HR director pay surges by almost 21% over the past year, finds latest study
HR director pay has surged by 20.9% over the past year - far outpacing both the rest of the HR function and the wider economy - according to Incomes Data Research.
HR director pay has surged by 20.9% over the past year – far outpacing both the rest of the HR function and the wider economy – bringing the median salary to £135,381 in 2025, data has revealed.
According to the latest study by Incomes Data Research (IDR), this compares to a median of £111,982 in 2024.
Pay for HR function heads has also increased, though less steeply, with a rise of 8.7% taking the median from £73,246 last year to £79,600 in 2025.
In contrast, the latest median pay rise across the whole economy is 3.2%, as observed by IDR.
Pay growth for less senior HR roles has been much lower.
The median salary for HR advisors has increased by just 1.5%, rising from £40,303 in 2024 to £40,902 in 2025.
Pay for HR assistants has remained flat, with the median staying at £25,000.
The substantial increase in pay for HR directors has widened the gap between these roles and the next level down.
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