SOC 1224 Other managers and proprietors

Leisure and sports managers Salary

Median salary £33,342 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £33,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For leisure and sports managers, £36,026 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -8.0% versus the national average. Experienced leisure and sports managers (top 25%) earn over £41,872.

About this role

Leisure and sports managers manage hospitality, leisure or catering operations. They oversee service delivery, staffing, food safety, customer experience and commercial performance within hotels, restaurants, leisure venues or catering companies.

Key responsibilities

Managing day-to-day hospitality or leisure operations
Ensuring high standards of customer service and experience
Overseeing food safety, hygiene and health and safety compliance
Managing budgets, pricing and revenue targets
Recruiting, training and leading service teams

Qualifications and entry routes

Significant hospitality or leisure industry experience is essential. A degree in hospitality management or business is common. Professional qualifications in food safety (Level 4) and licensing are typical.

Career outlook

Sector faces ongoing staffing challenges. Experienced managers with strong commercial skills are in demand, particularly in premium and boutique segments.

Key skills

Customer service excellence Revenue management Food safety and hygiene Team leadership Operations management

Common industries

Hotels
Restaurants
Events and conferences
Leisure and recreation
Contract catering

Data coverage

SOC code 1224

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 32,000

Median Salary

£33,342

Mean Salary

£34,797

Jobs (000s)

32k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £25,384Median: £33,342P75: £41,872

P10: £19kP25: £25kMedian: £33kP75: £42kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£19,304

0-2 years

Mid Level

£25,384

3-7 years

Senior

£41,872

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +117% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +25.8%Real growth: -8.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 13.3%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£33,342

Full-time Only

£36,026

Full-time premium: +£2,684

Leisure and sports managers salary: common questions

How much do leisure and sports managers earn in the UK?

Leisure and sports managers earn a median of £36,026 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £25,384 and £41,872.

Is £36,026 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for leisure and sports managers?

Entry-level leisure and sports managers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £25,384, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £19,304.

Have leisure and sports managers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median leisure and sports managers pay has risen from £28,168 to £36,026 — +28% in cash terms, or -7.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for leisure and sports managers?

Male leisure and sports managers earn a median £34,997 and female leisure and sports managers £30,341 — a gap of +13% in 2025.

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