A person who makes two-thirds of the average hourly wage in the UK, which was £11.39 in 2024, is considered to be poorly paid.

It coincides with Chancellor Rachel Reeves' announcement that minimum wages will increase, with the National Living Wage expected to reach £12.21 per hour.

When rates rise in April 2025, over a million low-paid workers will gain.

According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency's (NISRA) Annual Survey of Hours and Earning, the average weekly wage in Northern Ireland rose by £8 throughout the course of the year to £666 in April 2024.

After accounting for inflation, that represents a 1.2% gain over the year ending in April 2024.

This follows two years of declining real wages during which inflation—the rate at which prices were rising—outpaced earnings growth.

Out of the 12 UK regions, Northern Ireland saw the joint-lowest increase in weekly wages over the course of the year, making it the third-lowest earning area, behind the North East (£651) and London (£906).

In 2024, the average yearly salary for full-time workers in Northern Ireland was £34,400, which is £3,000 less than the £37,400 average for the UK.

But it depends on where you work. After accounting for inflation, public sector wages decreased 2.8% over the course of the year, while private sector earnings increased 3.5%.

It should be mentioned that this data does not contain public sector salary awards because they have already been awarded.

Where you work in Northern Ireland and what industry you work in determine the growth rates.

"Information and communications" was the top paid industry in 2024, with weekly wages of £818, up £37 (4.8%) from 2023.

"Accommodation and food service" was the lowest paid industry, with an average weekly wage of £511, up £59 (13%) over the previous year.

Workers in Causeway Coast and Glens had the lowest weekly wages (£559), while those in Belfast earned the most (£718).