SOC 1171 Corporate managers and directors

Health services and public health managers and directors Salary

Median salary £55,879 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £56,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For health services and public health managers and directors, £61,573 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +58% versus the national average. Experienced health services and public health managers and directors (top 25%) earn over £74,300.

About this role

Health services and public health managers and directors lead health and care service delivery, managing clinical and operational teams, budgets and service quality. They ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and drive improvements in patient outcomes and service efficiency.

Key responsibilities

Managing healthcare service delivery and clinical operations
Ensuring compliance with CQC standards and healthcare regulations
Overseeing budgets and resource allocation
Leading quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
Developing and retaining healthcare workforce

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a clinical or healthcare management background with substantial leadership experience. Professional qualifications from relevant bodies (e.g., NHS Leadership Academy) are common.

Career outlook

Strong demand driven by an ageing population and ongoing NHS workforce challenges. Digital health and integrated care experience are increasingly valued.

Key skills

Healthcare management Clinical governance Budget management Quality improvement Stakeholder engagement

Common industries

NHS
Private healthcare
Social care
Mental health services
Public health

Data coverage

SOC code 1171

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 64,000

Median Salary

£55,879

Mean Salary

£64,796

Jobs (000s)

64k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £41,104Median: £55,879P75: £74,300

P10: £23kP25: £41kMedian: £56kP75: £74kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£22,820

0-2 years

Mid Level

£41,104

3-7 years

Senior

£74,300

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +226% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +29.8%Real growth: -5.9%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 6.7%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£55,879

Full-time Only

£61,573

Full-time premium: +£5,694

Health services and public health managers and directors salary: common questions

How much do health services and public health managers and directors earn in the UK?

Health services and public health managers and directors earn a median of £61,573 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £41,104 and £74,300.

Is £61,573 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for health services and public health managers and directors?

Entry-level health services and public health managers and directors typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £41,104, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £22,820.

Have health services and public health managers and directors salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median health services and public health managers and directors pay has risen from £45,425 to £61,573 — +36% in cash terms, or -2.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for health services and public health managers and directors?

Male health services and public health managers and directors earn a median £58,272 and female health services and public health managers and directors £54,394 — a gap of +7.0% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).