The headline comparison
As a total individual income, £40,000 is above the £29,700 taxpayer median in HMRC’s 2023/24 data. As full-time salary, it is just above the £39,039 median in the 2025 provisional ONS series. Keep those different populations and source periods in view.
The age question
In the 2025 age tables, £40,000 is above the £32,347 median for 22–29-year-olds and below the £44,244 median for 40–49-year-olds. These are separate groups of employee jobs, not a prediction of how your salary should progress.
A current offer needs more context
Hours, travel, pension terms and job security affect an offer’s value. The ONS full-time salary median provides context across many jobs. It cannot establish the competitive salary for one occupation, employer or level of experience.
See the definitions and data limitations. Figures compare with the stated source years and are not inflation-adjusted forecasts.