Risk Manager Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Risk Manager salary is £68,000 per year. Entry-level: £42,000 · Senior: £125,000. Also known as: Credit Risk Manager, Operational Risk Manager, Market Risk Analyst.
UK-wide salary distribution
Risk Manager hiring market in the UK
Demand for Risk 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 £87,040 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 Risk 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.
Risk Manager salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £64,000 | £87,040 | £117,760 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £57,500 | £78,200 | £105,800 | +15% |
| Oxford | £56,500 | £76,840 | £103,960 | +13% |
| Reading | £56,000 | £76,160 | £103,040 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £54,000 | £73,440 | £99,360 | +8% |
| Bristol | £53,000 | £72,080 | £97,520 | +6% |
| Brighton | £52,500 | £71,400 | £96,600 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £52,500 | £71,400 | £96,600 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £52,000 | £70,720 | £95,680 | +4% |
| Southampton | £52,000 | £70,720 | £95,680 | +4% |
| Manchester | £51,000 | £69,360 | £93,840 | +2% |
| Leeds | £50,000 | £68,000 | £92,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £49,000 | £66,640 | £90,160 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £48,500 | £65,960 | £89,240 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £47,500 | £64,600 | £87,400 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £47,000 | £63,920 | £86,480 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £46,500 | £63,240 | £85,560 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £46,500 | £63,240 | £85,560 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £46,000 | £62,560 | £84,640 | -8% |
| Belfast | £45,000 | £61,200 | £82,800 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Risk Manager
£48,025/yr · £924/wk · effective rate 29.4%
| Gross salary | £68,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£3,400 |
| Income tax | −£13,272 |
| National Insurance | −£3,303 |
| Net take-home | £48,025 |
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Core skills for Risk Managers
- Basel III
- VaR
- Stress testing
- SQL
- Python
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Risk Manager salary in the UK?
The average UK Risk Manager salary is £68,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £50,000 and the upper quartile is £92,000.
Where do Risk Managers earn the most in the UK?
Risk Managers earn most in London (£87,040 median), followed by Cambridge (£78,200) and Oxford (£76,840). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Risk Manager need?
Core skills and qualifications for Risk Managers include: Basel III, VaR, Stress testing, SQL, Python. Entry-level roles start at around £42,000; senior positions reach £125,000+.
Is Risk Manager a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Risk 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.