SOC 3571 Business and public service associate professionals

Human resources and industrial relations officers Salary

Median salary £33,012 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 human resources and industrial relations officers, £35,194 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -10% versus the national average. Experienced human resources and industrial relations officers (top 25%) earn over £42,406.

About this role

Human resources and industrial relations officers (2020 SOC) manage people processes including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and policy development, advising line managers and ensuring compliance with employment legislation.

Key responsibilities

Managing end-to-end recruitment processes
Advising on disciplinary, grievance and capability procedures
Supporting performance management and appraisal processes
Maintaining HR records and producing people metrics
Contributing to policy development and employee engagement

Qualifications and entry routes

CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is the standard professional qualification. Degrees in HR management, business or psychology are common. Employment law knowledge is essential.

Career outlook

Demand steady across all sectors. People analytics, employee experience and organisational development are growing areas of focus.

Key skills

Employment law Recruitment and selection Employee relations case management Data analysis Interpersonal skills

Common industries

All sectors
Professional services
NHS
Education
Local government

Data coverage

SOC code 3571

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 138,000

Median Salary

£33,012

Mean Salary

£37,272

Jobs (000s)

138k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £27,273Median: £33,012P75: £42,406

P10: £21kP25: £27kMedian: £33kP75: £42kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£20,625

0-2 years

Mid Level

£27,273

3-7 years

Senior

£42,406

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +106% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +23.6%Real growth: -10.4%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 12.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£33,012

Full-time Only

£35,194

Full-time premium: +£2,182

Human resources and industrial relations officers salary: common questions

How much do human resources and industrial relations officers earn in the UK?

Human resources and industrial relations officers earn a median of £35,194 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £27,273 and £42,406.

Is £35,194 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for human resources and industrial relations officers?

Entry-level human resources and industrial relations officers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £27,273, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £20,625.

Have human resources and industrial relations officers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median human resources and industrial relations officers pay has risen from £27,956 to £35,194 — +26% in cash terms, or -9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for human resources and industrial relations officers?

Male human resources and industrial relations officers earn a median £36,726 and female human resources and industrial relations officers £32,133 — a gap of +13% in 2025.

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