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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Salford Council budget and spending

Salford Council had net current service expenditure of £581.3m in 2024-25, about £1,957 for each of its 297,004 residents. By total budget it is 64th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£581.3m
Spend per resident
£1,957
106th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
297,004
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
64th
of 185 single-tier councils

This is the council budget only (net current service expenditure). NHS, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest are not included. In two-tier counties, education and social care sit with the county, not the district.

Where Salford Council spends its money

Salford Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£288.8m

    49.7% of the budget

  • Adult social care£104.8m

    18.0% of the budget

  • Children's social care£74.3m

    12.8% of the budget

  • Central and other£40.9m

    7.0% of the budget

  • Public health£21.6m

    3.7% of the budget

  • Environment£13.6m

    2.3% of the budget

  • Housing£13.5m

    2.3% of the budget

  • Planning£11.7m

    2.0% of the budget

  • Culture£10.6m

    1.8% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£1.3m

    0.2% of the budget

Single-tier councils (unitary, metropolitan, London borough and Scottish and Welsh councils) run every local service in their area, so they are compared with each other.

Benefits spending in Salford

Across six benefits, £854.2m was paid out in Salford in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,876 per resident. That is 31st highest of 315 areas per person and 31st by total pounds, and 34.3% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Salford by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£551.2m
  • Personal Independence Payment£184.7m
  • Housing Benefit£65.8m
  • Disability Living Allowance£51.0m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£25.8m
  • Carer's Allowance£24.9m

Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.

Councils with similar spend per resident

Salford Council: common questions

How much does Salford Council spend?

Salford Council had net current service expenditure of £581.3m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Salford Council spend per resident?

About £1,957 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £581.3m and an ONS population estimate of 297,004. That is 106th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Salford Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £288.8m, 49.7% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Salford Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 30.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Salford?

£854.2m was paid out in the 12 months to March 2026 on six benefits (Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA), about £2,876 per resident. That ranks 31st of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.