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free social grade definitions and demographics classifications and geodemographic classes

Here are some free listings of commonly used demographics, lifestyle and geodemographical classifications.

The word 'geodemographics' combines the analysis of demographic lifestyle and geography.

The term demographics is from the Greek words demos, the people, and graphos, meaning written, in the sense of representation, analysis and diagrams.

Social class definitions and geodemographics are mainly used by marketing professionals, statistical researchers and social and lifestyle commentators, but the study and theory of demographics, and the systems within it, are very helpful for anyone who has an interest in people and behaviour (US, behavior), social science, lifestyle, relationships, management and business generally.

Terms like 'ABC1' - as a definition of consumer types - are often used to describe a profile of users or target customers.

Demographical and social grade definitions enable the classification and measurement of people of different social grade and income and earnings levels, for market research, targeting, social commentary, lifestyle statistics, and statistical research and analysis.

A basic assumption, and probably a proven accepted principle within demographics, is that people living in similar 'neighbourhoods' (US, 'neighborhoods') generally exhibit similar lifestyle and spending tendencies. This enables businesses and other providers of services to adapt and 'target' their offerings and communications according to geographical areas, and/or in other ways so as to understand, communicate and deliver the most relevant offerings to the most relevant people.

Researchers and social scientists also use demographics, whose principles enable surveying and analysis of individual and group behaviour at a deep and complex level.

Much of the basic data used in demographics is derived from national census information, traditionally gathered by governments (and for some while now theoretically available to us all in the UK and most other developed nations). Demographics services organizations, like the examples here, perform a vital role in interpreting these vast amounts of national data - typically too cumbersome to be easily used in a 'raw' state - in developing user-friendly profiling and analysis systems like the ones explained here below.

Included in the explanations here are NRS, CACI ACORN and INSIGHT classifications, including the excellent free ACORN UK population percentages reports.

Demographics profiling systems on this page are:

CACI's ACORN system

NRS's 'ABC1 social grade' demographics profiling system - and

Insight Social Value Group

 

While this demographics guide focuses on UK consumer profiling systems, the principles of demographic profiling broadly transfer everywhere else.

I am open to suggestions to add summaries and resources from providers of overseas and international demographics profiling systems.

 

caci acorn profiles of great britain

ACORN is a geodemographic (combining geographical and demographics analysis) classification of British social classes and is used by marketing professionals, entrepreneurs and researchers, to measure and target consumers and characteristics.

The ACORN acronym meaning is 'A Classification Of Residential Neighbourhoods'. (See other interesting business acronyms).

Here is CACI's 2013 ACORN UK Demographics Profile and User Guide.(This is a big 5.6MB pdf file.)

ACORN is a population profiling 'segmentation tool' which categorises the UK's population into demographic types.

Here is a summary (pdf) of the 2013 ACORN UK Demographics Statistics.

Acorn segments households, postcodes and neighbourhoods into 6 categories, 18 groups and 62 types. This compares with and supersedes the previous Acorn 2010 system, which comprised 5 categories, 17 groups and 56 types. (Also big file, 6.7MB)

Whether or not you use ACORN classifications, it is useful to know broadly how such a profiling method operates. The classifications also provide a thought-provoking profile of the different social groupings in Britain today - which to varying degrees is reflected across the developed and developing world. Societies everywhere are much more mixed than ever before, and they will continue to become more so.

For historical reference purposes the 2010 CACI ACORN UK Demographics Profile and User Guide (originally published October 2010) remains available here as a free pdf file. This is a big file (6.7MB). CACI's 2010 ACORN demographic profile was based on the 2001 census, which provided about 30% of the data, and ongoing research via CACI's consumer lifestyle databases, covering the UK's [then] 46 million adults and 23 million households. It is superseded by the 2013 Acorn standards.

In turn the 2010 Acorn standards superseded the 2004 CACI ACORN UK Demographics Profile and User Guide (big file - 8.5MB) which also remains available here for historical reference purposes.

CACI provide annual percentages population figures each year for each classification, although the large Demographics Profile Report and User Guide is not updated every year. When it is next updated I will endeavour to make the new edition available here, subject to agreement with CACI.

The ACORN resources, demographics classifications and percentages and reproduced here with CACI's permission, which is gratefully acknowledged.

I encourage you to visit the CACI website and Acorn microsite, which contain many other useful resources, and offer useful demographics analysis functionality free online, including a certain level of free demographics reporting by specified area, in addition to chargeable demographic reporting (by postcode, etc), based on the ACORN UK demographic classifications.

changing classifications and figures

As UK society has changed in recent years, so has the ACORN profile, in its classifications structure, and in its percentage figures across the different classifications.

The percentage figures in the 2013 ACORN demographics classifications supersede previous ACORN data.

The definitions within the 2010 ACORN demographic classifications were unchanged compared to those of the 2004 report, having been revised and expanded from the earlier 2001 ACORN demographic classifications. For historical reference purposes the 2001 and 2004 definitions are shown below.

For all current considerations refer to the 2013 ACORN classifications and definitions, and/or summary of the 2013 ACORN UK Demographics Statistics.

Further information is at the ACORN section of CACI's website.

 

acorn 2013 demographics definitions with uk population and percentages

Here is a summary (pdf) of the 2013 ACORN UK Demographics Statistics - a UK profile according to the ACORN classifications. The report was provided for Businessballs by CACI and is offered free to Businessballs users, with grateful acknowledgments to CACI. This document supersedes the historical figures for earlier years.

Here is a more concise overview of Acorn's 2013 UK population profile of demographics percentages, followed by a more detailed analysis.

Summary

Acorn Group DescriptionPopulation%
1.Affluent Achievers  
 1.A - Lavish Lifestyles820,9471.3
 1.B - Executive Wealth7,788,97212.1
 1.C - Mature Money5,663,9398.8
2.Rising Prosperity  
 2.D - City Sophisticates2,024,7213.2
 2.E - Career Climbers3,579,7165.6
3.Comfortable Communities  
 3.F - Countryside Communities4,160,6156.5
 3.G - Successful Suburbs3,844,0026.0
 3.H - Steady Neighbourhoods5,376,9588.4
 3.I - Comfortable Seniors1,645,6682.6
 3.J - Starting Out2,569,8134.0
4.Financially Stretched  
 4.K - Student Life1,550,1122.4
 4.L - Modest Means5,078,7297.9
 4.M - Striving Families5,564,6018.7
 4.N - Poorer Pensioners3,128,5124.9
5.Urban Adversity  
 5.O - Young Hardship3,222,8675.0
 5.P - Struggling Estates4,730,7667.4
 5.Q - Difficult Circumstances2,962,3754.6
6.Not Private Households  
 6.R - Not Private Households550,4860.9
 Total64,263,799100

 

acorn 2013 definitions with uk population and percentages

The definitions and statistics in the grid below superseded the Acorn 2010 analysis.

Detail

 Acorn Type Description - 2013 (detail)Population%
    
1Affluent Achievers  
1.ALavish Lifestyles  
1.A.1Exclusive enclaves34,4140.1
1.A.2Metropolitan money107,3460.2
1.A.3Large house luxury679,1871.1
1.BExecutive Wealth  
1.B.4Asset rich families1,608,9362.5
1.B.5Wealthy countryside commuters1,498,6102.3
1.B.6Financially comfortable families1,651,6442.6
1.B.7Affluent professionals579,4420.9
1.B.8Prosperous suburban families1,106,9871.7
1.B.9Well-off edge of towners1,343,3532.1
1.CMature Money  
1.C.10Better-off villagers1,703,2872.7
1.C.11Settled suburbia, older people2,044,5753.2
1.C.12Retired and empty nesters1,400,3172.2
1.C.13Upmarket downsizers515,7600.8
2Rising Prosperity  
2.DCity Sophisticates  
2.D.14Townhouse cosmopolitans527,9280.8
2.D.15Younger professionals in smaller flats531,2620.8
2.D.16Metropolitan professionals444,5850.7
2.D.17Socialising young renters520,9460.8
2.ECareer Climbers  
2.E.18Career driven young families1,207,3691.9
2.E.19First time buyers in small, modern homes1,636,4062.5
2.E.20Mixed metropolitan areas735,9411.1
3Comfortable Communities  
3.FCountryside Communities  
3.F.21Farms and cottages1,008,8341.6
3.F.22Larger families in rural areas1,376,0472.1
3.F.23Owner occupiers in small towns and villages1,775,7342.8
3.GSuccessful Suburbs  
3.G.24Comfortably-off families in modern housing1,578,1812.5
3.G.25Larger family homes, multi-ethnic areas858,3481.3
3.G.26Semi-professional families, owner occupied neighbourhoods1,407,4732.2
3.HSteady Neighbourhoods  
3.H.27Suburban semis, conventional attitudes2,157,2523.4
3.H.28Owner occupied terraces, average income1,261,1382.0
3.H.29Established suburbs, older families1,958,5683.0
3.IComfortable Seniors  
3.I.30Older people, neat and tidy neighbourhoods1,426,4102.2
3.I.31Elderly singles in purpose-built accommodation219,2580.3
3.JStarting Out  
3.J.32Educated families in terraces, young children1,186,5301.8
3.J.33Smaller houses and starter homes1,383,2832.2
4Financially Stretched  
4.KStudent Life  
4.K.34Student flats and halls of residence610,6001.0
4.K.35Term-time terraces263,0870.4
4.K.36Educated young people in flats and tenements676,4251.1
4.LModest Means  
4.L.37Low cost flats in suburban areas927,7461.4
4.L.38Semi-skilled workers in traditional neighbourhoods1,516,1532.4
4.L.39Fading owner occupied terraces1,593,9902.5
4.L.40High occupancy terraces, many Asian families1,040,8401.6
4.MStriving Families  
4.M.41Labouring semi-rural estates1,198,7991.9
4.M.42Struggling young families in post-war terraces1,268,3932.0
4.M.43Families in right-to-buy estates1,575,5272.5
4.M.44Post-war estates, limited means1,521,8822.4
4.NPoorer Pensioners  
4.N.45Pensioners in social housing, semis and terraces327,7120.5
4.N.46Elderly people in social rented flats385,4690.6
4.N.47Low income older people in smaller semis1,558,4602.4
4.N.48Pensioners and singles in social rented flats856,8711.3
5Urban Adversity  
5.OYoung Hardship  
5.O.49Young families in low cost private flats858,8631.3
5.O.50Struggling younger people in mixed tenure928,1751.4
5.O.51Young people in small, low cost terraces1,435,8292.2
5.PStruggling Estates  
5.P.52Poorer families, many children, terraced housing1,313,9012.0
5.P.53Low income terraces763,0691.2
5.P.54Multi-ethnic, purpose-built estates653,1091.0
5.P.55Deprived and ethnically diverse in flats654,5261.0
5.P.56Low income large families in social rented semis1,346,1612.1
5.QDifficult Circumstances  
5.Q.57Social rented flats, families and single parents968,3561.5
5.Q.58Singles and young families, some receiving benefits1,112,0511.7
5.Q.59Deprived areas and high-rise flats881,9681.4
6Not Private Households  
6.RNot Private Households  
6.R.60Active communal population120,6020.2
6.R.61Inactive communal population429,8840.7
6.R.62Business areas without resident population00.0
 Total64,263,799100

 

for historical reference - acorn 2010 definitions with uk population percentages

Here is a summary of the 2010 ACORN UK Demographics Statistics - a UK profile according to the ACORN classifications.The report was provided for Businessballs by CACI and is offered free to Businessballs users, with grateful acknowledgments to CACI. This document supersedes the historical figures shown in the grids below, and was superseded by the Acorn 2013 classifications/statistics.

 

acorn 2004 (effectively 2003-2005) definitions with uk population percentages

The figures in the grid below (not the definitions) have been superseded by the Acorn 2010 analysis. The figures below are therefore provided mainly for historical reference purposes.

This is the ACORN profile developed by CACI Ltd based on 2005 definitions and percentages, unchanged from the 2003-4 classifications and data.

category% of UK popgroup % of UK poptypename% of UK pop
wealthy achievers25.1%Awealthy executives8.6%   
cat. 1 A  1wealthy mature professionals, large houses1.7%
1 A  2wealthy working families with mortgages1.5
1 A  3villages with wealthy commuters2.7
1 A  4well-off managers with larger houses2.6
1 Baffluent greys7.7   
1 B  5older affluent professionals1.8
1 B  6farming communities2.0
1 B  7old people, detached homes1.9
1 B  8mature couples, smaller detached homes2.0
1 Cflourishing families8.8  
1 C  9older families, prosperous suburbs2.1
1 C  10well-off working families with mortgages2.3
1 C  11well-off managers, detached houses3.7
1 C  12large families and houses in rural areas0.6
urban prosperity 10.7Dprosperous professionals2.2   
2 D  13well-off older professionals, larger houses and converted flats0.9
2 D  14older professionals in suburban houses and apartments1.4
2 Eeducated urbanites4.6   
2 E  15affluent urban professionals, flats1.1
2 E  16prosperous young professionals, flats0.9
2 E  17young educated workers, flats0.6
2 E  18multi-ethnic young, converted flats1.1
2 E  19suburban privately renting professionals0.9
2 Faspiring singles3.9   
2   20student flats and cosmopolitan sharers0.6
2 F  21singles and sharers, multi-ethnic areas1.6
2 F  22low income singles1.2
2 F  23student terraces0.4
comfortably off26.6Gstarting out2.5   
3 G  24young couples, flats and terraces1.0
3 G  25white collar singles/sharers, terraces1.4
3 Hsecure families15.5   
3 H  26younger white collar couples with mortgages1.9
3 H  27middle-income, home owning areas2.9
3 H  28working families with mortgages2.6
3 H  29mature families in suburban semis3.3
3 H  30established home-owning workers3.6
3 H  31home-owning asian family areas1.1 
3 Isettled suburbia6.0   
3 I  32retired home owners0.9
3 I  33middle-income, older couples3.0
3 I  34lower incomes, older people, semis2.1
3 prudent pensioners2.6   
3 J  35elderly singles, purpose-built flats0.7
3 J  36older people, flats1.9
modest means14.5Kasian communities1.6   
4 K  37crowded asian terraces0.5
4 K  38low income asian families1.1
4 Lpost industrial families4.8   
4 L  39skilled older families, terraces2.8
4 L  40young working families2.1
4 Mblue collar roots8.0   
4 M  41skilled workers, semis and terraces3.3 
4 M  42home-owning families, terraces2.8
4 M  43older people, rented terraces1.8
hard pressed22.4Nstruggling families14.1   
5 N  44low income larger families, semis3.3
5 N  45low income, older people, smaller semis3.0
5 N  46low income, routine jobs, terraces and flats1.4
5 N  47low income families, terraced estates2.6
5 N  48families and single parents, semis and terraces2.1
5 N  49large families and single parents, many children1.7
5 Oburdened singles4.5  
5 O  50single elderly people, council flats1.8
5 O  51single parents and pensioners, council terraces1.9
5 O  52families and single parents, council flats0.8
5 Phigh rise hardship1.6   
5 P  53old people, many high rise flats0.8
5 P  54singles and single parents, high rise estates0.9
5 Qinner city adversity2.1  
5 Q  55multi-ethnic purpose-built estates1.1
5 Q  56multi-ethnic, crowded flats1.1
  Uunclassified0.357mainly communal population0.3

 

acorn 2001 profile definitions

This is the Acorn profile developed by CACI Ltd based on 2001 definitions. It was been superseded by the later demographics profiles and percentages shown above. The current ACORN percentage figures are contained in the 2013 analysis, so these 2001 profiles, the 2003-5 definitions/percentages above, and 2010 classifications, are provided for historical reference.

acorn 'types'acorn 'groups'
A - thriving 

1.1 wealthy suburbs 
1.2 villages with wealthy commuters 
1.3 mature affluent home-owning areas 
1.4 affluent suburbs, older families 
1.5 mature well off suburbs 
2.6 agricultural villages, home-based workers 
2.7 holiday retreats, older people, home-based workers 
2.8 home owning areas, well-off older residents 
3.9 private flats, elderly people
1 - wealthy achievers, suburban areas 

2 - affluent greys, rural communities 

3 - prosperous pensioners, retirement areas
B - expanding 

4.10 affluent working families with mortgages 
4.11 affluent working couples with mortgages, new homes 
4.12 transient workforces, living at their place of work 
5.13 home owning family areas 
5.14 home owning family areas, older children 
5.15 families with mortgages, younger children
4 - affluent executives, family areas 

5 - well-off workers, family areas
C - rising 

6.16 well-off town and city areas 
6.17 flats and mortgages, singles and young working couples 
6.18 furnished flats and bedsits, younger single people 
7.19 apartments, young professional singles and couples 
7.20 gentrified multi-ethnic areas 
8.21 prosperous enclaves, highly qualified executives 
8.22 academic centres, students and young professionals 
8.23 affluent city centre areas, tenements and flats 
8.24 partly gentrified multi-ethnic areas 
8.25 converted flats and bedsits, single people
6 - affluent urbanites, town and city areas 

7 - prosperous professionals, metropolitan areas 

8 - better-off executives, inner city areas
D - settling 

9.26 mature established home owning areas 
9.27 rural areas, mixed occupations 
9.28 established home owning areas 
9.29 home owning areas, council tenants, retired couples 
10.30 established home owning areas, skilled workers 
10.31 home owners on older properties, younger workers 
10.32 home owning areas with skilled workers
9 - comfortable middle agers, mature home owning areas 

10 - skilled workers, home owning areas 
 
E - aspiring 

11.33 council areas, some new home owners 
11.34 mature home owning areas, skilled workers 
11.35 low rise estates, older workers, new home owners 
12.36 home owning multi-ethnic areas, young families 
12.37 multi-occupied town centres, mixed occupations 
12.38 multi-ethnic areas, while collar workers
11 - new home owners, mature communities 

12 - while collar workers, better-off multi-ethnic areas 
 
F - striving 

13.39 home owners, small council flats, single pensioners 
13.40 council areas, older people, health problems 
14.41 better-off council areas, new home owners 
14.42 council areas, young families, some new home owners 
14.43 council areas, young families, many lone parents 
14.44 multi-occupied terraces, multi-ethnic areas 
14.45 low rise council housing, less well-off families 
14.46 council areas, residents with health problems 
15.47 estates with high unemployment 
15.48 council flats, elderly people, health problems 
15.49 council flats, very high unemployment, singles 
16.50 council areas, high unemployment, lone parents 
16.51 council flats, greatest hardship, many lone parents 
17.52 multi-ethnic areas, large families, overcrowding 
17.53 multi-ethnic estates, severe unemployment, lone parents 
17.54 multi-ethnic areas, high unemployment, overcrowding
13 - older people, less prosperous areas 

14 - council estate residents, better-off homes 

15 - council estate residents, high unemployment 

16 - council estate residents, greatest hardship 

17 - people in multi-ethnic low income areas

The Acorn classifications (initially in 2003) also acknowledge an 'unclassified' section of British society, although no definitions are attached to it. For the record, Acorn projected in 2002 some 0.3% of the British population would fall under the 'unclassified' heading.

 

The ACORN resources, demographics classifications, figures and percentages and reproduced here with CACI's permission, which is gratefully acknowledged.

For all current considerations refer to the 2013 ACORN classifications and definitions. Here is a summary (pdf) of the 2013 ACORN UK Demographics Statistics.

I encourage you to visit the CACI website, and Acorn microsite, which contain many other useful resources, and demographics analysis functionality free online, including a certain level of free demographics analysis and reporting by specified catchment area, in addition to chargeable reports, based on the ACORN UK demographics system.

 

nrs social grade definitions (uk)

NRS stands for National Readership Survey (NRS Ltd).

The NRS 'ABC1' demographics profiling system - often called 'social grade definitions' - is well established and widely used.

Many people know and refer to the system simply as 'ABC1' or 'ABC' and may not necessarily understand that NRS developed and operate the scheme.

NRS is a not-for-profit company which is funded by the UK Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA), and Periodical Publishers Association (PPA).

The NRS social grade definitions have been in use for decades, mainly for audience profiling and targeting by the media, publishing and advertising sectors, and have become established as a generic reference series for classifying and describing social classes, especially for consumer targeting and consumer market research.

See below for the NRS estimates of uk population by social grade Jan-Dec 2005, and for Jan-Dec 2004.

More up-to-date figures will be offered here when/if I can agree to their provision.

 

social gradesocial statusoccupation
Aupper middle classhigher managerial, administrative or professional
Bmiddle classintermediate managerial, administrative or professional
C1lower middle classsupervisory or clerical, junior managerial, administrative or professional
C2skilled working classskilled manual workers
Dworking classsemi and unskilled manual workers
Ethose at lowest level of subsistencestate pensioners or widows (no other earner), casual or lowest grade workers

 

nrs estimates of uk population by social grade jan-dec 2006

   All UK Adults (15+)MenWomen
Totals Estimated 000s48,18623,37824,808
  % profile100100100
Social Grade AUpper Middle Class - Higher managerial, administrative or professionalEstimated 000s1,9321,032900
  % profile4.04.43.6
Social Grade BMiddle Class - Intermediate managerial, administrative or professionalEstimated 000s10,5735,4045,169
  % profile21.923.120.8
Social Grade C1Lower Middle Class - Supervisory or clerical and junior managerial, administrative or professionalEstimated 000s13,9826,4007,581
  % profile29.027.430.6
Social Grade C2Skilled Working Class - Skilled manual workersEstimated 000s9,9645,3954,570
  % profile20.723.118.4
Social Grade DWorking Class - Semi and unskilled manual workersEstimated 000s7,8193,7124,107
  % profile16.215.916.6
Social Grade EThose at the lowest levels of subsistence - Entirely dependent on state for long-term incomeEstimated 000s3,9161,4352,481
  % profile8.16.110.0

Source: National Readership Survey, January-December 2006. With acknowledgments to NRS Ltd. Reproduced with permission. Not to be sold or published.

 

nrs estimates of uk population by social grade jan-dec 2005

  All adults (15+)MenWomen
TotalsPopulation 000s47,77123,15024,621
 Profile %100100100
Social Grade APopulation 000s1,818943875
 Profile %3.84.13.6
Social Grade BPopulation 000s10,5525,3365,216
 Profile %22.123.121.2
Social Grade C1Population 000s13,8006,3417,459
 Profile %28.927.430.3
Social Grade C2Population 000s9,8445,3124,532
 Profile %20.622.918.4
Social Grade DPopulation 000s7,7473,7623,985
 Profile %16.216.216.2
Social Grade EPopulation 000s4,0091,4552,554
 Profile %8.46.310.4

Source: National Readership Survey, January-December 2005. With acknowledgments to NRS Ltd. Reproduced with permission. Not to be sold or published.

 

nrs estimates of uk population by social grade jan-dec 2004

  All Adults (15+)MenWomen
TotalsPopulation 000s47,26522,86224,403
 %100100100
Social Grade APopulation 000s1,594875719
 %3.43.82.9
Social Grade BPopulation 000s10,1895,1825,006
 %21.622.720.5
Social Grade C1Population 000s13,7576,3047,453
 %29.127.630.5
Social Grade C2Population 000s9,9245,3494,575
 %2123.418.7
Social Grade DPopulation 000s7,6363,6553,981
 %16.21616.3
Social Grade EPopulation 000s4,1661,4962,670
 %8.86.510.9

Source: National Readership Survey, January-December 2004. With acknowledgments to NRS Ltd. Reproduced with permission. Not to be sold or published.

 

nrs 'super profiles' classification (uk)

NRS (National Readership Survey Ltd) is a separate organization specilaising in demographic information. NRS use the following summary headings as an alternative way of classifying lifestyle types in the UK. Percentage figures for the distribution of these types are available from various sources.

A - affluent achievers
B - thriving greys
C - settled suburbans
D - nest builders
E - urban ventures
F - country life
G - senior citizens
H - producers
I - hard-pressed families
J - have-nots
K - unclassifiable

 

insight social value groups (uk)

The insight Value Group Ltd carried out a vast study of UK social values and change, and upon its findings established this social value scale. It draws heavily from Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This is the Insight Value Group scale, which claims to be an accurate representation of the groups that exist in the UK today.

 social value groupcharacteristics
self actualizersfocused on people and relationships, individualistic and creative, enthusiastically exploring change, 'in a framework of non-prescriptive consideration for others'
innovatorsself-confident risk-takers, seeking new and different things, setting their own targets to achieve
esteem seekersacquisitive and materialistic, aspiring to what they see are symbols of success, including things and experiences
striversattaching importance to image and status, as a means of enabling acceptance by their peer group, at the same time holding onto traditional values
contented conformerswanting to be 'normal', so follow the herd, accepting of their circumstances, they are contented and comfortable in the security of their own making
traditionalistsaverse to risk, guided by traditional behaviours and values, quiet and reserved, hanging back and blending in with the crowd
disconnecteddetached and resentful, embittered and apathetic, tending to live in the 'ever-present now'

 

relating social grade to pay levels (uk)

The NRS ABC1 (etc) scale is not a direct correlation with earnings. Neither the CACI nor the NRS demographics and social grades classifications correlates precisely with earnings, so care needs to be taken when inferring pay or earnings levels from social grade classifications or categories.

As a guide however here are my own best estimated pay bands without overlap (which is more helpful for broad brush analysis) for the NRS ABC1 (etc) social grades. In reality there would be overlap, for instance, some C2's earn £50k or more, for example self-employed plumbers; some C1's earn £100k, for example top sales-people; some B's earn £100k, for example top performing middle managers. Which all goes to show that this scale is actually quite a dated framework. Society has changed a lot since it was created.

These broad guide figures were originally based on 2004 levels, but in light of economic contraction and recession since then are probably still reasonably reliable.

NRS grade and annual earnings (my own estimate - if you have any other suggestions let me know.)

  • A - £50k and over
  • B - £35-50k
  • C1 - £25-35k
  • C2 - £15-25k
  • D - £7-15k
  • E - £5-7k

Social grade systems ACORN and Super Profiles are obviously a lot more subtle, and so probably correlate better to earnings.

If you are surveying or using questionnaires to research demographics and pay levels, adjust your survey questions to indicate precisely what social grading and earnings levels information you want to measure.