Average London salary 68% higher than Burnley equivalent, says thinktank

The Centre for Cities has cited the lack of ‘cutting edge’ private sector jobs in certain areas as partly responsible for the gap in earnings. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The average London worker could quit their job in August and still be paid what an average worker in Burnley would make in a year, according to a report highlighting Britain’s stark regional pay divide.

Calling on the government to close regional pay divisions and increase economic growth, the Centre for Cities said the average annual wage for an employee in London was almost £20,000 higher than in the lowest-paid places in the UK.