Managers and directors in the creative industries roles in the UK earn a median of £53,000 per year, equivalent to £29.09 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 21.0% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £34,000 in East Midlands to £66,000 in West Midlands. Pay has risen over the past 3 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £54,772/yr (3% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£53,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£29.09
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+21.0%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£39,500 – £83,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Managers and directors in the creative industries across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| West Midlands | £66,000 |
| London | £60,000 |
| South East | £57,500 |
| East | £56,000 |
| Scotland | £55,000 |
| South West | £52,500 |
| Wales | £52,000 |
| North East | £51,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £51,500 |
| North West | £41,500 |
| East Midlands | £34,000 |
| UK | £53,000 |
Annual pay grew by +21.0% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Managers and directors in the creative industries.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Managers and directors in the creative industries in the UK is £53,000 per year (about £29.09 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Managers and directors in the creative industries earn between £39,500 and £83,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Managers and directors in the creative industries pay rose by 21.0% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Managers and directors in the creative industries is in West Midlands, at £66,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Managers and directors in the creative industries roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Managers and directors in creative industries plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of organisations in sectors such as arts, publishing, music, media, design and architecture.
Entry requirements vary according to the specific sector. Most post holders will have relevant experience and while some fields do not require candidates to have academic qualifications others require a degree or equivalent qualification. Off and on-the-job training may be provided, and vocational qualifications are available in many of these sectors.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.