Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£27,743
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 68% of Book work full-time
- 10% are self-employed
- 95.7% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks pay in the UK
The typical book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks in the UK earns a median salary of £27,743 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks earnings fall between £19,148 and £35,464 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Only 68% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks pay ranges from £25,037 in Wales up to £33,217 in London, a difference of £8,180 (33%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks at £33,217 — 20% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £25,037.
UK median £27,743
| Region | Median payUK median £27,743 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £33,217 | £33,217 | £34,124 | +20% |
| North East | £28,245 | £28,245 | £28,871 | +2% |
| West Midlands | £27,848 | £27,848 | £28,323 | ±0% |
| Scotland | £27,451 | £27,451 | £29,207 | -1% |
| South East | £27,031 | £27,031 | £27,815 | -3% |
| North West | £26,923 | £26,923 | £29,411 | -3% |
| East of England | £26,802 | £26,802 | £26,519 | -3% |
| South West | £26,234 | £26,234 | £25,854 | -5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £25,692 | £25,692 | £25,366 | -7% |
| East Midlands | £25,187 | £25,187 | £24,163 | -9% |
| Wales | £25,037 | £25,037 | £26,568 | -10% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £33,217 | £33,217Mean £34,124 | +20% |
| North East £28,245 | £28,245Mean £28,871 | +2% |
| West Midlands £27,848 | £27,848Mean £28,323 | ±0% |
| Scotland £27,451 | £27,451Mean £29,207 | -1% |
| South East £27,031 | £27,031Mean £27,815 | -3% |
| North West £26,923 | £26,923Mean £29,411 | -3% |
| East of England £26,802 | £26,802Mean £26,519 | -3% |
| South West £26,234 | £26,234Mean £25,854 | -5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £25,692 | £25,692Mean £25,366 | -7% |
| East Midlands £25,187 | £25,187Mean £24,163 | -9% |
| Wales £25,037 | £25,037Mean £26,568 | -10% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£27,743); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Related roles in Administrative Occupations: Finance
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →