Hull salary benchmarks and employer NI (2026/27)
Kingston upon Hull (Hull) is a major port city and the economic centre of the Humber region, with employment concentrated in port and logistics, offshore wind and energy, chemicals and manufacturing, healthcare and retail. Hull salaries are among the lowest of any UK city: entry-level roles typically start at £21,000–£25,000, experienced professionals earn £26,000–£42,000, and senior or specialist roles reach £42,000–£65,000. The city is one of the key sites for the UK's offshore wind industry, with Siemens Gamesa's turbine blade manufacturing plant and a growing supply chain creating skilled engineering and technical roles.
At £24,000 — typical for operational, logistics and administrative roles — employer NI is £2,850/year (£237.50/month) and pension £532. Total above-salary statutory cost: £3,382. Total employer cost: approximately £27,382. At £30,000: employer NI £3,750, pension £714, total employer cost approximately £34,464. At £40,000 — applicable to engineering, operations management and senior technical roles in offshore wind or chemicals: employer NI £5,250, pension £1,013, total employer cost approximately £46,263.
The offshore wind sector has brought premium salaries to Hull that sit well above local average. Turbine installation engineers, project managers and wind operations specialists earn £45,000–£75,000 or more, with offshore allowances adding further to total compensation packages. At £55,000 including allowances: employer NI £7,500, pension £1,461, total employer cost approximately £63,961. For offshore wind operators, Employment Allowance rarely offsets the full NI bill due to the scale of operations.
Healthcare and manufacturing employer costs in Hull
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest employers in the region. NHS Agenda for Change pay applies. Band 5: £29,970–£36,483. At £32,000: employer NI £4,050, pension £777, total employer cost £36,827. The NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are additional major public sector employers. Band 7 (experienced specialist): at £46,000, employer NI £6,150, pension £1,130, total employer cost approximately £53,280.
Hull's chemicals and manufacturing sector includes INEOS, Smith+Nephew and a range of process manufacturing operations. Process and chemical engineering technician roles typically earn £28,000–£40,000; chartered engineers and project managers £40,000–£65,000. Manufacturing employers in Hull face the same employer NI calculation as all UK employers — geography does not alter the rate — but lower salary benchmarks mean total employer cost is proportionally lower than in London or South East markets.
Hull employer cost worked examples
At £25,000: employer NI £3,000, pension £563, total employer cost approximately £28,563. Monthly: £2,380. At £32,000: employer NI £4,050, pension £777, total employer cost £36,827. Monthly: £3,069. At £45,000: employer NI £6,000, pension £1,163, total employer cost approximately £52,163. Monthly: £4,347.
For Hull SMEs, Employment Allowance (up to £10,500 for eligible businesses) is particularly impactful at the lower salary levels common in the area. A small manufacturer with five employees at £28,000 generates approximately £17,250 employer NI — allowance covers £10,500, leaving a net NI liability of £6,750. Use the employer cost calculator to model any Hull salary with your pension and overhead assumptions.