WORKERS in Bolton and Bury are among the worst paid in the North-west, according to a new survey.

The GMB union says full-time workers in Bolton earn an average of £23,980 a year, which is £1,500 less than the average for the region and more than £4,000 less than the national average of £28,210.

Employees in Bury earn £2,000 less than the regional average of £25,562.

Bolton is seventh in the worst-pay league table of the North-west and Bury is fifth. The table covers 21 towns.

People in Manchester earn the most, with their average annual salary at £29,032 and Oldham workers are paid the least at £21,856. Kirsty Rawlinson, Local Policy Manager for Bolton at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's disappointing that average earnings in Bolton are below the regional average.

"Employment figures for the borough have improved recently, but this latest report suggests that although more people are in work, many are earning a relatively low wage.

"The only way to increase the average earnings of local people is by attracting more highly-skilled and better paid jobs into the borough.

"In order to do this we have to improve the skills of the local workforce. The Chamber is already working with employers and local schools to ensure young people have the right skills to secure well-paid jobs which offer them career development."

Paul McCarthy, GMB Regional Secretary, said: "The national minimum wage when it rises to £5.35 per hour in October will be less than 40 per cent of the gross average annual wage for full time workers in the UK.

"There is a lot of scope to raise the National Minimum Wage still higher to the benefit of the UK economy.

"Additional pay to the lowest paid does not cost jobs as the Tories claimed it would. It would boost demand in the economy and boost growth."

Pay pecking order

The national average salaries for various professions, according to the GMB, are:

Doctors £81,744
Police officers £34,913
Veterinarians £31,078
Midwives £28,978
Driving instructors £22,728
Heavy goods drivers £21,869
Bus and coach drivers £19,548
Filing and record clerks £17,855
Telephonist £17,724
Caretakers £16,217
Dental nurse £13,640
Shelf fillers £12,827
Leisure and theme park attendants £10,420