SOC 4122 Administrative occupations

Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks Salary

Median salary £27,743 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £28,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks, £31,560 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -19% versus the national average. Experienced book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks (top 25%) earn over £35,464.

About this role

Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks maintain financial records, process payroll and ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. They handle PAYE, pension contributions, statutory payments and financial record-keeping.

Key responsibilities

Processing payroll and ensuring accurate employee payments
Managing PAYE, NIC and pension contributions
Maintaining financial records and ledgers
Processing statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP)
Preparing and submitting RTI returns to HMRC

Qualifications and entry routes

AAT qualification is the standard for bookkeepers. CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) qualification for payroll specialists. ICB and IAB qualifications are also recognised.

Career outlook

Payroll professionals remain in demand despite automation. Pension and employment tax complexity sustains need for skilled practitioners.

Key skills

Payroll processing PAYE legislation Accounting software Pension auto-enrolment Attention to accuracy

Common industries

All sectors
Payroll bureaux
Accounting firms
SMEs
Public sector

Data coverage

SOC code 4122

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 272,000

Median Salary

£27,743

Mean Salary

£28,200

Jobs (000s)

272k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £10kP25: £19kMedian: £28kP75: £35kP90: £46k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£10,000

0-2 years

Mid Level

£19,148

3-7 years

Senior

£35,464

8-15 years

Leadership

£45,998

15+ years

Potential career growth: +360% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +44.3%Real growth: +4.6%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 12.6%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£27,743

Full-time Only

£31,560

Full-time premium: +£3,817

Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks salary: common questions

How much do book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks earn in the UK?

Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks earn a median of £31,560 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £19,148 and £35,464.

Is £31,560 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks?

Entry-level book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £19,148, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £10,000.

How much do the highest-paid book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks earn?

The best-paid 10% of book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks earn over £45,998 a year, and the top 25% over £35,464 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks pay has risen from £23,167 to £31,560 — +36% in cash terms, or -1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks?

Male book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks earn a median £30,319 and female book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks £26,484 — a gap of +13% in 2025.

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