Company chief executives and senior officials in London are paid several times more than workers including hairdressers and cleaners, a new study has found.
An analysis of more than 80 occupations in the capital showed that the average annual salary of executives last year was more than £143,000 and almost £108,000 for managers and directors.
At the bottom end of the scale, the pay of sales occupations averaged £17,300, with £18,000 for cleaners and just under £20,000 for hairdressers and childcare workers.
The GMB union said its research revealed that teaching was the 22nd highest paying profession (£44,500), while nursing and midwifery professionals were 37th (£36,500).
Warren Kenny, GMB London regional secretary, said: “What these figures show is the importance of income support and housing benefits for those at the bottom of the pay league.
“As Universal Credit which replaces these benefits is rolled out GMB will continue to monitor the impact on the take home incomes of workers who depend on it to make ends meet.”