Publicans and managers of licensed premises: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time publicans and managers of licensed premises in the UK earned a median £38,043 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £996 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 155th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
Median full-time pay: women £37,069 a year, men £40,947 a year.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 47.1 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 9,000 employee jobs, 89% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 54.6% (from £24,615), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 31,100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | – | – | – | – | £493.70* | £13.43 |
| 25th percentile | – | £600.50 | £13.66 | £30,094* | £511.40* | £13.74 |
| 30th percentile | £34,630* | £632.20 | £13.99 | £33,297* | £559.60* | £14.00 |
| 40th percentile | £36,477* | £686.10 | £14.92 | £35,101* | £662.10 | £14.87 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £38,043* | £723.40* | £15.53 | £37,427* | £706.00* | £15.21 |
| 60th percentile | £41,094* | £752.40* | £16.50* | £38,505* | £734.40* | £16.24 |
| 70th percentile | – | £853.80* | – | – | £831.40* | £18.31* |
| Mean | £41,971 | £767.20 | £17.48 | £39,795 | £718.30 | £17.41 |
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 | £24,615 | £484.50 | £10.95 | £24,061 | £459.90 | 24* |
| 2022 revised | £28,326 | £589.00 | £14.10 | £27,278 | £569.00 | 18* |
| 2023 revised | £34,265 | £651.90 | £15.22 | – | £604.40 | 16* |
| 2024 revised | £36,273* | £737.50 | £16.03 | £35,272* | £730.70 | 16* |
| 2025 provisional | £38,043* | £723.40* | £15.53 | £37,427* | £706.00* | 9* |
Publicans and managers of licensed premises by region
UK: 31,100 (± 6,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What publicans and managers of licensed premises do
Publicans and managers of licensed premises organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of public houses (non-residential and residential) and bar and catering facilities at non-residential clubs. (ONS SOC 2020, 1223)
Also covers: landlady (public house), licensee, manager (wine bar), publican, area manager, bar owner, inn keeper, licensee manager, pub landlady, pub landlord, pub licensee, pub manager, retail manager, shift manager, licensed house manager, public house landlady, public house landlord and public house licensee (27 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Arranges purchase of alcoholic and other beverages, bar snacks, cigarettes and other items and ensures that stocks are stored in proper conditions
- Supervises bar, kitchen and cleaning staff and, if necessary, assists with the serving of drinks
- Observes licensing laws and other statutory regulations and regulates behaviour of customers as necessary
- Maintains financial records for the establishment determines financial, staffing, material and other short- and long-term needs
No formal academic qualifications are required. Relevant experience is advantageous, and candidates must be over 18 years of age and complete the personal licence holders’ qualification. Larger chains offer accelerated promotion for holders of degrees or equivalent qualifications. Off and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/SVQs relevant to licensed premises management are available at levels 2 to 4.
Related
Managers and proprietors in hospitality and leisure services (median £33,821) · Restaurant and catering establishment managers and proprietors · Leisure and sports managers and proprietors · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026