Average Salary in Cumbria by Job and Industry
Living in Cumbria means being surrounded by beautiful countryside, historic towns and some of the UK’s best-known landscapes. However, the county is also home to a wide mix of industries and major employers.
Tourism plays a big part in areas such as Windermere, Keswick and Ambleside. Barrow has a strong shipbuilding and engineering sector, while West Cumbria is known for energy and nuclear jobs. Healthcare, education, construction, farming and retail also support thousands of local workers.
So, how much can you expect to earn in Cumbria? Here is a closer look at average salaries across the county and how pay differs between common jobs and industries.
What Is the Average Salary in Cumbria?
The latest full-year figures cover earnings during 2025.
For people working full-time, the figures suggest that a typical employee living in Cumbria earns between £40,500 and £42,800 a year before tax, ~£1,000 to £3,000 more than the national average.
| Area | Mean annual salary | Median annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | £45,700 | £42,800 |
| Westmorland and Furness | £44,400 | £40,500 |
| United Kingdom | £48,500 | £39,000 |
The median is usually the most helpful figure. It shows the middle salary after workers are placed in order from the lowest paid to the highest.
The mean is calculated by adding all salaries together and dividing the total by the number of workers. A small number of very high earners can therefore push this figure upwards.
These are gross salaries, which means they are measured before Income Tax, National Insurance and pension payments.
Average Pay for Common Jobs in Cumbria
Pay can vary greatly depending on your experience, qualifications and working hours. Based on reported salaries and recent job advertisements, typical figures include:
| Job | Average reported pay |
|---|---|
| Mechanical engineer | Around £49,000 a year |
| Registered nurse | Around £20.38 an hour |
| Electrician | Around £38,200 a year |
| Social worker | Around £38,300 a year |
| HGV driver | Around £17.32 an hour |
| Retail sales assistant | Around £31,600 a year |
| Chef | Around £14.52 an hour |
| Care worker | Around £12.79 an hour |
| Teaching assistant | Around £169 a day |
These should be treated as a general guide. They include people at different stages of their careers and do not always represent the starting salary for a role.
Hourly pay can also be difficult to turn into an annual figure. Overtime, night shifts, part-time work and seasonal hours can all change how much someone earns over a year.
Which Industries Employ the Most People?
Cumbria has an unusual mix of rural, industrial and visitor-based employment. Its largest industries include:
- Manufacturing – 40,000 jobs
- Retail and vehicle repair – 34,000 jobs
- Health and social work – 31,000 jobs
- Accommodation and food services – 30,000 jobs
- Education – 17,000 jobs
- Construction – 14,000 jobs
- Professional, scientific and technical services – 14,000 jobs
- Public administration and defence – 14,000 jobs
These figures show that Cumbria’s economy is about much more than tourism. The county is also an important centre for manufacturing, defence, energy and public services.
Engineering and Manufacturing
Manufacturing is a major part of Cumbria’s economy, particularly around Barrow and West Cumbria.
The industry supports around 40,000 employee jobs, accounting for approximately 17% of the county’s workforce. That is more than double the proportion recorded across Great Britain.
Large defence, shipbuilding, energy and manufacturing employers create work for:
- Engineers
- Welders and fabricators
- Electricians
- Project managers
- Technicians
- Skilled tradespeople
A mechanical engineer in Cumbria earns an average of around £49,000 a year, while electricians earn approximately £38,200.
Experienced engineers and senior project staff may earn much more. Pay can also rise when a role involves specialist qualifications, security clearance, overtime or shift work.
Healthcare and Social Care
Healthcare and social work support approximately 31,000 jobs across Cumbria.
Pay varies widely. Doctors, experienced nurses and specialist health professionals can earn above the county’s median salary. Care workers and support staff tend to receive lower hourly rates.
Reported averages include:
- Registered nurse: around £20.38 an hour
- Social worker: around £38,300 a year
- Care worker: around £12.79 an hour
Some healthcare workers also receive extra payments for nights, weekends, bank holidays and on-call duties.
Care workers remain in high demand across Cumbria. This is especially true in rural communities, where recruiting and retaining staff can be more difficult.
Tourism and Hospitality
Tourism is one of Cumbria’s best-known industries. It supports hotels, pubs, restaurants, visitor attractions and activity providers across the Lake District and wider county.
Accommodation and food services provide around 30,000 jobs. This is nearly 13% of Cumbria’s employee workforce, compared with less than 8% nationally.
Chefs in Cumbria earn an average of approximately £14.52 an hour. Sous chefs, head chefs and those working in larger or high-end hotels may earn more.
However, many local hospitality roles are seasonal or part-time. Someone’s yearly income may therefore be lower than their hourly wage initially suggests.
Some employers also offer accommodation, meals, tips or service-charge payments. These benefits can be important in Lake District communities where housing costs are high.
Retail
Retail and vehicle repair provide approximately 34,000 jobs across Cumbria.
Reported pay for retail sales assistants averages around £31,600 a year. However, this may include experienced staff, full-time workers and people earning commission or bonuses.
Entry-level shop-floor roles are more likely to pay close to the minimum wage. Supervisors, store managers and specialist sales staff can earn considerably more.
Retail work is found across the county, from larger shopping areas in Barrow, Carlisle and Kendal to independent shops serving smaller towns and tourist communities.
Education
Schools, colleges and other education providers support around 17,000 jobs in Cumbria.
Teachers in state-funded schools normally follow national pay scales. During the 2025–26 academic year, qualified classroom teachers outside London earned between £32,916 and £51,047.
Senior teachers, department leaders and headteachers can earn more.
Teaching assistants are often paid by the hour or day. Many also work during term time only, so a daily rate should not be multiplied across the full year when estimating their salary.
Construction and Transport
Construction supports around 14,000 jobs in Cumbria, with a further 10,000 people working in transport and storage.
HGV drivers earn an average of approximately £17.32 an hour. Drivers working nights, travelling long distances or carrying specialist loads may receive higher rates.
Construction pay depends heavily on the trade and level of experience. Qualified electricians, plumbers, joiners and plant operators can earn strong salaries. Apprentices and labourers usually start on lower pay while they learn and gain qualifications.
Are Salaries in Cumbria Above the UK Average?
Cumbria’s median full-time salaries were slightly above the wider UK figure in 2025. However, its mean salaries remained below the national average.
This is partly because the UK average is raised by very high salaries in London and other major cities.
Cumbria also has a noticeable divide between industries. Engineering, energy and specialist public-sector roles can offer strong pay. Hospitality, care and entry-level retail jobs are more likely to fall below the county median.
Salary is only one part of a job offer. Local workers should also consider working hours, travel costs, overtime, pensions, annual leave and other benefits when comparing opportunities.
