Project Manager Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Project Manager salary is £55,000 per year. Entry-level: £38,000 · Senior: £100,000. Also known as: Senior Project Manager, Programme Manager, PMO Manager.
UK-wide salary distribution
Project Manager hiring market in the UK
Demand for Project Managers in the UK has been steady — neither contracting nor expanding sharply — with employer hiring tracking broadly in line with replacement need. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £70,400 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Project Manager in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and — for those who pursue it — a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Project Manager salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £53,760 | £70,400 | £96,000 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £48,300 | £63,250 | £86,250 | +15% |
| Oxford | £47,460 | £62,150 | £84,750 | +13% |
| Reading | £47,040 | £61,600 | £84,000 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £45,360 | £59,400 | £81,000 | +8% |
| Bristol | £44,520 | £58,300 | £79,500 | +6% |
| Brighton | £44,100 | £57,750 | £78,750 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £44,100 | £57,750 | £78,750 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £43,680 | £57,200 | £78,000 | +4% |
| Southampton | £43,680 | £57,200 | £78,000 | +4% |
| Manchester | £42,840 | £56,100 | £76,500 | +2% |
| Leeds | £42,000 | £55,000 | £75,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £41,160 | £53,900 | £73,500 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £40,740 | £53,350 | £72,750 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £39,900 | £52,250 | £71,250 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £39,480 | £51,700 | £70,500 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £39,060 | £51,150 | £69,750 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £39,060 | £51,150 | £69,750 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £38,640 | £50,600 | £69,000 | -8% |
| Belfast | £37,800 | £49,500 | £67,500 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Project Manager
£40,862/yr · £786/wk · effective rate 25.7%
| Gross salary | £55,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,750 |
| Income tax | −£8,332 |
| National Insurance | −£3,056 |
| Net take-home | £40,862 |
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Core skills for Project Managers
- PRINCE2
- APM
- Budget management
- Stakeholder management
- Risk management
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Project Manager salary in the UK?
The average UK Project Manager salary is £55,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £42,000 and the upper quartile is £75,000.
Where do Project Managers earn the most in the UK?
Project Managers earn most in London (£70,400 median), followed by Cambridge (£63,250) and Oxford (£62,150). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Project Manager need?
Core skills and qualifications for Project Managers include: PRINCE2, APM, Budget management, Stakeholder management, Risk management. Entry-level roles start at around £38,000; senior positions reach £100,000+.
Is Project Manager a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Project Managers is medium. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.