Leisure and sports managers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£33,342
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 84% of Leisure work full-time
- 28% are self-employed
- 93% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Leisure and sports managers pay in the UK
The typical leisure and sports managers in the UK earns a median salary of £33,342 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 leisure and sports managers earnings fall between £25,384 and £41,872 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced leisure and sports managers.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £34,797. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical leisure and sports managers actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 28% of Leisure are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: leisure and sports managers pay ranges from £24,674 in East of England up to £35,634 in West Midlands, a difference of £10,960 (44%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see leisure and sports managers pay in West Midlands or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
West Midlands is the highest-paying region for leisure and sports managers at £35,634 — 7% above the UK median. East of England is lowest at £24,674.
UK median £33,342
| Region | Median payUK median £33,342 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | £35,634 | £35,634 | £36,103 | +7% |
| London | £35,460 | £35,460 | £38,028 | +6% |
| South East | £32,496 | £32,496 | £32,361 | -3% |
| South West | £31,142 | £31,142 | £37,210 | -7% |
| Scotland | £29,808 | £29,808 | £27,839 | -11% |
| Wales | £26,837 | £26,837 | £27,358 | -20% |
| North East | £25,662 | £25,662 | £27,120 | -23% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £25,554 | £25,554 | £27,427 | -23% |
| North West | £25,553 | £25,553 | £28,723 | -23% |
| East of England | £24,674 | £24,674 | £25,727 | -26% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| West Midlands £35,634 | £35,634Mean £36,103 | +7% |
| London £35,460 | £35,460Mean £38,028 | +6% |
| South East £32,496 | £32,496Mean £32,361 | -3% |
| South West £31,142 | £31,142Mean £37,210 | -7% |
| Scotland £29,808 | £29,808Mean £27,839 | -11% |
| Wales £26,837 | £26,837Mean £27,358 | -20% |
| North East £25,662 | £25,662Mean £27,120 | -23% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £25,554 | £25,554Mean £27,427 | -23% |
| North West £25,553 | £25,553Mean £28,723 | -23% |
| East of England £24,674 | £24,674Mean £25,727 | -26% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£33,342); ‘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 leisure and sports managers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow leisure and sports managers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for leisure and sports managers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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