You Don't Have to Move to London
The UK tech industry is far more geographically distributed than most graduates realise. While London remains the largest market, cities like Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Cambridge have thriving tech ecosystems with serious companies, strong salaries, and a far better cost-to-salary ratio.
Here's a city-by-city breakdown to help you decide where to focus your search.
London
Graduate tech salary range: £35,000–£70,000+
Top employers for graduates: Google, Amazon, Meta, Goldman Sachs Technology, JP Morgan, Revolut, Monzo, Deliveroo, Palantir, Darktrace
Strengths: Unmatched density of opportunities across every tech discipline. Fintech, adtech, deeptech, cybersecurity - London has critical mass in all of them. The highest absolute salaries in the UK.
Weaknesses: High cost of living erodes salary advantage significantly. Average rent for a studio flat in Zone 2 is £1,800–£2,200/month. Competitive to an extreme - every top role is contested by candidates from across Europe.
Best for: Fintech, adtech, investment bank technology, high-growth startups, and any graduate who wants to maximise networking opportunities early in their career.
Manchester
Graduate tech salary range: £28,000–£45,000
Top employers for graduates: AutoTrader, The Very Group, AO, Booking.com (EMEA), KPMG Technology, Accenture, Bet365, Co-op Digital, AND Digital
Strengths: Manchester is the UK's fastest-growing tech hub outside London. Strong in e-commerce, retail tech, and digital consultancy. Manchester Digital - the local tech trade body - hosts regular graduate networking events. Cost of living is roughly 35–40% cheaper than London.
Weaknesses: Fewer high-paying startup roles compared to London or Bristol. Limited presence of FAANG/big-tech firms with UK engineering offices.
Best for: Graduates interested in e-commerce, retail tech, or consultancy who want real responsibility without London's cost pressure.
Cambridge
Graduate tech salary range: £35,000–£65,000
Top employers for graduates: Arm, Qualcomm, Amazon Lab126, Microsoft Research, AstraZeneca Digital, Aveva, Darktrace (HQ)
Strengths: Cambridge is the UK's Silicon Fen - globally important in semiconductor design, AI research, and deeptech. Arm alone employs thousands of engineers. If you want to work at the cutting edge of hardware or applied AI, Cambridge is unmatched in the UK.
Weaknesses: Smaller job market overall. Housing costs are high relative to the local economy (driven by university and tech demand). Less vibrant city life than Manchester or Bristol.
Best for: Computer science and electrical engineering graduates targeting hardware, chip design, AI research, or advanced systems roles.
Bristol
Graduate tech salary range: £28,000–£50,000
Top employers for graduates: Airbus Digital, Rolls-Royce Digital, GCHQ (Cheltenham, 45 min), Oracle, Hargreaves Lansdown Technology, Compare the Market, Dyson (Malmesbury)
Strengths: Bristol has a thriving aerospace and defence tech sector alongside a growing startup scene. Quality of life is excellent - ranked consistently among the UK's most liveable cities. Strong aerospace and engineering graduate opportunities unique to this region.
Weaknesses: Smaller pool of pure software opportunities compared to London or Manchester. The best roles (Airbus, Rolls-Royce) often require security clearance eligibility.
Best for: Graduates interested in aerospace, defence, or embedded systems - and anyone who values work-life balance and outdoor access.
Edinburgh
Graduate tech salary range: £27,000–£45,000
Top employers for graduates: JPMorgan Edinburgh, Skyscanner, Craneware, FanDuel, Standard Life Technology, Sopra Steria, NatWest Digital
Strengths: Edinburgh's tech scene is anchored by fintech, insurance tech, and travel tech. JP Morgan's Edinburgh campus employs over 3,000 technology staff - one of the largest technology centres outside the US. Strong university talent pipeline from Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, and Napier.
Weaknesses: Smaller startup ecosystem than Glasgow and London. Some roles require Scottish residency for security clearance.
Best for: Finance-adjacent tech graduates (fintech, insurtech) and those who want investment bank tech salaries without London living costs.
Summary Table
| City | Salary Range | Cost of Living | Strongest Sectors |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £35k–£70k+ | Very High | Fintech, Adtech, Startups, FAANG |
| Manchester | £28k–£45k | Moderate | E-commerce, Retail Tech, Consultancy |
| Cambridge | £35k–£65k | High | Semiconductors, AI Research, Deeptech |
| Bristol | £28k–£50k | Moderate-High | Aerospace, Defence, Engineering |
| Edinburgh | £27k–£45k | Moderate | Fintech, Insurtech, Travel Tech |
Finding Roles by Location
GradSignal lets you filter graduate tech jobs by location, so you can browse roles specific to your target city. Each company profile also includes their HQ location and office details, so you know exactly where you'd be based before applying.