HR Manager Salary Calculator UK
Calculate your take-home pay with 2025/26 tax rates and NI
HR Salary Take-Home Calculator 2025/26
Enter your annual salary or select your HR grade to see monthly and weekly take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance at 2025/26 rates.
HR Salary Grades UK 2025 – Full Breakdown by Role
The following table shows typical HR salary ranges across all grades in the UK for 2025, based on data from CIPD, Reed, Totaljobs and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Salaries reflect national averages; London premiums of 20–30% typically apply.
| HR Role | Typical Salary Range | CIPD Level Required | Est. Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | £22,000 – £28,000 | None / Level 3 | £1,573 – £1,966 |
| HR Advisor | £28,000 – £38,000 | Level 3 / Level 5 | £1,966 – £2,578 |
| HR Business Partner | £38,000 – £55,000 | Level 5 / Level 7 | £2,578 – £3,270 |
| HR Manager | £45,000 – £65,000 | Level 5 / Level 7 | £2,991 – £3,946 |
| HR Director | £70,000 – £120,000+ | Level 7 / FCIPD | £4,257 – £6,600+ |
| CHRO | £100,000 – £200,000+ | FCIPD / MBA | £5,900 – £10,000+ |
* Take-home estimates use 2025/26 tax rates, standard tax code 1257L, and a 5% pension contribution. Actual figures may vary.
CIPD Qualification Impact on HR Salaries
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for HR and people development in the UK. Holding a CIPD qualification is widely regarded as essential for career progression in HR, and the level of qualification directly correlates with earning potential.
CIPD Level 3
Foundation Certificate in People Practice. Suitable for HR Assistants and those new to HR. Adds approximately £2,000–£4,000 to entry-level salaries.
CIPD Level 5
Associate Diploma in People Management. Mid-level standard for HR Advisors and Business Partners. Adds approximately £5,000–£8,000 to salary potential.
CIPD Level 7
Advanced Diploma — postgraduate equivalent. Required for senior HR and Director roles. Adds approximately £10,000–£15,000 and opens access to Chartered FCIPD membership.
London vs National HR Salaries – The Regional Premium
HR professionals based in London typically earn 20–30% more than counterparts in other UK regions. This reflects the higher cost of living in London, concentration of major corporate headquarters, and intense competition for experienced HR talent. The following comparison illustrates the scale of the London premium for key HR roles:
| HR Role | National Average | London Average | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Advisor | £33,000 | £40,000 | +21% |
| HR Business Partner | £46,500 | £60,000 | +29% |
| HR Manager | £55,000 | £70,000 | +27% |
| HR Director | £90,000 | £115,000 | +28% |
Outside London, the highest-paying regions for HR professionals are the South East, East of England and the North West (particularly Manchester). The public sector tends to pay uniformly across regions due to nationally negotiated pay frameworks, whereas private sector salaries vary significantly by geography.
HR Salary by Sector
The sector in which you work has a substantial impact on HR compensation. Financial services, technology and pharmaceuticals are consistently the highest-paying sectors for HR professionals, while the voluntary/charity sector and education sector typically offer lower base salaries but may compensate with generous pension provision and flexible working.
| Sector | HR Manager Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | £65,000 – £100,000 | Includes bonuses; highest paying sector |
| Technology / Tech Scale-ups | £60,000 – £90,000 | Often includes equity/options |
| Pharmaceuticals / Life Sciences | £58,000 – £85,000 | Strong benefit packages |
| Professional Services | £55,000 – £80,000 | Law firms, consulting, accounting |
| Public Sector / Government | £40,000 – £60,000 | Lower base, excellent defined benefit pension |
| Retail / FMCG | £45,000 – £65,000 | Large headcounts; operational HR focus |
| Charity / Voluntary | £35,000 – £52,000 | Often flexible; lower salaries, purpose-driven |
| Healthcare (Private) | £45,000 – £65,000 | Growing sector; complex employee relations |
HR Technology Skills That Command Premium Salaries
Digital transformation has reshaped the HR function, and professionals with expertise in HR information systems (HRIS) and people analytics are commanding significant salary premiums. The most valued HR technology skills in the UK market in 2025 include:
Workday: The leading cloud-based HCM platform used by many FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies. Workday-certified HR professionals and system administrators can earn 15–25% above peers. Workday implementation project managers earn £600–£900 per day as contractors.
SAP SuccessFactors: Widely used in large enterprises and public sector organisations. SAP SuccessFactors consultants are in high demand for implementation and ongoing optimisation projects. Day rates for experienced consultants range from £450 to £800.
Oracle HCM Cloud: Common in financial services and large multinationals. Oracle HR specialists, particularly those with payroll module expertise, earn a 10–20% premium.
People Analytics: HR professionals who can interrogate workforce data using tools like Power BI, Tableau, SQL or Python (for advanced analysis) are increasingly sought after. People analytics roles at senior level attract salaries of £65,000–£100,000 in large organisations.
Microsoft Viva: As organisations adopt Microsoft 365's employee experience platform, HR professionals with Viva expertise (particularly Viva Insights for workforce analytics and Viva Engage for internal communications) are gaining a market edge.
Compensation and Benefits Specialists
Reward and compensation specialists occupy a high-value niche within HR. As organisations compete for talent in a tightening labour market, C&B professionals who can design competitive total reward frameworks are in strong demand. Typical salaries for compensation and benefits roles in 2025:
- Reward Analyst: £35,000–£50,000
- Compensation and Benefits Manager: £55,000–£80,000
- Head of Reward: £80,000–£120,000
- Total Reward Director: £100,000–£180,000+
C&B specialists with experience in executive compensation, long-term incentive plans (LTIPs), share schemes, global mobility and international pay benchmarking command the highest premiums. Membership of the WorldatWork professional body and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) qualification are recognised internationally.
Employment Law Knowledge and HR Salary
Employment law expertise is a consistently high-value skill for HR professionals. HR Business Partners and HR Managers who can manage complex employee relations cases — including disciplinary hearings, grievance investigations, TUPE transfers, redundancy programmes and tribunal representation — earn significantly more than generalists. Organisations facing restructuring, mergers or high-volume employee relations issues actively seek HR professionals with demonstrable employment law knowledge.
While HR professionals are not solicitors, those who have completed employment law CPD courses, the Certificate in Employment Law (offered by the Employment Lawyers Association and others) or worked closely with legal teams command salaries at the top of their grade range. An HR Business Partner with strong ER and employment law expertise can expect to earn £55,000–£75,000 nationally, compared to £38,000–£50,000 for those without this specialisation.
How to Use This HR Salary Calculator
This calculator uses 2025/26 UK tax bands and National Insurance rates to show your estimated take-home pay as an HR professional. To get an accurate figure:
- Select your HR grade from the dropdown to pre-fill a typical mid-point salary, or enter your actual salary manually.
- Choose your tax code — most employees on standard PAYE use 1257L.
- Select your pension contribution percentage — the auto-enrolment minimum is 5% total (3% employer, 2% employee minimum), but many HR professionals contribute 5–10% personally.
- Click "Calculate Take-Home Pay" to see your annual, monthly, weekly and daily net figures including a full tax breakdown.
The calculator applies income tax at 20% (basic rate on income between the personal allowance and £50,270), 40% (higher rate on income between £50,270 and £125,140) and 45% (additional rate above £125,140). National Insurance is calculated at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions: HR Manager Salary UK 2025
What is the average HR Manager salary in the UK in 2025?
The average HR Manager salary in the UK in 2025 is approximately £52,000 per year, with a typical range of £45,000 to £65,000 depending on sector, location and CIPD qualifications. London-based HR Managers typically earn 20–30% more. Senior HR Managers and HR Business Partners in FTSE 100 companies often exceed £70,000 plus bonus.
Does a CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualification increase your salary?
Yes, significantly. CIPD Level 5 typically adds £5,000–£8,000 to earning potential. CIPD Level 7 can add £10,000–£15,000 and is often required for senior HR Business Partner and HR Director roles. Many employers require CIPD Level 7 for positions paying above £60,000.
How much does an HR Business Partner earn in the UK?
An HR Business Partner (HRBP) typically earns £38,000–£55,000 nationally. In London, HRBP salaries frequently range from £50,000 to £90,000, particularly in financial services and technology. HRBPs with expertise in organisational design, workforce planning or people analytics command the highest premiums.
What is the take-home pay for an HR Manager earning £55,000?
An HR Manager earning £55,000 gross in 2025/26 takes home approximately £39,240 per year (£3,270 per month) after income tax and National Insurance with standard tax code 1257L and no pension contribution. With a 5% pension contribution (£2,750), the net take-home is approximately £36,900 per year (£3,075 per month).
How does public sector HR pay compare to private sector?
Public sector HR professionals typically earn 5–15% less in base salary than equivalent private sector roles, but benefit from significantly better pension provision. Public sector pension schemes (LGPS, Civil Service Pension) are defined benefit schemes worth the equivalent of 20–27% of salary in employer contributions. When total remuneration including pension is considered, the gap narrows considerably.
What HR technology skills command the highest salaries?
HR professionals with expertise in Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, and Oracle HCM earn 15–25% premiums. People analytics skills using Power BI, Tableau or SQL can add £8,000–£20,000 at senior levels. Workday implementation contractors earn £600–£900 per day, and SAP SuccessFactors consultants command £450–£800 per day.
What qualifications do I need to become an HR Director in the UK?
Most HR Directors hold CIPD Level 7 or an equivalent postgraduate degree such as an MBA with HR specialisation. Typically, HR Directors have 10–15 years of progressive HR experience including senior HRBP or Head of HR roles. Many also hold Chartered Fellow CIPD (FCIPD) status, the highest grade of CIPD membership, which signals strategic HR leadership credibility.
Written by Mustafa Bilgic (MB) | Last updated: February 2026 | Salary data sourced from CIPD, Reed, Totaljobs, Robert Half and ONS ASHE 2024. Tax calculations based on HMRC 2025/26 rates. This calculator provides estimates only; consult your employer payroll for exact figures.