Free Download · FR HR
The Definitive Guide To UK HR Salaries In 2026.
Benchmark data across Generalist HR, Talent Acquisition, Compensation & Benefits and Learning & Development — plus regional insight and expert commentary from FR HR’s Director, Alex Wright.
Average UK HR salary uplift heading into 2026
HR disciplines fully benchmarked, entry-level to Director
Top of range for HR Director roles in the UK market
What's Inside The Guide.
Built from UK-wide salary data, Forward Role hiring data and market insight gathered across the HR profession — this is a practical benchmark for employers and a clear reference point for HR professionals planning their next move.
HR Generalist
HR Admin through to HR Director, benchmarked across eight levels of seniority.
Talent Acquisition
TA Coordinator through to Head of TA, covering both in-house and agency-facing routes.
Compensation & Benefits
Analyst through to Head of Reward, including specialist reward and benefits pathways.
Learning & Development
L&D Coordinator through to Head of L&D, covering coordination through to strategic leadership.
Regional Insight.
Regional uplift remains consistent across the UK but slightly lower than inflation. Edinburgh and Birmingham remain the highest-paying markets, driven by a strong Financial Services presence. Manchester and Leeds stay highly competitive, while Liverpool sits marginally lower on average across most HR disciplines.
Expert Commentary.
“UK HR salaries have stabilised in 2026, with increases averaging around 1%, down from the higher, inflation-driven growth we saw through 2025. The strongest increases sat within interim roles at the start of the year, reflecting uncertainty around permanent hiring, and within specialist roles where skills shortages persist. Heading towards the end of the year, there seems to be momentum gaining around confidence in permanent hires, but with growing expectations on both the candidate and employer side.”
Why Forward Role
Trusted Global Recruitment Partner For High-Growth Brands.
We’re the business that built world-class teams for AO.com and Boohoo, taking them from early-stage scale-ups, through hyper-growth and IPO. More recently, companies like Next, Interactive Investor, JD Sports and Domino’s choose us as a talent partner to drive their people and digital transformations. Brands with big ambition trust us to find the brightest talent to fuel their growth.
Our Network
Almost 20 years across HR, Marketing, Digital, Technology and Data — unrivalled access to the talent that scales people functions as brands grow.
Insights & Strategy
We don’t just send CVs. We partner on Org Design, EVP and Talent Branding, Salary Surveys, Market Insights & Mapping, and Volume Campaign Planning.
Sourcing
The best of traditional relationship-led recruitment combined with the latest technology — AI sourcing, data-driven insights and rigorous screening for cultural and technical fit.
