Short answer: New ONS figures show typical full-time pay rose 5.8% to £811.20 a week in April 2026 (ONS). Meanwhile, the average Horsham rent reached £1,490 a month in September 2026. That is up 4.8% in a year and above the South East and UK averages (ONS).
Pay is rising, but not evenly
The ONS published its annual earnings survey on 22 October. Median full-time pay was £811.20 a week in April 2026, up from £766.60 a year earlier (ONS). After inflation, that is a real rise of 2.7%.
Not everyone shared in it. Managers, directors and senior officials saw the biggest rise, at 6.7%. Elementary occupations rose 4.7%. Process, plant and machine operatives rose 4.1%. Part-time employees fell behind, with real pay down 0.1%.
The ONS notes that these slower-growing groups contain many jobs paid close to the minimum wage. Their pay rose by about the same as the legal minimum. The National Living Wage went from £12.21 to £12.71 an hour in April 2026, a rise of 4.1% (GOV.UK).
Prices are climbing again
Inflation rose from 3.1% in August to 3.5% in September (ONS). Motor fuel was the biggest driver. Fuel prices were 29.8% higher than a year earlier. Petrol rose 8.2p a litre in September alone.
For staff who drive to work, that comes straight out of take-home pay. The April pay figures were collected before this latest rise in prices.
Horsham costs more to live in
Rents in Horsham are higher than the regional and national averages. They are also rising faster.
| Area | Average monthly rent (Sept 2026) | Change over the year |
|---|---|---|
| Horsham | £1,490 | Up 4.8% |
| South East | £1,438 | Up 3.5% |
| UK | £1,406 | Up 3.8% |
Sources: ONS Horsham housing prices and ONS Private rent and house prices, October 2026.
The average Horsham rent is £84 a month above the UK average. On our own calculation, that is about £1,000 a year more (£84 × 12 = £1,008).
A one-bedroom home in Horsham now rents for £1,033 a month on average. Buying is harder still. The average Horsham home cost £441,000 in August 2026, against £273,000 across the UK. First-time buyers in Horsham paid an average of £324,000.
Here is what that means for someone on the minimum wage. These are our own calculations:
- a full-time job at £12.71 an hour, 37.5 hours a week, for 52 weeks pays about £24,785 a year before tax
- a year’s rent on an average one-bedroom home in Horsham is £12,396 (£1,033 × 12)
- so the rent alone takes half of that gross salary
What this means for Horsham employers
Candidates don’t compare salaries in isolation. They compare what is left after rent, fuel and bills. Over the past year, Horsham rents rose faster than the minimum wage did in April. A salary that worked last year can look thin this year.
In our view, the squeeze is sharpest on entry-level and junior roles. Admin, customer service and warehouse jobs are often paid close to the legal minimum. The people in them have the least room to absorb higher costs.
When take-home pay is stretched, a small difference between two offers matters more. So does the cost of getting to work. An employer whose salary was set a year ago may now be competing with less than they think.
Ashley has recruited in Horsham and West Sussex for over 15 years. She knows what local candidates are earning now and what it takes to move them. She screens and interviews every candidate herself. You only pay when your new starter begins.
If you’re not sure your salaries still match the local market, ask Ashley for a view on the role you’re hiring for.