Home » Insights » Salary Guide » HR Salary Guide 2023

As the combined pressures of high costs, inflation and a recession continue to bite in 2023, HR teams face a huge challenge controlling budgets whilst attracting and retaining hard to find talent.

Explore salaries for HR roles in your region.

Role Category Title Region Lower Quartile Median Upper Quartile
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO National Average £78,853 £96,376 £122,661
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO London £90,000 £110,000 £140,000
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO SouthEast £83,333 £101,852 £129,630
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO SouthWest £77,586 £94,828 £120,690
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO EastEast £80,357 £98,214 £125,000
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO WestMidlands £78,261 £95,652 £121,739
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO EastMidlands £78,261 £95,652 £121,739
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO Yorkshire £75,630 £92,437 £117,647
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO NorthEast £75,000 £91,667 £116,667
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO NorthWest £75,630 £92,437 £117,647
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO Scotland £78,947 £96,491 £122,807
CHRO/CPO CHRO/CPO Wales £74,380 £90,909 £115,702
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director National Average £78,853 £87,615 £105,138
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director London £90,000 £100,000 £120,000
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director SouthEast £83,333 £92,593 £111,111
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director SouthWest £77,586 £86,207 £103,448
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director EastEast £80,357 £89,286 £107,143
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director WestMidlands £78,261 £86,957 £104,348
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director EastMidlands £78,261 £86,957 £104,348
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director Yorkshire £75,630 £84,034 £100,840
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director NorthEast £75,000 £83,333 £100,000
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director NorthWest £75,630 £84,034 £100,840
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director Scotland £78,947 £87,719 £105,263
Human Resources Director Human Resources Director Wales £74,380 £82,645 £99,174
HR Manager HR Manager National Average £48,188 £56,950 £70,092
HR Manager HR Manager London £55,000 £65,000 £80,000
HR Manager HR Manager SouthEast £50,926 £60,185 £74,074
HR Manager HR Manager SouthWest £47,414 £56,034 £68,966
HR Manager HR Manager EastEast £49,107 £58,036 £71,429
HR Manager HR Manager WestMidlands £47,826 £56,522 £69,565
HR Manager HR Manager EastMidlands £47,826 £56,522 £69,565
HR Manager HR Manager Yorkshire £46,218 £54,622 £67,227
HR Manager HR Manager NorthEast £45,833 £54,167 £66,667
HR Manager HR Manager NorthWest £46,218 £54,622 £67,227
HR Manager HR Manager Scotland £48,246 £57,018 £70,175
HR Manager HR Manager Wales £45,455 £53,719 £66,116
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner National Average £52,569 £56,950 £65,711
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner London £60,000 £65,000 £75,000
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner SouthEast £55,556 £60,185 £69,444
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner SouthWest £51,724 £56,034 £64,655
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner EastEast £53,571 £58,036 £66,964
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner WestMidlands £52,174 £56,522 £65,217
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner EastMidlands £52,174 £56,522 £65,217
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner Yorkshire £50,420 £54,622 £63,025
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner NorthEast £50,000 £54,167 £62,500
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner NorthWest £50,420 £54,622 £63,025
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner Scotland £52,632 £57,018 £65,789
HR Business Partner HR Business Partner Wales £49,587 £53,719 £61,983
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor National Average £39,427 £43,807 £48,188
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor London £45,000 £50,000 £55,000
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor SouthEast £41,667 £46,296 £50,926
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor SouthWest £38,793 £43,103 £47,414
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor EastEast £40,179 £44,643 £49,107
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor WestMidlands £39,130 £43,478 £47,826
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor EastMidlands £39,130 £43,478 £47,826
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor Yorkshire £37,815 £42,017 £46,218
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor NorthEast £37,500 £41,667 £45,833
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor NorthWest £37,815 £42,017 £46,218
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor Scotland £39,474 £43,860 £48,246
Senior HR Advisor Senior HR Advisor Wales £37,190 £41,322 £45,455
HRAdvisor HR Advisor National Average £35,046 £39,427 £43,807
HRAdvisor HR Advisor London £40,000 £45,000 £50,000
HRAdvisor HR Advisor SouthEast £37,037 £41,667 £46,296
HRAdvisor HR Advisor SouthWest £34,483 £38,793 £43,103
HR Advisor HR Advisor EastEast £35,714 £40,179 £44,643
HRAdvisor HR Advisor WestMidlands £34,783 £39,130 £43,478
HRAdvisor HR Advisor EastMidlands £34,783 £39,130 £43,478
HR Advisor HR Advisor Yorkshire £33,613 £37,815 £42,017
HRAdvisor HR Advisor NorthEast £33,333 £37,500 £41,667
HR Advisor HR Advisor NorthWest £33,613 £37,815 £42,017
HRAdvisor HR Advisor Scotland £35,088 £39,474 £43,860
HR Advisor HR Advisor Wales £33,058 £37,190 £41,322
Learning and Development Learning and Development National Average £36,798 £43,807 £56,950
Learning and Development Learning and Development London £42,000 £50,000 £65,000
Learning and Development Learning and Development SouthEast £38,889 £46,296 £60,185
Learning and Development Learning and Development SouthWest £36,207 £43,103 £56,034
Learning and Development Learning and Development EastEast £37,500 £44,643 £58,036
Learning and Development Learning and Development WestMidlands £36,522 £43,478 £56,522
Learning and Development Learning and Development EastMidlands £36,522 £43,478 £56,522
Learning and Development Learning and Development Yorkshire £35,294 £42,017 £54,622
Learning and Development Learning and Development NorthEast £35,000 £41,667 £54,167
Learning and Development Learning and Development NorthWest £35,294 £42,017 £54,622
Learning and Development Learning and Development Scotland £36,842 £43,860 £57,018
Learning and Development Learning and Development Wales £34,711 £41,322 £53,719
Employee Relations Employee Relations National Average £40,303 £49,940 £56,950
Employee Relations Employee Relations London £46,000 £57,000 £65,000
Employee Relations Employee Relations SouthEast £42,593 £52,778 £60,185
Employee Relations Employee Relations SouthWest £39,655 £49,138 £56,034
Employee Relations Employee Relations EastEast £41,071 £50,893 £58,036
Employee Relations Employee Relations WestMidlands £40,000 £49,565 £56,522
Employee Relations Employee Relations EastMidlands £40,000 £49,565 £56,522
Employee Relations Employee Relations Yorkshire £38,655 £47,899 £54,622
Employee Relations Employee Relations NorthEast £38,333 £47,500 £54,167
Employee Relations Employee Relations NorthWest £38,655 £47,899 £54,622
Employee Relations Employee Relations Scotland £40,351 £50,000 £57,018
Employee Relations Employee Relations Wales £38,017 £47,107 £53,719
HR Assistant HR Assistant National Average £26,284 £28,475 £30,665
HR Assistant HR Assistant London £30,000 £32,500 £35,000
HR Assistant HR Assistant SouthEast £27,778 £30,093 £32,407
HR Assistant HR Assistant SouthWest £25,862 £28,017 £30,172
HR Assistant HR Assistant EastEast £26,786 £29,018 £31,250
HR Assistant HR Assistant WestMidlands £26,087 £28,261 £30,435
HR Assistant HR Assistant EastMidlands £26,087 £28,261 £30,435
HR Assistant HR Assistant Yorkshire £25,210 £27,311 £29,412
HR Assistant HR Assistant NorthEast £25,000 £27,083 £29,167
HR Assistant HR Assistant NorthWest £25,210 £27,311 £29,412
HR Assistant HR Assistant Scotland £26,316 £28,509 £30,702
HR Assistant HR Assistant Wales £24,793 £26,860 £28,926
HR Administrator HR Administrator National Average £24,094 £26,284 £28,475
HR Administrator HR Administrator London £27,500 £30,000 £32,500
HR Administrator HR Administrator SouthEast £25,463 £27,778 £30,093
HR Administrator HR Administrator SouthWest £23,707 £25,862 £28,017
HR Administrator HR Administrator EastEast £24,554 £26,786 £29,018
HR Administrator HR Administrator WestMidlands £23,913 £26,087 £28,261
HR Administrator HR Administrator EastMidlands £23,913 £26,087 £28,261
HR Administrator HR Administrator Yorkshire £23,109 £25,210 £27,311
HR Administrator HR Administrator NorthEast £22,917 £25,000 £27,083
HR Administrator HR Administrator NorthWest £23,109 £25,210 £27,311
HR Administrator HR Administrator Scotland £24,123 £26,316 £28,509
HR Administrator HR Administrator Wales £22,727 £24,793 £26,860
Head of Talent Head of Talent National Average £70,092 £87,615 £96,376
Head of Talent Head of Talent London £80,000 £100,000 £110,000
Head of Talent Head of Talent SouthEast £74,074 £92,593 £101,852
Head of Talent Head of Talent SouthWest £68,966 £86,207 £94,828
Head of Talent Head of Talent EastEast £71,429 £89,286 £98,214
Head of Talent Head of Talent WestMidlands £69,565 £86,957 £95,652
Head of Talent Head of Talent EastMidlands £69,565 £86,957 £95,652
Head of Talent Head of Talent Yorkshire £67,227 £84,034 £92,437
Head of Talent Head of Talent NorthEast £66,667 £83,333 £91,667
Head of Talent Head of Talent NorthWest £67,227 £84,034 £92,437
Head of Talent Head of Talent Scotland £70,175 £87,719 £96,491
Head of Talent Head of Talent Wales £66,116 £82,645 £90,909
Talent Manager Talent Manager National Average £52,569 £61,330 £70,092
Talent Manager Talent Manager London £60,000 £70,000 £80,000
Talent Manager Talent Manager SouthEast £55,556 £64,815 £74,074
Talent Manager Talent Manager SouthWest £51,724 £60,345 £68,966
Talent Manager Talent Manager EastEast £53,571 £62,500 £71,429
Talent Manager Talent Manager WestMidlands £52,174 £60,870 £69,565
Talent Manager Talent Manager EastMidlands £52,174 £60,870 £69,565
Talent Manager Talent Manager Yorkshire £50,420 £58,824 £67,227
Talent Manager Talent Manager NorthEast £50,000 £58,333 £66,667
Talent Manager Talent Manager NorthWest £50,420 £58,824 £67,227
Talent Manager Talent Manager Scotland £52,632 £61,404 £70,175
Talent Manager Talent Manager Wales £49,587 £57,851 £66,116
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor National Average £43,807 £48,188 £52,569
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor London £50,000 £55,000 £60,000
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor SouthEast £46,296 £50,926 £55,556
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor SouthWest £43,103 £47,414 £51,724
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor EastEast £44,643 £49,107 £53,571
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor WestMidlands £43,478 £47,826 £52,174
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor EastMidlands £43,478 £47,826 £52,174
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor Yorkshire £42,017 £46,218 £50,420
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor NorthEast £41,667 £45,833 £50,000
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor NorthWest £42,017 £46,218 £50,420
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor Scotland £43,860 £48,246 £52,632
Talent Advisor Talent Advisor Wales £41,322 £45,455 £49,587
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator National Average £26,284 £30,665 £35,046
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator London £30,000 £35,000 £40,000
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator SouthEast £27,778 £32,407 £37,037
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator SouthWest £25,862 £30,172 £34,483
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator EastEast £26,786 £31,250 £35,714
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator WestMidlands £26,087 £30,435 £34,783
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator EastMidlands £26,087 £30,435 £34,783
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator Yorkshire £25,210 £29,412 £33,613
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator NorthEast £25,000 £29,167 £33,333
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator NorthWest £25,210 £29,412 £33,613
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator Scotland £26,316 £30,702 £35,088
Talent/Rec Coordinator Talent/Rec Coordinator Wales £24,793 £28,926 £33,058

Salary guidance

Salaries typically fall between the lower and upper quartiles depending on candidate availability, demand for those skills, level of experience, industry sector and the size of the business or organisation.

Lower quartile
The band under which 25% of salaries are paid. The entry point for the job role
Median
The midpoint salary for the job role
Upper quartile
The band above which 25% of salaries are paid. For experienced professionals operating at expert level.

Key observations

From mid-2022 to mid-2023 growth hiring in the HR job market has fallen, leading to fewer roles being available. Salary increases have remained stable at 7%, but new talent acquisition salaries are falling.

Shifting priorities

Since the middle of 2022, growth hiring has diminished, leading organisations to shift their focus from talent attraction strategies to retaining and developing their existing teams through upskilling and people-centric initiatives. This change in priorities reflects a strategic emphasis on nurturing and maximizing the potential of the current workforce.

Role of HR

The role of HR has been crucial in managing rapidly changing work environments brought about by the pandemic. HR leaders have been at the forefront of supporting and coaching employees, implementing people-centric programs, and demonstrating the positive impact of engaged and happy teams on productivity and profitability.

Employee feedback and workforce planning

HR departments have embraced strategic workforce planning over the last few years, using employee feedback, market data and competitor workforce analyses to map out how the development of future skills will align with business objectives. These proactive efforts have resulted in substantial savings for companies, particularly in employee attrition, over the past three years.

HR Salaries

HR recruitment has declined over the past year, paralleling the broader trend across sectors. At the same time, availability of candidates has improved, leading to an employer-led market in terms of salary negotiations. Consequently, financial rewards for existing teams have diminished, with fewer companies addressing the cost of living crisis through inflation-matched pay increases or one-time support payments in 2023.

The average salary increase across mainstream HR roles has remained stable in 2023 at 7%.

In line with a fall in demand, talent acquisition salaries have suffered as many large employers such as Microsoft and Amazon shed employees. This lack of demand has impacted salaries - the role of head of talent in particular has seen a 10% decrease in advertised salaries compared to the height of 2022.

Future challenges

The challenge for HR leaders in the upcoming year will be to maintain innovation while accommodating flexible working practices. Many businesses are seeking to return to office-based work amidst a subdued job market, but full-time office work is unpopular with employees. HR teams will need to contend with the risk of employees leaving as the job market picks up in 2024, potentially leading to talent attrition.

Learning and development

To cope with the skills shortage, many employers have turned to hiring less experienced individuals and implementing training plans to bridge the gaps. This strategy allows organisations to develop talent internally and ensure a skilled workforce in the long term. [Provide link to relevant article]

New technology adoption

Learning and development will become more of a priority for HR departments as businesses invest more in training and put their people at the heart of their growth strategies. Demand for this will increase as more organisations work to upskill people to meet changing business goals.

January 2023

There has been a gradual tail off in the number of new HR roles advertised since July 2022.

The fastest drop in demand has been for talent acquisition teams, with demand falling since March, a reflection of a slowdown in growth planning.

The biggest growth has been within employee engagement and learning & development roles to support retention and develop existing talent in the face of a skills shortage.

Salaries have remained flat for the second half of 2022. We predict salaries will track inflation through 2023 and the demand for HR professionals to soften.

The biggest growth has been in employee engagement roles and learning and development roles to support retention and develop existing talent in the face of skills shortages.

Post-Covid, businesses have almost universally sought to humanize their interaction with employees, driving up engagement with the goal of maintaining happy, inclusive and productive remote teams. As the pressures of high costs, inflation and a recession continue to bite in 2023, businesses will shift to having a greater focus on maintaining profits. HR will face a growing challenge of maintaining the human-first element within the organisation as these changes take place.

There will be a focus on using evidence-based data to prove the value of HR initiatives, and attempting to prove that profits and a human-first approach can co-exist in a tougher economic environment. But whether this data is readily available, and whether HR teams will be able to access the data they need, remains to be seen. We may see the rise of the HR data analyst in 2023 as a result.

In the face of potential budget cuts, business leaders will once again turn to HR teams to retain and maintain the productivity of existing employees. Investing in existing talent, upskilling, and coaching will continue as a feature of the next 12 months.

The next 12 months will be especially challenging for HR, and with teams already running at full tilt for the past three years there is a real danger of burnout as the department is asked to do more with less.

Investing in existing talent, upskilling and coaching will continue as a feature of the next 12 months.

Bespoke salary report

If you would like to find out more about how your salaries compare to others in the HR market, we offer our clients bespoke individual salary reports for a precise salary assessment, based on industry, geography, competition, job role and company size.

Latest HR Jobs

HR Administrator

Essex / £40,000

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR Administrator to join a well-established manufacturing organisation based in Grays, Essex. Please note this role is office-based and will require occasional travel to UK-based sites. Reporting to the HR Manager, the chosen candidate will work as part of a tight-knit team of 4 to provide an...

Read more

HR Advisor

Essex / £40,000

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR Advisor to join a well-established manufacturing organisation based in Grays, Essex. Please note this role is office-based and will require occasional travel to UK-based sites. Reporting to the HR Manager, the chosen candidate will work as part of a tight-knit team of 4 to provide an...

Read more

HR Assistant

Essex / £40,000

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR Assistant to join a well-established manufacturing organisation based in Grays, Essex. Please note this role is office-based and will require occasional travel to UK-based sites. Reporting to the HR Manager, the chosen candidate will work as part of a tight-knit team of 4 to provide an...

Read more
More jobs
finance professionals

Looking to hire?

More than 20,000 people register with the Ashdown Group every month. We have access to hundreds of high-calibre professionals living within an easy commute of your business.