Managers and directors in the creative industries salary in London
Full-time average annual pay in London
£55,545
Based on ~9,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£55,545
Mean
£67,236
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £55,545 |
| Mean | £67,236 |
The pay range is withheld at region level for this role. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£44,900
Employment patterns
- 86% of Managers work full-time
- 29% are self-employed
- 97.1% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Managers and directors in the creative industries pay in London
The typical managers and directors in the creative industries in London earns a median salary of £55,545 in 2025/26, based on around 9,000 employees — 9.2% (£4,677) above the UK-wide median of £50,868. 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.
Across the UK, London ranks 2nd of 11 regions for managers and directors in the creative industries pay. Regional medians run from £33,914 in East Midlands up to £66,195 in West Midlands, a spread of £32,281 (95%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £67,236. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical managers and directors in the creative industries in London actually earns.
To see what £55,545 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £4,629 | £55,545 |
| Income tax | £804 | £9,650 |
| National Insurance | £260 | £3,122 |
| Take-home pay | £3,564 | £42,774 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Managers and directors in the creative industries pay varies by region
West Midlands is the highest-paying region for managers and directors in the creative industries at £66,195 — 30% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £33,914.
UK median £50,868
| Region | Median payUK median £50,868 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £66,195 | £66,195 | £73,967 | +30% |
| London (current region) | £55,545 | £55,545 | £67,236 | +9% |
| Scotland | £48,046 | £48,046 | £55,467 | -6% |
| East of England | £44,165 | £44,165 | £55,661 | -13% |
| South East | £42,469 | £42,469 | £49,489 | -17% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £40,718 | £40,718 | £49,611 | -20% |
| North West | £39,718 | £39,718 | £48,799 | -22% |
| North East | £39,176 | £39,176 | £45,909 | -23% |
| Wales | £39,173 | £39,173 | £40,389 | -23% |
| South West | £35,174 | £35,174 | £41,405 | -31% |
| East Midlands | £33,914 | £33,914 | £37,559 | -33% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands £66,195 | £66,195Mean £73,967 | +30% |
| London (current region) £55,545 | £55,545Mean £67,236 | +9% |
| Scotland £48,046 | £48,046Mean £55,467 | -6% |
| East of England £44,165 | £44,165Mean £55,661 | -13% |
| South East £42,469 | £42,469Mean £49,489 | -17% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £40,718 | £40,718Mean £49,611 | -20% |
| North West £39,718 | £39,718Mean £48,799 | -22% |
| North East £39,176 | £39,176Mean £45,909 | -23% |
| Wales £39,173 | £39,173Mean £40,389 | -23% |
| South West £35,174 | £35,174Mean £41,405 | -31% |
| East Midlands £33,914 | £33,914Mean £37,559 | -33% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£50,868); ‘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.
How managers and directors in the creative industries pay in London has changed over time
Median annual pay for managers and directors in the creative industries in London by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
London median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
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