£200 gap between highest and lowest Scottish earners – Daily Business

Wage analysis

Terry Murden, Editor |

May 17, 2026

Average wages vary across the country

Research has revealed a pay gap of more than £200 a week between Scotland’s highest and lowest-earning areas.

The Shetland Islands offers the highest weekly earnings of £859.10 and the Moray area the lowest with average pay of just £658.80.

CV builder CV Maker has analysed Office for National Statistics data that shows which areas pay above and below Scotland’s overall average weekly earnings of £773. 

The median weekly pay for full-time employees across the the UK is approximately £767. Average total earnings (including bonuses) is £745 and £692 excluding bonuses.

Nicky Klaasse, CEO at CV Maker, said:  “These statistics highlight the wage disparity across different parts of Scotland.

“The £200 difference between the highest and lowest-paying areas is significant, especially considering the current cost of living challenges many people face.”

Rank Local Authority Weekly Earnings (£) 1 Shetland Islands 859.10 2 East Renfrewshire 856.30 3 East Dunbartonshire 841.90 4 Aberdeen City 834.40 5 City of Edinburgh 833.40 6 South Ayrshire 821.20 7 North Ayrshire 798.60 8 Aberdeenshire 796.50 8 Glasgow City 796.50 9 Orkney Islands 783.60 10 Falkirk 782.90 11 Stirling 774.90 12 Na h-Eileanan Siar 762.70 13 West Lothian 762.10 14 Midlothian 760.80 15 South Lanarkshire 758.40 16 North Lanarkshire 758.00 17 Highland 753.60 18 Perth and Kinross 750.20 19 Clackmannanshire 749.00 20 Argyll and Bute 742.00 21 Fife 741.20 22 Renfrewshire 739.10 23 Inverclyde 735.10 24 East Ayrshire 716.90 25 Dundee City 709.50 26 West Dunbartonshire 707.80 27 Dumfries and Galloway 700.70 28 East Lothian 691.80 29 Angus 690.60 30 Scottish Borders 683.40 31 Moray 658.80 

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