When it comes to effectively managing a company, nurturing it so that it grows, and seeing consistent and replicable success, one thing is always true: you need to make more than you spend. While yes, startups tend to burn cash just to build up and develop the products and solutions designed to eventually make money, the ultimate goal is always to have higher revenue streams than operating costs.
One way that you can control those operating costs is the salaries you pay. Of course, salaries depend on many factors, but one of the more powerful ways to reduce your overheadswithout compromising on quality is to simply base your operations in more affordable areas. Hiring local talent in areas outside London can immediately mean a lower starting salary for your employees. Why, you ask? It’s simple; there’s a lower cost of living.
You don’t even need to go far to start benefiting from this. Take Swindon, for example. This town is less than a two-hour drive from London, meaning you can still benefit from London connections, while saving significantly on costs, including salaries. This is just one of the reasons why Swindon has become such an attractive choice for employers to set up base.
So, how do salaries in Swindon compare to the rest of the UK? If you’ve been considering opening a business or a new branch in the area, here’s everything you need to know about salaries there, how they compare, and what impacts competitiveness in the area:
Average Salaries in Swindon
Average salaries in Swindon typically sit between the £31,000 to £40,000 range, with ONS figures putting UK average earnings at £682 per week.
While this puts many Swindon average salaries right in line with the national average, it’s important to note that Swindon has been named one of only seven towns above the national average. This is due to the majority of the population being working age (59%), and the high volume of successful industrial and tech businesses. It’s also in the top five cities with the highest employment rate.
The 30,000 or so businesses in the area contribute an average of £21 billion in Gross Value Added to the economy annually. Swindon is also home to considerable industrial floorspace, and has a robust green energy network capable of generating 891,000MWh of electricity. This makes it a very attractive option for industrial and tech-related businesses.
Despite the overall average being higher, however, many salaries are still typically in line with the national average, making Swindon as attractive a place as any outside London to set up your business.
How Businesses Can Save Further on Salaries
If your business requires specialists that demand higher salary ranges, there are still opportunities to help you save on costs without cutting corners. One way is to outsource support services as and when you need them. You can bring on an outsourced agency like the HR Dept, for example, to handle your onboarding and hires while you set up shop in Swindon and then continue day-to-day operations with one or two HR specialists. Alternatively, you can outsource your needs during high seasons, or on a case-by-case basis.
Even with salaries, you could, theoretically, offer lower salaries by offering the power of remote work. This way, your employees can live in even more cost-advantageous areas, while you benefit from the lower salary requirements.
Cost of Living in Swindon
The good news for businesses is that even modest salaries go further, thanks to the lower monthly private rental costs. In September 2025, the ONS reported that the average monthly rent is £1050, up from £992 the previous year. That said, this is still far lower than nearby equivalents, including Oxford, Reading, and London.
This means that even if you need to offer lower salaries to help get your startup or small business operating, you can easily still attract top talent in the area. Yes, you’ll want to look into additional perks and benefits that you can use to seal the deal, but with lower housing costs to contend with, even a modest salary can go further in this area.
An Overview of the Industries in Swindon
Large employment sectors in the Swindon and Wiltshire areainclude retail and wholesale companies (16% of total employment), health, (11%), manufacturing (9%), and tech industries (9%).
There has been an increase in transportation and storage, construction, property, and financial and insurance businesses opening up shop in Swindon too. Not only are they becoming more popular in the area, but these industries are growing faster in Swindon than other areas in the country.
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