Reading is a city in Berkshire, in South East England. Despite its relatively small size (230K people), it’s a major tech hub (often dubbed as “the UK’s Silicon Valley”) located just 1.5 hours drive (80–90 km) from London. This and the fact that Reading is much more affordable than the capital make Reading a highly desirable place among IT specialists.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Wojciech Zabolotny (CC BY-SA 3.0)
IT salaries
Reading offers the highest IT salaries in the UK after London, with the average IT salary in Reading standing at £53,250 per year (£4,440 per month).
Average IT salaries in Reading depending on the specialization (£, before taxes, per year / per month):
- Software developer: 39,420 / 3,285
- Front-end developer: 57,020 / 4,750
- DevOps engineer: 46,810 / 3,900
- Database administrator: 37,980 / 3,165
- Web designer: 23,920 / 1,990
- System administrator: 43,360 / 3,610
- IT project manager: 54,290 / 4,520
- QA engineer: 40,410 / 3,370
- Security analyst: 39,350 / 3,280
Economy
Reading is an important commercial and tech center of Southern England. It’s home to many British and international companies, including corporations that are active in the technology industry.
The unemployment rate in Reading is 5.6% — higher than the national average of 3.8%.
Important economic sectors in Reading include:
- Accounting
- Retail
- Technology
There are over 45,270 digital jobs and more than 600 start-ups in Reading. Many companies ranging from early-stage startups to global R&D centers are distributed in business parks around Reading, e. g. in Thames Valley Park in nearby Earley, Green Park, and Arlington Business Park.
The largest technology companies present in Reading include:
- Cisco Systems
- Datto
- Hewlett Packard
- Hibu
- International Computers Limited
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- Symantec
- Verizon
Cost of living
Consumer prices in Reading are 9% lower and rent prices are 42% lower than in London.
The average monthly costs without rent in Reading are £720 for a single person and £2,500 for a four-person family.
The average prices in Reading (GDP):
- Meal at McDonald’s: 5–7
- Meal at another inexpensive restaurant: 10–20
- Average food basket (milk, bread, eggs, cheese, chicken, apples, potatoes, water, beer): 25
- Monthly fee at a fitness club: 20–60
- Monthly pass: 55–70
- Monthly rent (1 bedroom): 700 – 1,000
- Monthly rent (3 bedrooms): 1,250 – 2,000
- Property prices per square meter: 2,700 – 5,380
- Utilities: 130–300 per month
Travel
The nearest airport is London Heathrow, 40 km away by road. The airport can be accessed by rail or by an express bus service named RailAir.
Entertainment
Although Reading has less vibrant cultural and entertainment life compared to London and Edinburgh, it has its share of museums, cafes, restaurants, and clubs. There are a number of historic buildings, including the Abbey Gateway, where Jane Austen went to school.
Popular events held in Reading include the Reading Festival in August, the Beer Festival, and Reading Pride.