| Role Level | UK Salary Range | London Premium | Tech Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Coordinator / Assistant | £25,000–£35,000 | £33,000–£46,000 | £28,000–£40,000 |
| Operations Manager | £40,000–£60,000 | £52,000–£78,000 | £46,000–£69,000 |
| Senior Operations Manager | £55,000–£80,000 | £72,000–£104,000 | £63,000–£92,000 |
| Head of Operations | £70,000–£100,000 | £91,000–£130,000 | £80,000–£115,000 |
| Operations Director / COO | £90,000–£180,000+ | £117,000–£234,000+ | £103,000–£207,000+ |
| Sector | Typical Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Services | £46,000–£71,000 | Highest paying sector |
| Technology / Software | £46,000–£69,000 | Often includes equity/bonus |
| Logistics / Supply Chain | £43,000–£65,000 | High demand, 24/7 operations |
| FMCG / Consumer Goods | £44,000–£66,000 | Large structured organisations |
| Healthcare | £42,000–£63,000 | NHS banding limits some roles |
| Retail | £40,000–£60,000 | Baseline for comparisons |
| Manufacturing | £40,000–£60,000 | Lean skills premium applies |
Operations management is one of the most widely employed and commercially critical functions across all industries in the UK. From logistics and supply chain management to healthcare administration and technology platform operations, the operations manager role commands strong salaries that reflect the breadth of responsibility involved.
Operations managers are responsible for ensuring that an organisation's day-to-day activities run efficiently and effectively. Responsibilities typically include process improvement, resource planning, budget management, team leadership, vendor and supplier management, and reporting to senior leadership. In larger organisations, the role may focus on a specific operational area such as logistics, production scheduling, or customer service operations.
The scope of responsibility directly influences salary. An operations manager overseeing 5 people and a modest budget will typically earn less than one responsible for 50 staff, multiple locations, and multi-million pound budgets — even within the same job title.
The typical career path in UK operations management runs through several well-defined stages. Most people enter at coordinator or assistant level after graduating or moving from a functional role. After building operational experience, progression to operations manager typically occurs within 3-5 years. Senior operations manager, head of operations, and eventually COO roles follow for those demonstrating strong commercial acumen and leadership capability.
At the very top, the COO (Chief Operating Officer) in a large UK company can earn £150,000-£250,000+ including bonuses and long-term incentives, placing this role firmly among the highest-paid non-C-suite positions below CEO and CFO.
Financial services consistently pays operations managers 15-20% above the national average for this role. Investment banks, asset managers, and fintech companies recognise that operational efficiency directly affects profitability in highly regulated environments. Technology companies offer comparable salaries with the addition of equity compensation (share options or RSUs) that can significantly increase total remuneration over a 4-year vesting cycle.
Supply chain and logistics operations managers are in consistently high demand, particularly following the disruptions of recent years, with salaries of £43,000-£65,000 at manager level. Healthcare operations — both NHS and private — tends to pay slightly less, though NHS roles offer strong pension contributions and job security.
Lean Six Sigma certification is one of the most reliable ways to increase operations management earnings. A Green Belt adds approximately £3,000-£5,000 to salary potential, while a Black Belt can add £5,000-£8,000. These qualifications demonstrate measurable process improvement skills, which directly impact employer profitability. Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and financial services firms particularly value Lean and Six Sigma credentials.
For supply chain and procurement-focused operations roles, the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply) qualification is highly regarded and typically adds £3,000-£5,000 to salary. CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) is similarly valued for logistics operations.
An MBA from a reputable UK business school can add £5,000-£15,000 to senior operations salaries, particularly for director-level roles and those at large FTSE companies. The MBA premium is most pronounced for candidates moving from specialist roles into broader leadership positions.
London and the South East pay operations managers approximately 30% more than the national average. An operations manager earning £50,000 in Birmingham might command £65,000 for an equivalent role in London. However, London's higher cost of living partially offsets this premium — use our calculator above to see your adjusted take-home pay after tax.
Remote working has become more common in operations management, particularly in technology companies. Fully remote operations manager roles that pay London rates but allow regional living offer the best of both worlds for salary optimisation.
Larger organisations typically pay 15-30% more than SMEs for equivalent operations management roles. A FTSE 100 company operations manager may earn £70,000-£90,000 with comprehensive benefits, while an equivalent title at a 50-person SME might pay £42,000-£55,000 but with broader scope and faster career progression. FTSE 250 and large private companies fall in between.
Startups and scale-ups often offer below-market base salaries offset by equity participation. For an early-stage company with strong growth prospects, equity worth £50,000-£200,000+ over 4 years can make a £55,000 base salary very competitive in total compensation terms.
UK income tax 2025/26: personal allowance £12,570 (tax-free), basic rate 20% (£12,571-£50,270), higher rate 40% (£50,271-£125,140). National Insurance: 8% on earnings £12,570-£50,270, then 2% above. An operations manager on £55,000 takes home approximately £40,500/year. Use the calculator at the top of this page to calculate your exact take-home for any salary figure.