Human resource managers and directors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time human resource managers and directors in the UK earned a median £57,529 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 47% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 26th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £43,676 and £78,677.
The mean, £69,039, is 20% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £54,777 a year, men £64,985 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 191,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
From £46,004 in 2021, the median is up 25.1%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 229,100 people in this line of work, 22% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £32,714 | £662.20 | £17.64 | £29,324 | £585.90 | £17.23 |
| 20th percentile | £40,549 | £795.70 | £21.22 | £37,063 | £733.40 | £20.69 |
| 25th percentile | £43,676 | £862.40 | £23.20 | £40,108 | £794.80 | £23.04 |
| 30th percentile | £46,558 | £918.80 | £24.82 | £43,472 | £862.40 | £24.67 |
| 40th percentile | £51,060 | £1,011.90 | £27.48 | £49,004 | £958.20 | £27.19 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £57,529 | £1,144.40 | £30.47 | £54,474 | £1,056.80 | £29.79 |
| 60th percentile | £64,309 | £1,245.70 | £33.91 | £61,650 | £1,205.30 | £33.33 |
| 70th percentile | £73,644 | £1,387.20 | £37.94 | £70,097 | £1,341.80 | £37.48 |
| 75th percentile | £78,677 | £1,500.10 | £40.73 | £75,459 | £1,442.00 | £39.38 |
| 80th percentile | £86,174 | £1,628.70 | £43.78 | £83,598 | £1,558.80 | £42.49 |
| 90th percentile | – | £1,916.50* | £52.27* | – | £1,893.90 | £51.10* |
| Mean | £69,039 | £1,266.50 | £34.08 | £65,374 | £1,200.80 | £33.74 |
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 | £46,004 | £888.80 | £24.12 | £43,847 | £856.60 | 151 |
| 2022 revised | £46,957 | £924.50 | £24.90 | £44,322 | £894.60 | 155 |
| 2023 revised | £50,064 | £989.30 | £26.77 | £48,105 | £958.20 | 163 |
| 2024 revised | £53,113 | £1,036.80 | £28.08 | £50,346 | £986.00 | 183 |
| 2025 provisional | £57,529 | £1,144.40 | £30.47 | £54,474 | £1,056.80 | 191 |
Human resource managers and directors by region
UK: 229,100 (± 18,600), April 2025 to March 2026. 1 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 49,500* | ± 11,500 |
| South East | 40,800 | ± 8,000 |
| East of England | 23,600* | ± 6,600 |
| North West | 22,100* | ± 5,700 |
| South West | 19,400* | ± 5,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 15,500* | ± 4,600 |
| East Midlands | 15,000* | ± 5,100 |
| West Midlands | 13,900* | ± 4,900 |
| Scotland | 12,900* | ± 4,100 |
| North East | 7,800* | ± 2,800 |
| Wales | 5,800* | ± 2,200 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What human resource managers and directors do
Human resource managers and directors plan, organise and direct the personnel, training and industrial relations policies of organisations, advise on resource allocation and utilisation problems, measure the effectiveness of an organisation’s systems, methods and procedures and advise on, plan and implement procedures to improve utilisation of labour, equipment and materials. (ONS SOC 2020, 1136)
Also covers: human resources business partner, human resources director, personnel manager, recruitment manager, training director, HR manager, O&m manager, personnel director, recruitment director, reward manager, staff manager, talent manager, volunteer manager, director of communications, director of HR, director of personnel, director of training and employee development manager (58 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Determines staffing needs
- Oversees the preparation of job descriptions, drafts advertisements and interviews candidates
- Oversees the monitoring of employee performance and career development needs
- Provides or arranges for provision of training courses
- Undertakes industrial relations negotiations with employees’ representatives or trades unions
- Develops and administers salary, health and safety and promotion policies
There are no pre-set entry standards, although entry is most common with a degree or equivalent qualification. Relevant experience is important and internal promotion to management is possible. Off and on-the-job training is provided, and professional qualifications are available. Apprenticeships are available. NVQs/SVQs in relevant subjects are available at levels 3, 4 and 5.
Related
Functional managers and directors (median £75,264) · Charitable organisation managers and directors · Information technology directors · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026