Can a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers afford to rent in the UK?
Can a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers afford to rent in the UK?
A IT business analysts, architects and systems designers earns a full-time median of £60,288 per year (ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, April 2025). Across 11 UK regions, rent is affordable (below 30% of gross income) in 10 out of 11. West Midlands is most affordable at a Gera Affordability Ratio of 18.6%; London is least affordable at 36.9%.
Gera Affordability Ratio
West Midlands is most affordable for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers. 10 of 11 regions are below the 30% ONS threshold.
How this is calculatedIT business analysts, architects and systems designers — salary and affordability summary
National median
£60,288
ONS ASHE 2025, FT
Monthly gross
£5,024
Before tax
Affordable regions
10/11
GAR ≤ 30%
Rent affordability by UK region
Gera Affordability Ratio = (monthly rent ÷ regional median monthly salary) × 100. Sorted most affordable first. Click a region for a detailed breakdown.
| Region | Salary | Avg rent / mo | GAR | GAR 2-bed | Buy ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £62,420 | £966 | 18.6% | 16.8% | 4× |
| North East | £49,429 | £776 | 18.8% | 16.7% | 3.3× |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £54,279 | £856 | 18.9% | 16.8% | 3.8× |
| Wales | £51,237 | £836 | 19.6% | 18.1% | 4.1× |
| South West | £68,115 | £1,234 | 21.7% | 18.6% | 4.4× |
| East Midlands | £50,084 | £914 | 21.9% | 19.6% | 4.8× |
| North West | £50,685 | £954 | 22.6% | 20.6% | 4.3× |
| Scotland | £49,626 | £1,009 | 24.4% | 22.0% | 3.9× |
| South East | £68,065 | £1,418 | 25.0% | 22.3% | 5.5× |
| East of England | £52,954 | £1,280 | 29.0% | 25.8% | 6.4× |
| London | £74,574 | £2,294 | 36.9% | 35.3% | 7.4× |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers?
- According to ONS ASHE 2025 provisional data (reference period April 2025), the UK median gross annual pay for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers working full-time is £60,288, which equals £5,024 per month before tax.
- Which UK region is most affordable for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers to rent?
- West Midlands is the most affordable region for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers to rent, with a Gera Affordability Ratio of 18.6% — average monthly rent £966 against a regional median salary of £62,420 (ONS ASHE 2025, April 2025).
- Where is it hardest for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers to afford rent?
- London is the least affordable region, with a Gera Affordability Ratio of 36.9% — average monthly rent £2,294 versus regional median salary £74,574 for this occupation.
- Can a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers afford to buy a home in the UK?
- At the national median salary of £60,288, buying in North East would require a price-to-income ratio of 3.3× (average house price £163,190 ÷ regional salary £49,429). That is rated "Accessible" — Under 5× salary — historically accessible range. The full buy-ratio across all regions is shown in the table below.
- How is the Gera Affordability Ratio calculated for a IT business analysts, architects and systems designers?
- GAR = (monthly_rent ÷ regional_median_monthly_salary) × 100. Salary from ONS ASHE 2025 (Table 15(4).7a, region × occupation, full-time median). Rent from ONS PIPR May 2026 (regional average monthly private rent). A ratio ≤ 30% is "affordable" per ONS guidance. Full methodology: https://gerajobs.com/affordability/methodology.
Data sources
Salary: Office for National Statistics — Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional · Open Government Licence v3.0
Rent: Office for National Statistics — Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR), May 2026 · Open Government Licence v3.0
House prices: HM Land Registry — UK House Price Index (UKHPI), April 2026 · Open Government Licence v3.0
Find IT business analysts, architects and systems designers jobs in affordable regions
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