Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has unveiled stark regional disparities in the salaries of HR professionals across England.
The figures, released this month, indicate that HR managers and directors in the East of England and London command significantly higher salaries than their counterparts in other regions.
According to an analysis by HR software provider Ciphr, a notable 52 percent pay gap exists between the highest and lowest-paid regions for the country’s 150,400 full-time HR managers and directors.
In terms of mean average wages, HR professionals in the East of England emerge as some of the highest earners in their field, with an average salary of £67,172. This figure stands well above the region’s average full-time salary of £40,544. Moreover, HR salaries in the East surpass those in Greater London by approximately 7 percent and are 12 percent higher than those in the south-east of England, averaging at £62,788 and £60,198, respectively.
Conversely, HR managers and directors in the North East and West Midlands receive the lowest mean average salaries in England, at £44,158 and £47,037, respectively.
The top 5 regions in England with the highest average salaries for HR managers and directors are:
- East – £67,172
- London – £62,788
- South East – £60,198
- South West – £56,357
- North West – £50,615
Regrettably, comparable data for Wales and Northern Ireland was unavailable from the ONS. However, in Scotland, HR managers and directors reportedly earn £48,601, contributing to a UK-wide average of £57,314.
In addition to HR managers and directors, the East of England also leads in compensating HR and industrial relations officers, with an average salary of £39,636. The West Midlands (£35,374) and South West (£34,563) follow closely behind, both exceeding the UK average of £33,692 for these roles.
What about inflation?
Despite the overall increase in HR salaries compared to the onset of the cost-of-living crisis in 2022, it is essential to note that many individuals may experience a decline in real wages due to inflation, which rose by 7.8 percent for the 12 months leading to April 2023, the period these ONS figures cover.
Only London and the South West witnessed full-time HR managers and directors enjoying pay growth that surpassed inflation in 2023, with mean and median average salaries for these regions both increasing by over 7.8 percent. Similarly, full-time HR and industrial relations officers in the South West and West Midlands benefited from above-inflation increases.
Highly valued skills
Claire Williams, Chief People and Operating Officer at Ciphr, commented on the findings, acknowledging that pay is not the sole consideration for professionals but emphasising the importance of understanding regional pay variations. She highlighted the versatility of HR professionals in working across different industries and regions, emphasising that their skills remain highly valued and in demand by employers.
Ciphr, based in Reading and backed by ECI Partners, is a leading HR software and solutions partner for medium and large organisations in the UK. The company’s integrated HR, payroll, learning, and recruitment software, services, and content aim to provide valuable insights to HR teams to inform their people strategy and foster organisational growth and development.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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