Managers and directors in the creative industries: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time managers and directors in the creative industries in the UK earned a median £54,772 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 40% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 37th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The mean, £66,375, is 21% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £53,758 a year, men £56,424 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 25,000 employee jobs, 88% full-time.
The Annual Population Survey counts 67,300 people in this line of work, 30% 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 | £31,901* | £614.90 | £16.25 | – | £472.60* | £15.97 |
| 20th percentile | £37,932* | £739.60 | £19.11 | £31,967* | £627.40* | £18.24 |
| 25th percentile | £40,171* | £770.00 | £21.27 | £35,844* | £695.30 | £20.10 |
| 30th percentile | £43,406 | £858.00 | £22.97 | £38,714* | £741.50 | £21.41 |
| 40th percentile | £50,000* | £960.00 | £25.83 | £45,631* | £876.40 | £25.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £54,772 | £1,131.50 | £30.45 | £50,868* | £1,000.30* | £28.41 |
| 60th percentile | £62,510 | £1,271.30 | £33.97 | £59,062* | £1,189.10 | £32.71 |
| 70th percentile | – | £1,343.00* | £36.64* | £66,511* | £1,326.20* | £35.78* |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,387.80* | £37.86* | – | £1,357.40* | £37.19* |
| Mean | £66,375 | £1,249.90 | £33.19 | £60,656 | £1,146.10 | £32.45 |
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 | – | – | – | – | – | 11* |
| 2022 revised | – | £722.50* | £18.84* | – | £599.60* | 12* |
| 2023 revised | £42,946* | £802.70* | £22.92* | £41,150* | £764.30* | 14* |
| 2024 revised | £44,879* | £980.60* | £25.04* | £43,763* | £884.40 | 21* |
| 2025 provisional | £54,772 | £1,131.50 | £30.45 | £50,868* | £1,000.30* | 25 |
Managers and directors in the creative industries by region
UK: 67,300 (± 10,100), April 2025 to March 2026. 10 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 20,200* | ± 7,300 |
| South East | 12,700* | ± 4,500 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What managers and directors in the creative industries do
Managers and directors in creative industries plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of organisations in sectors such as arts, publishing, music, media, design and architecture. (ONS SOC 2020, 1255)
Also covers: art gallery owner, artist manager, director (architectural service), graphic design manager, gallery Manager, production manager (entertainment), publisher, radio station manager, agent (talent), architect manager, architecture manager, arts manager, boxer's manager, broadcasting manager, concert agent, director (design), entertainment agent and film agent (43 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Plans, organises, directs and co-ordinates the activities and resources of organisations in the creative industries, such as publishing firms, art galleries and television companies
- Liaises with clients, generates new business and promotes their organisation by attending and organising conferences, exhibits and other events
- Helps set the creative direction of their organisation and finds new talent, such as artists, writers and musicians, as well as pieces such as artworks, scripts and music
- Keeps up to date with new releases, publications and trends in relevant fields
- Establishes client's requirements and oversees the conception and development of multiple projects
- Reviews and revises creative teams' work across multiple projects
Entry requirements vary according to the specific sector. Most post holders will have relevant experience and while some fields do not require candidates to have academic qualifications others require a degree or equivalent qualification. Off and on-the-job training may be provided, and vocational qualifications are available in many of these sectors.
Related
Managers and proprietors in other services (median £45,006) · Waste disposal and environmental services managers · Betting shop and gambling establishment managers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026