Leisure and sports managers and proprietors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time leisure and sports managers and proprietors in the UK earned a median £36,026 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £3,013 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 183rd of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £28,154 and £42,756.
Median full-time pay: women £36,433 a year, men £35,575 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 36,000 employee jobs, 83% full-time.
From £29,289 in 2021, the median is up 23.0%, close to the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 60,500 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £24,868 | £499.90 | £12.73 | £19,304* | £335.50* | £12.58 |
| 20th percentile | £26,845 | £538.80 | £14.24 | £24,225 | £498.20 | £13.85 |
| 25th percentile | £28,154 | £553.60 | £14.93 | £25,384 | £510.30 | £14.90 |
| 30th percentile | £29,138 | £575.10 | £15.40 | £27,033 | £538.90 | £15.31 |
| 40th percentile | £31,856 | £623.50 | £16.09 | £29,607 | £578.00 | £16.04 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £36,026 | £655.10 | £16.77 | £33,342 | £632.40 | £16.77 |
| 60th percentile | £38,399 | £711.90 | £17.96 | £37,219 | £670.80 | £18.23 |
| 70th percentile | £41,476 | £761.20 | £20.22 | £40,079 | £741.70 | £20.29 |
| 75th percentile | £42,756* | £814.70 | £21.73 | £41,872* | £766.60* | £21.76 |
| 80th percentile | £46,032* | £872.20* | £23.12* | £43,694* | £816.90* | £22.83* |
| Mean | £37,538 | £723.50 | £18.84 | £34,797 | £663.30 | £18.85 |
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 | £29,289 | £556.90 | £14.38 | £27,065 | £524.60 | 26* |
| 2022 revised | £30,005 | £587.20 | £15.37 | £27,850 | £575.50 | 33 |
| 2023 revised | £34,267 | £631.70 | £15.95 | £30,825 | £592.20 | 33 |
| 2024 revised | £34,085 | £661.60 | £16.60 | £31,187 | £614.40 | 36 |
| 2025 provisional | £36,026 | £655.10 | £16.77 | £33,342 | £632.40 | 36 |
Leisure and sports managers and proprietors by region
UK: 60,500 (± 9,500), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What leisure and sports managers and proprietors do
Leisure and sports managers organise and proprietors, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources required for the provision of sporting, artistic, theatrical and other recreational and amenity services. (ONS SOC 2020, 1224)
Also covers: amusement arcade owner, cinema manager, football ground manager, leisure centre manager, theatre manager, centre manager, cinema owner, circus manager, circus owner, club manager, club master, cruise director, entertainment manager, fairground manager, fitness manager, gym manager, gym owner and leisure manager (69 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Organises timetable of activities/schedule of programmes
- Ensures that facilities are kept clean and in good condition and that appropriate health and safety requirements are adhered to
- Keeps abreast of new trends and developments in recreational activities and arranges exhibitions, theatrical productions, concerts, demonstrations, etc
- Advises on the facilities available and promotes publicity in relation to shows, games, races, new theme parks, etc
- Determines financial, staffing, material and other short and long-term needs
- Recruits, supervises and trains staff
Both graduate and non-graduate entry is possible. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Apprenticeships at level 3 and NVQs/SVQs at levels 3 and 4 are available in relevant areas. Professional qualifications may also be required for some posts.
Related
Managers and proprietors in hospitality and leisure services (median £33,821) · Publicans and managers of licensed premises · Travel agency managers and proprietors · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026