SOC 2132 Science, research, engineering and technology professionals

IT managers Salary

Median salary £55,502 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 it managers, £56,438 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +45% versus the national average. Experienced it managers (top 25%) earn over £73,026.

About this role

IT managers oversee technology teams and operations, managing infrastructure, support services, development capacity and IT service delivery. They translate business requirements into technology solutions, manage vendor relationships and ensure systems meet performance and security standards.

Key responsibilities

Managing IT teams and day-to-day technology operations
Overseeing IT infrastructure, systems and service delivery
Managing IT budgets and vendor/supplier relationships
Ensuring cybersecurity, data protection and business continuity
Implementing technology improvements and managing change

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically requires a degree in IT, computer science or a related field, plus management experience. ITIL, CISSP and cloud certifications (AWS, Azure) are valued. Many progress from technical roles.

Career outlook

Consistent demand across all sectors. Cloud adoption, cybersecurity and AI integration are expanding the scope and complexity of these roles.

Key skills

IT service management Team leadership Vendor management Cybersecurity awareness Budget management

Common industries

All sectors
Technology companies
Financial services
Public sector
Professional services

Data coverage

SOC code 2132

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 213,000

Median Salary

£55,502

Mean Salary

£61,480

Jobs (000s)

213k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £32kP25: £43kMedian: £56kP75: £73kP90: £96k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£31,630

0-2 years

Mid Level

£43,046

3-7 years

Senior

£73,026

8-15 years

Leadership

£95,712

15+ years

Potential career growth: +203% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +18.7%Real growth: -4.0%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 13.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£55,502

Full-time Only

£56,438

Full-time premium: +£936

IT managers salary: common questions

How much do it managers earn in the UK?

IT managers earn a median of £56,438 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £43,046 and £73,026.

Is £56,438 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for it managers?

Entry-level it managers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £43,046, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £31,630.

How much do the highest-paid it managers earn?

The best-paid 10% of it managers earn over £95,712 a year, and the top 25% over £73,026 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have it managers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median it managers pay has risen from £47,282 to £56,438 — +19% in cash terms, or -3.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for it managers?

Male it managers earn a median £57,307 and female it managers £49,756 — a gap of +13% in 2025.

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