The Oxford Living Wage

Oxford Living Wage Overview

The Oxford Living Wage is an hourly minimum wage designed to provide liveable earnings in Oxford. It is aimed at businesses either based in Oxford or doing business in Oxford, recognising the city's high cost of living. From April 2025, the rate is set at £13.16.

This rate is set annually and is 95% of the London Living Wage, as determined by the Living Wage Foundation. You can learn more about this connection by visiting the Living Wage Foundation’s Real Living Wage.

Oxford City Council champions fair pay through its employer recognition scheme. We encourage employers paying the Oxford Living Wage to gain accreditation for wider recognition.

How to become an accredited Oxford Living Wage Employer

To apply for accreditation, companies need to follow a self-reporting system. This involves a commitment to the Oxford Living Wage in a signed letter to the Council.

• directly-employed staff must be paid the Oxford Living Wage for eligibility. For contractors, there should be a plan to implement the Oxford Living Wage when feasible
• once accredited, employers are responsible for letting the Council know if they are no longer paying the Oxford Living Wage at the revised annual rates (please check the Oxford City Council website for the revised rates annually) 
• the Council will remove non-compliant employers from the accredited list
• while apprentices are not included in the accreditation, employers can opt to pay them the Oxford Living Wage
• the Council may revise these criteria or the accreditation process, providing adequate notice

If you meet these criteria and wish to become an Oxford Living Wage Employer, please complete our online form to register your company or institution's interest and one of our team will get back to you.

Apply for Oxford Living Wage accreditation or reconfirm new rate

Benefits of the Oxford Living Wage

Earning a wage that supports household and family needs is crucial for worker motivation and retention. The Oxford Living Wage aims to ensure workers in Oxford earn enough to meet the city's living costs, particularly given its status as one of the UK's most expensive cities.

By offering the Oxford Living Wage, accredited employers show they value their staff. This initiative also addresses the challenge many workers face: choosing between higher living costs in Oxford or increased travel expenses from living outside the city.

The Oxford Living Wage has grown out of the Living Wage Foundation’s campaign which began 25 years ago, to secure a living wage not just a minimum wage. The Foundation’s campaign has found Living Wage employers have seen significant improvement in their reputation, staff retention, staff motivation and manager-staff relationships.

• 80% of employers report improved staff quality of work with the Living Wage
• enhanced loyalty and customer service, leading to fewer complaints
• a 25% reduction in absenteeism
• improved staff retention and reduced HR costs
• 70% of employers note increased consumer recognition of their ethical employment practices

Find more information about the Living Wage Foundation and the national living wage initiative on the Living Wage website.