Top UK Salary Benchmarks by Industry in 2025
Take our 2025 UK salary benchmarks by industry to determine your pay on the fair side, set freelance rates, and negotiate with confidence, using the latest ONS data as a base.
Introduction
Whether you are changing a job, valuing a contract, or raising the stakes, knowledge of 2025 industry-standard pay is crucial. Uneven pay movements across the UK have placed upward pressure on some sectors, while others remain flat. This guide collates 2025 UK salary benchmarks by industry, indexing against official sources, so you may put your pay in perspective, set realistic goals, and negotiate more confidently.
What you should be getting in two minutes:
- 15 industry clear pay bands for the UK
- Entry pay guides to sanity-check offers
- Quick tips on converting data into a bigger cheque
2025 benchmarks were built with the following assumptions
- Official baselines: ONS ASHE 2024 earnings by industry (April 2024).
- 2025 adjustment: Recent ONS AWE trends applied to reflect this year's market.
- Inclusions: Full-time base pay (typical mid-career bands) and common entry ranges.
Note: These are certainly benchmarks, and never guarantees. The actual pay varies with region (the London premium); an employer's size; shortage skills; and scope of role.
UK Salary Benchmarks by Industry (2025)
How to read this table
- 2025 benchmark band = typical full-time base pay for mid-career roles.
- Entry range = typical starting point for junior roles.
- Market signal = how hiring demand looks on the short term.
- London uplift: add ~10–25%, at least for a quite big chunk of private-sector jobs.
| Industry (SIC section) | Benchmark | Entry range |
|---|---|---|
| Information & Communication (J) | £48k – £65k | £28k – £38k |
| Financial & Insurance (K) | £45k – £60k | £28k – £35k |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical (M) | £40k – £55k | £26k – £32k |
| Energy, Utilities & Water (D/E) | £42k – £58k | £27k – £34k |
| Manufacturing (C) | £37k – £50k | £25k – £32k |
| Construction (F) | £36k – £48k | £24k – £30k |
| Transport & Storage (H) | £34k – £45k | £24k – £30k |
| Public Admin & Defence (O) | £34k – £42k | £23k – £30k |
| Education (P) | £33k – £43k | £23k – £31k |
| Health and Social Work (Q) | £30k – £40k | £22k – £28k |
| Real Estate (L) | £32k – £42k | £22k – £28k |
| Retail & Wholesale (G) | £24k – £32k | £20k – £24k |
| Accommodation & Food (I) | £23k – £29k | £20k – £22k |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (R) | £28k – £38k | £22k – £26k |
| Admin & Support Services (N) | £25k – £32k | £20k – £23k |
Benchmarks reflect the base salary for a full-time role; contractors and commission-heavy roles can sit outside these ranges.
Quick Industry Spotlights (Actionable Takeaways)
Information & Communication (Tech/IT)
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Levers that lift pay: cloud certs, modern data stack, security clearance, product ownership.
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Freelance life: day rates £350–£600, niche security/AI projects can go beyond this.
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Next move: position somewhere near the upper band if you can deliver both build- and stakeholder-oriented leadership.
Finance & Insurance
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Strong niches: prudential & conduct compliance, risk modelling, data governance, treasury.
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Total comp: bonuses vary—base tends to move steadily.
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Next move: pair Python/SQL with regulatory change experience to jump brackets.
Energy, Utilities & Water
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Where the money flows: grid upgrades, renewables, water resilience.
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Career hack: chartership and safety-critical tickets speed-up pay rises.
Construction
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In demand: site managers, QSs, M&E coordinators, finishing trades.
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Tip: evidence H&S leadership + on-time delivery to argue for top-band salaries.
Retail, Hospitality & Leisure
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Path to higher pay: move into multi-site management, category buying, revenue/yield roles.
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Side-hustle angle: hospitality operation/rota optimisation consulting can bill well in busy seasons.
60-second salary checkpoint (before your next chat)
- Get your sector band above.
- Place your role: entry/mid/senior scope (team size, budgets, compliance).
- Apply region: add a London uplift where applicable.
- Sanity-check benefits: pension %, bonus target, overtime/allowances, training budget.
- Pick a number: go for something in the top half if you can prove impact backed up in metrics.
Pro tip: Be prepared with three proof points: a number, a customer/outcome, and a skill that is scarce in your market.
Regional differences and adjustment factors
- London/SE: Usually 10–25% above private sector roles; consider commuting and housing costs.
- Major cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol): Often 5–15% above the smaller towns.
- Remote/hybrid: Generally more in national bands, yet many companies still price to local markets.
How to use these benchmarks for negotiation
- Anchor to the band: State the 2025 benchmark deemed adequate for your sector and level.
- Express your edge: Having certifications, experience working in a regulated industry, mult-site responsibility, or hard-to-hire skills.
- Close with confidence: propose a range that falls in the target half of the band, evidence notwithstanding.
Try our Salary Calculator for results specific to role, region, and seniority.
Citations and Resources
- ONS – Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024. Employee earnings in the UK: 2024
Conclusion
In 2025, industry matters more than ever for pay. The top tier includes tech, finance and utilities; construction, transport and manufacturing have somehow managed to climb up the ladder; meanwhile, consumer-facing sectors are catching up with standards of living. Use the bands above to gauge your market value, employ a regional uplift where appropriate, and make a data-backed case at your next negotiation or pricing of a project.
You should do an evaluation of your position every 6–12 months: track skills in your industry that are currently commanding premiums, and use such information for comparison before either accepting or renewing an offer.