
| 40th percentile | £41,988 | £821.80 | £22.44 | £40,795 | £791.80 | £22.51 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £44,580 | £846.00 | £23.49 | £42,463 | £826.00 | £23.49 |
| 60th percentile | £47,880 | £899.10 | £24.53 | £45,387 | £867.10 | £24.19 |
| 70th percentile | – | £994.40* | £26.87 | £50,584* | £947.70 | £27.32 |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,028.30* | – | – | £994.40* | £28.41* |
| Mean | £49,461 | £964.70 | £26.26 | £46,506 | £879.00 | £26.21 |
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 | £37,486 | £729.40 | £19.45 | £37,391 | £728.60 | 22* |
| 2022 revised | £38,820 | £718.10 | £19.59 | £36,314 | £696.00 | 21* |
| 2023 revised | £41,146 | £823.60 | £22.00 | £38,474 | £737.10 | 16* |
| 2024 revised | £43,780 | £822.20 | £22.87 | £40,245 | £776.60 | 24* |
| 2025 provisional | £44,580 | £846.00 | £23.49 | £42,463 | £826.00 | 22* |
Other researchers, unspecified discipline by region
UK: 78,200 (± 10,800), April 2025 to March 2026. 10 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 19,700* | ± 7,200 |
| South West | 11,000* | ± 3,800 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What other researchers, unspecified discipline do
Other researchers, unspecified discipline perform research activities across a variety of disciplines for academic purposes or to provide the systematic investigation necessary for the development of new products and services, or to enhance the performance of existing ones. (ONS SOC 2020, 2162)
Also covers: postdoctoral researcher, research assistant (university), research fellow (university), university researcher, research assistant, research associate, research fellow, research officer and university research fellow (nos).
- Plans, directs and undertakes research into areas of academic interest or commercial importance to their organisation
- Designs tests and experiments to address research objective and find solutions
- Applies models and techniques to medical, industrial, agricultural, military and similar applications
- Analyses results and writes up results of tests and experiments undertaken
- Presents results of scientific research to sponsors, addresses conferences and publishes articles outlining the methodology and results of research undertaken
- Designs and develops an appropriate research methodology in order to address the research objective
Entrants usually possess a relevant degree or equivalent qualification, although postgraduate qualifications may be required for some jobs. Training is usually provided on-the-job.
Related
Research and development (r&d) and other research professionals (median £54,563) · Research and development (r&d) managers · Environment professionals · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026