Skip to content
worldsalaries .com

Average Artificial Intelligence Developer Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

An artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom earns about 83,000 GBP a year. That's 19% above the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 39,800 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 130,500 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does an artificial intelligence developer make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
83,000 GBP
6,916 GBP per month
Lowest reported
39,800 GBP
3,316 GBP per month
Highest reported
130,500 GBP
10,875 GBP per month

A typical artificial intelligence developer working in United Kingdom brings home around 6,916 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 39,800 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 130,500 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior artificial intelligence developer working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the artificial intelligence developer salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How artificial intelligence developer pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom earn less than 87,300 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 56,800 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 108,200 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of artificial intelligence developers sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 39,800 GBP. The highest stretch to 130,500 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

39,800
Low
87,300
Median
130,500
High
56,800
25th
108,200
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Artificial intelligence developer pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for an artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical artificial intelligence developer salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    49,700 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +24% from previous
    61,500 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +42% from previous
    87,400 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +23% from previous
    107,700 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +7% from previous
    114,900 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +7% from previous
    123,000 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 42%. That is the point at which a artificial intelligence developer typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Artificial intelligence developer pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving artificial intelligence developer pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average artificial intelligence developer salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    61,500 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +35% from previous
    83,300 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +57% from previous
    130,500 GBP

Artificial intelligence developer gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom earn an average of 84,600 GBP a year, while female artificial intelligence developers earn around 80,500 GBP. That works out to a 5% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Artificial Intelligence Developer gender pay gap

5%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 84,600 GBP
Women 80,500 GBP

Pay raises for an artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 13% every 18 months, which works out to roughly 9% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Artificial intelligence developer bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

84%

84% of artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes an artificial intelligence developer a high-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 5% to 9% of base salary. The remaining 16% of artificial intelligence developers reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Artificial intelligence developer: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Artificial intelligence developer salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Artificial intelligence developer pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Glasgow
  • Birmingham
  • Edinburgh
  • London
  • Leeds
  • Bristol
  • Somerset
  • Cardiff
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion158,700 GBP161,300 GBP76,800-247,400 GBP
ScotlandRegion115,600 GBP125,400 GBP56,100-183,600 GBP
GlasgowCity98,900 GBP90,900 GBP54,100-151,800 GBP
BirminghamCity97,300 GBP107,300 GBP46,300-157,600 GBP
EdinburghCity96,400 GBP102,700 GBP45,200-152,900 GBP
LondonCity96,000 GBP102,700 GBP43,500-151,800 GBP
LeedsCity96,000 GBP88,300 GBP49,700-142,300 GBP
BristolCity95,200 GBP99,600 GBP47,600-151,800 GBP
SomersetCity95,100 GBP97,300 GBP45,400-150,100 GBP
CardiffCity94,800 GBP95,900 GBP43,100-148,300 GBP
ManchesterCity94,100 GBP87,700 GBP48,500-141,000 GBP
WolverhamptonCity94,100 GBP101,100 GBP42,800-148,300 GBP
LiverpoolCity93,800 GBP95,600 GBP43,100-148,300 GBP
BradfordCity92,900 GBP85,800 GBP50,800-140,200 GBP
BelfastCity92,300 GBP95,300 GBP46,200-142,300 GBP
CoventryCity92,100 GBP92,100 GBP44,500-142,300 GBP
BrightonCity90,900 GBP87,900 GBP46,700-140,700 GBP
LeicesterCity90,900 GBP88,600 GBP48,600-141,000 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity90,300 GBP95,400 GBP41,500-140,200 GBP
DerbyCity89,900 GBP94,300 GBP42,300-141,000 GBP
NewcastleCity89,300 GBP84,300 GBP43,100-134,700 GBP
SwanseaCity89,300 GBP84,300 GBP43,100-134,700 GBP
SheffieldCity88,500 GBP92,100 GBP43,800-142,100 GBP
AberdeenCity88,500 GBP86,800 GBP44,500-140,700 GBP
YorkCity88,300 GBP83,800 GBP48,600-137,100 GBP
PlymouthCity87,300 GBP87,300 GBP41,500-130,400 GBP
NottinghamCity86,800 GBP92,200 GBP40,300-141,000 GBP
DundeeCity86,600 GBP90,000 GBP43,500-137,100 GBP
ArmaghCity85,700 GBP84,800 GBP42,700-134,100 GBP
SouthamptonCity84,500 GBP87,900 GBP40,900-130,400 GBP
OxfordCity83,800 GBP74,700 GBP44,500-123,800 GBP
NewportCity83,700 GBP91,600 GBP39,600-134,700 GBP
NewryCity83,700 GBP80,200 GBP44,300-123,800 GBP
DerryCity83,300 GBP88,300 GBP37,900-128,400 GBP
PeterboroughCity83,300 GBP79,000 GBP45,100-128,200 GBP
StirlingCity83,300 GBP86,800 GBP40,000-130,500 GBP
PortsmouthCity83,000 GBP90,300 GBP37,800-132,000 GBP
CambridgeCity81,700 GBP88,300 GBP37,900-128,400 GBP
LincolnCity81,400 GBP81,400 GBP39,800-128,200 GBP
WinchesterCity81,000 GBP83,800 GBP40,500-128,200 GBP
LisburnCity80,800 GBP71,400 GBP43,400-119,700 GBP
PooleCity80,800 GBP84,500 GBP38,000-127,700 GBP
NorwichCity80,800 GBP83,700 GBP39,800-123,800 GBP
ExeterCity80,500 GBP76,900 GBP44,300-123,800 GBP
GloucesterCity79,800 GBP80,800 GBP42,400-123,800 GBP
ChesterCity79,600 GBP74,900 GBP40,700-123,000 GBP
WalesRegion79,600 GBP79,600 GBP42,000-124,500 GBP
InvernessCity78,700 GBP74,700 GBP40,200-121,800 GBP
HartlepoolCity78,500 GBP79,500 GBP40,500-125,400 GBP
WellsCity78,100 GBP78,100 GBP39,100-119,700 GBP
DurhamCity77,300 GBP85,100 GBP35,000-125,400 GBP
AbingdonCity76,900 GBP76,900 GBP37,900-119,700 GBP
KirkwallCity76,800 GBP76,800 GBP36,500-117,100 GBP
CanterburyCity75,800 GBP72,400 GBP40,300-114,300 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion75,400 GBP71,200 GBP39,700-114,900 GBP
BangorCity74,700 GBP74,700 GBP36,200-117,100 GBP
WakefieldCity74,600 GBP71,400 GBP39,600-116,400 GBP
StromnessCity74,600 GBP79,800 GBP33,600-119,700 GBP
SalisburyCity72,300 GBP71,200 GBP36,200-114,900 GBP
StrontianCity72,300 GBP71,200 GBP40,900-114,600 GBP
St DavidsCity71,900 GBP69,200 GBP39,600-112,700 GBP
TruroCity71,400 GBP66,900 GBP39,800-109,700 GBP
RiponCity70,600 GBP66,200 GBP39,400-109,700 GBP

Artificial Intelligence Developer in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does an artificial intelligence developer make per month in United Kingdom?

    An artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom earns about 6,916 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 83,000 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for an artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom start near 39,800 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 130,500 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 56,800 and 108,200 GBP.

  • Is the median artificial intelligence developer salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 87,300 GBP, higher than the average of 83,000 GBP. Half of artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom?

    Men working as an artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom earn around 5% more than women on average (84,600 vs 80,500 GBP a year).

  • Do artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 84% of artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 5% to 9% of base salary.

  • Do artificial intelligence developers earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays an artificial intelligence developer about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do artificial intelligence developers in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    An artificial intelligence developer in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 13% every 18 months, equivalent to roughly 9% a year.