Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture in the UK earned a median £38,182 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £857 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 153rd of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The mean, £44,744, is 17% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £32,374 a year, men £39,421 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40.2 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 17,000 employee jobs, 82% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 14.4%, from £33,389, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 40,300 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 | – | – | – | – | – | £12.82* |
| 20th percentile | £30,702 | £586.20 | £13.35 | £26,831* | £538.70* | £13.09 |
| 25th percentile | £31,503 | £596.60 | £13.71 | £28,181* | £564.40* | £13.38 |
| 30th percentile | £32,397 | £613.30 | £14.35 | £29,601* | £576.20 | £13.83 |
| 40th percentile | £34,960 | £632.50 | £15.43 | £31,997 | £613.80 | £14.52 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £38,182 | £694.30 | £16.36 | £34,976 | £635.70 | £16.27 |
| 60th percentile | £41,554* | £790.10* | £17.75* | £38,397 | £728.50 | £17.34* |
| 70th percentile | – | £862.40* | £20.37* | £42,691* | £806.50* | £20.28* |
| Mean | £44,744 | £856.30 | £19.94 | £39,628 | £764.80 | £19.87 |
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 | £33,389 | £643.50 | £14.40 | £32,954 | £629.50 | 17* |
| 2022 revised | £34,417 | £666.50 | £15.33 | £33,300* | £648.30 | 16* |
| 2023 revised | £36,005 | £689.80 | £16.15 | £33,112* | £627.80 | 20* |
| 2024 revised | £35,940 | £689.90 | £15.63 | £35,325 | £646.20 | 18* |
| 2025 provisional | £38,182 | £694.30 | £16.36 | £34,976 | £635.70 | 17* |
Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture by region
UK: 40,300 (± 7,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture do
Managers and proprietors in this unit group plan, organise and co-ordinate the activities and resources of farming and mixed farming establishments cultivating arable crops, fruits, trees and shrubs, and/or raising cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Managers and proprietors in horticulture oversee the production of plants for wholesale and/or retail. (ONS SOC 2020, 1211)
Also covers: farm manager, farm owner, nursery manager (horticulture), stock manager (farming), nursery manager, operations manager, production manager, stock manager, vineyard owner, wine maker, farm stock manager and live stock manager.
- Determines financial, staffing and other short and long-term needs
- Produces and maintains records of production, finance and breeding
- Decides or advises on the types of crops and/or produce to be grown or livestock raised
- Plans intensity and sequence of farm or horticultural operations and orders seed, fertiliser, equipment and other supplies
- Markets and arranges for the sale of crops, livestock and other farm or horticultural produce
Whilst no formal academic qualifications are required by proprietors in this area, most farm and horticultural managers have a vocational agricultural qualification (such as a BTEC/SQA award) and prior practical farming experience. Many farm and horticultural management jobs require a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject. A small number of large farm and farm consultancy companies run graduate management training schemes. Apprenticeships are also available, as well as NVQs/SVQs in Agriculture at level 4.
Related
Managers and proprietors in agriculture related services (median £37,625) · Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services · Hotel and accommodation managers and proprietors · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026