HR Salaries
Roles within Human Resources across the function can range depending on level, location, responsibilities and industry.
In London, HR salaries usually begin with entry-level roles, circa £25,000 - £28,000 per annum for a permanent role. In Manchester, these salaries usually begin at around £22,000. These HR salaries will continue to increase in bandings through to an HR Director level. It is hard to comment on an HR Director’s salary and what it should be as this can hugely depend on the size of the organisation and team, the industry they are in and what sort of benefits / total package is on offer.
Recruitment trends suggest that Human Resources (HR) candidates with financial services experience tend to require higher salaries than their counterparts in other industries. However, it is important to consider the expectations that come with a higher salary.
The typical journey for an HR professional is to begin in an Administrator / Assistant / Coordinator role (£25,000-£35,000). They will then progress to an Advisor or Officer (£35,000-£50,000). The next level will be Manager or Business Partner (£50,000-£65.000+), although these roles tend to have different approaches. You will then progress to Head of / Senior Management.
Benefits
Whilst salary undoubtedly remains a priority for Human Resources candidates, our research reveals that more than a base salary in isolation is required to attract and retain top talent. Instead, offering a fuller, more-rounded benefits package is essential for companies to maintain a competitive edge, with most respondents preferring to receive benefits over the cash equivalent.
Flexible benefits solutions are now evidently popular and important. Without a flexible working option, companies are instantly ruling out a number of strong candidates.
Benefits can range from private medical insurance and healthcare, enhanced pension schemes, gym memberships and childcare vouchers. However, we are seeing more of an emphasis on wellbeing and support from a broader perspective. Whether this be mindfulness workshops, working-from-home set ups and budgets, subscriptions to mental health applications and varied exercise support.
In regard to holiday allowances, the majority of organisations offer 25 days annual leave. However, more than a quarter of employers offer 26 days or more, with 36 days or ‘unlimited’ packages on offer. More than half of employees have the opportunity to buy or sell annual leave – which is an important perk to those whose work-life balance is important to them.