As most Londoners commute into work, you'd have thought there'd be a big difference between average earnings by workplace, and by residence. Well yes, and no.
The above graphic from Centre for London shows average weekly earnings to be highest in workplaces in central and west London. It's no surprise to see the City of London raking in the most cash — £700-£1,000 per week on average (and we bet many City workers are making rather more than a grand). Workplaces in Tower Hamlets and Islington are paying well above the average too; that figures when you consider the number of tech companies in these boroughs. Hackney — perhaps surprisingly, as it's also a techie borough — only pays an average weekly wage of £500-£550. Then again, the borough has many bars and clubs which likely aren't paying a huge whack to their employees.
Boroughs in the west, including Hounslow and Hammersmith pay a very decent £600-£650 average per week. Could that in part be due to the location of big guns such as Sega and Sky?
A look at earnings based on where people live (see below graphic) shows a similar pattern of wealth in central and west London. Picturesque boroughs south of the Thames, including Richmond and Wandsworth, appear in the higher-earning bracket — £650-£700 per week. Is it any coincidence so many of these wealthier boroughs meet with the Thames? Only those with good money these days can afford any kind of decent view of the river.
One borough on the second graphic stands out: Bromley. Although the borough is paying out an average salary of just £400-£450 per week, on average its residents earn £200 more than that.
For us though, the most interesting point: many people earning the lowest threshold of £400-£450 per week aren't living in London at all — many, we assume, because they can't afford it.
These graphics are taken from London Essays, a journal published by Centre for London, supported by Capital & Counties Properties PLC. The full set of essays can be found here.
