Project Manager Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Project Manager salary is £55,000 per year. Entry-level: £38,000 · Senior: £100,000. Also known as: Senior Project Manager, Programme Manager, PMO Manager.
UK-wide salary distribution
Project Manager hiring market in the UK
Demand for Project Managers in the UK has been steady, neither contracting nor expanding sharply, with employer hiring tracking broadly in line with replacement need. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £70,400 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Project Manager in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and, for those who pursue it, a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Project Manager salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £53,760 | £70,400 | £96,000 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £48,300 | £63,250 | £86,250 | +15% |
| Oxford | £47,460 | £62,150 | £84,750 | +13% |
| Reading | £47,040 | £61,600 | £84,000 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £45,360 | £59,400 | £81,000 | +8% |
| Bristol | £44,520 | £58,300 | £79,500 | +6% |
| Brighton | £44,100 | £57,750 | £78,750 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £44,100 | £57,750 | £78,750 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £43,680 | £57,200 | £78,000 | +4% |
| Southampton | £43,680 | £57,200 | £78,000 | +4% |
| Manchester | £42,840 | £56,100 | £76,500 | +2% |
| Leeds | £42,000 | £55,000 | £75,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £41,160 | £53,900 | £73,500 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £40,740 | £53,350 | £72,750 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £39,900 | £52,250 | £71,250 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £39,480 | £51,700 | £70,500 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £39,060 | £51,150 | £69,750 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £39,060 | £51,150 | £69,750 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £38,640 | £50,600 | £69,000 | -8% |
| Belfast | £37,800 | £49,500 | £67,500 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Project Manager
£40,862/yr · £786/wk · effective rate 25.7%
| Gross salary | £55,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,750 |
| Income tax | −£8,332 |
| National Insurance | −£3,056 |
| Net take-home | £40,862 |
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Core skills for Project Managers
- PRINCE2
- APM
- Budget management
- Stakeholder management
- Risk management
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Project Manager salary in the UK?
The average UK Project Manager salary is £55,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £42,000 and the upper quartile is £75,000.
Where do Project Managers earn the most in the UK?
Project Managers earn most in London (£70,400 median), followed by Cambridge (£63,250) and Oxford (£62,150). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Project Manager need?
Core skills and qualifications for Project Managers include: PRINCE2, APM, Budget management, Stakeholder management, Risk management. Entry-level roles start at around £38,000; senior positions reach £100,000+.
Is Project Manager a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Project Managers is medium. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.