Risk Manager Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Risk Manager salary is £68,000 per year. Entry-level: £42,000 · Senior: £125,000. Also known as: Credit Risk Manager, Operational Risk Manager, Market Risk Analyst.
UK-wide salary distribution
Risk Manager hiring market in the UK
Demand for Risk 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 £87,040 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 Risk 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.
Risk Manager salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £64,000 | £87,040 | £117,760 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £57,500 | £78,200 | £105,800 | +15% |
| Oxford | £56,500 | £76,840 | £103,960 | +13% |
| Reading | £56,000 | £76,160 | £103,040 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £54,000 | £73,440 | £99,360 | +8% |
| Bristol | £53,000 | £72,080 | £97,520 | +6% |
| Brighton | £52,500 | £71,400 | £96,600 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £52,500 | £71,400 | £96,600 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £52,000 | £70,720 | £95,680 | +4% |
| Southampton | £52,000 | £70,720 | £95,680 | +4% |
| Manchester | £51,000 | £69,360 | £93,840 | +2% |
| Leeds | £50,000 | £68,000 | £92,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £49,000 | £66,640 | £90,160 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £48,500 | £65,960 | £89,240 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £47,500 | £64,600 | £87,400 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £47,000 | £63,920 | £86,480 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £46,500 | £63,240 | £85,560 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £46,500 | £63,240 | £85,560 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £46,000 | £62,560 | £84,640 | -8% |
| Belfast | £45,000 | £61,200 | £82,800 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Risk Manager
£48,025/yr · £924/wk · effective rate 29.4%
| Gross salary | £68,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£3,400 |
| Income tax | −£13,272 |
| National Insurance | −£3,303 |
| Net take-home | £48,025 |
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Core skills for Risk Managers
- Basel III
- VaR
- Stress testing
- SQL
- Python
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Risk Manager salary in the UK?
The average UK Risk Manager salary is £68,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £50,000 and the upper quartile is £92,000.
Where do Risk Managers earn the most in the UK?
Risk Managers earn most in London (£87,040 median), followed by Cambridge (£78,200) and Oxford (£76,840). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Risk Manager need?
Core skills and qualifications for Risk Managers include: Basel III, VaR, Stress testing, SQL, Python. Entry-level roles start at around £42,000; senior positions reach £125,000+.
Is Risk Manager a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Risk 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.