Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities: average pay and jobs in the UK
Full-time employees in motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities earned a median £47,416 in the year to 5 April 2025 (ONS ASHE), £8,377 more than across all industries.
What the figures show
It ranks 18th of 84 divisions on this measure.
72% of jobs are full-time.
Full-time medians: women £49,319, men £45,775.
The median rose 19.7% from £39,619 in 2021.
The Business Register and Employment Survey counts 142,000 people working in it in Great Britain in 2024, up 19% since 2019; 51% are in London.
There were 36,750 business sites in March 2026, nearly all (95%) with fewer than 10 staff (UK Business Counts).
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £26,396 | £525.80 | £13.87 | £9,100* | £152.60 | £12.21 |
| 20th percentile | £30,347 | £596.40 | £15.81 | £15,124* | £240.90* | £13.00 |
| 25th percentile | £32,805 | £651.20 | £17.25 | £21,126* | £332.00* | £14.12 |
| 30th percentile | £36,204 | £695.40 | £18.24 | £24,689* | £479.10* | £14.97 |
| 40th percentile | £41,508 | £803.80 | £20.24 | £31,539 | £587.00 | £17.42 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £47,416 | £887.30 | £22.97 | £38,550 | £728.10 | £20.00 |
| 60th percentile | £53,681 | £986.60 | £26.50 | £44,998 | £857.20 | £22.96 |
| 70th percentile | £61,724* | £1,186.40 | £30.80 | £53,110* | £976.60 | £27.49 |
| 75th percentile | £68,435* | £1,292.80* | £32.66* | £59,186* | £1,105.30* | £30.58 |
| 80th percentile | – | £1,398.80* | £35.90* | – | £1,237.30* | £32.74* |
| Mean | £66,947* | £1,127.80 | £29.29 | £52,828* | £879.10 | £27.79 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £39,619 | £764.40 | £19.17 | £32,006* | £613.30 | 66 |
| 2022 revised | – | £664.70 | £17.46 | – | £536.60 | 53 |
| 2023 revised | – | £773.90 | £20.51 | £32,030 | £632.40 | 77 |
| 2024 revised | £40,214 | £800.00 | £20.88 | £35,546 | £670.80 | 64 |
| 2025 provisional | £47,416 | £887.30 | £22.97 | £38,550 | £728.10 | 75 |
Where the 142,000 jobs are, 2024
| Region or nation | Employees | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| London | 71,000 | 73,000 |
| South East | 18,000 | 19,000 |
| South West | 9,000 | 10,000 |
| North West | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| East of England | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Scotland | 7,000 | 7,000 |
| Wales | 4,500 | 5,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 4,500 | 4,500 |
| West Midlands | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| East Midlands | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| North East | 1,250 | 1,250 |
| Great Britain | 136,000 | 142,000 |
36,750 business sites by size
| Staff | Sites, March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Micro (0 to 9) | 34,755 |
| Small (10 to 49) | 1,620 |
| Medium (50 to 249) | 335 |
| Large (250 or more) | 45 |
| Total | 36,750 |
2021: 30,095; 2022: 31,680; 2023: 32,835; 2024: 34,100; 2025: 35,105; 2026: 36,750.
Related
Information and communication · Publishing activities · Programming and broadcasting activities · UK average weekly earnings growth
ASHE Table 16: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · notes · 15 October 2026