Production managers and directors in manufacturing salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£52,885
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 88% of Production managers work full-time
- 15% are self-employed
- 98.9% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Production managers and directors in manufacturing pay in the UK
The typical production managers and directors in manufacturing in the UK earns a median salary of £52,885 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 production managers and directors in manufacturing earnings fall between £33,691 and £79,741 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.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £64,381. 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 production managers and directors in manufacturing actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 15% of Production managers 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: production managers and directors in manufacturing pay ranges from £47,050 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £76,710 in London, a difference of £29,660 (63%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see production managers and directors in manufacturing pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for production managers and directors in manufacturing at £76,710 — 45% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £47,050.
UK median £52,885
| Region | Median payUK median £52,885 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £76,710 | £76,710 | £96,703 | +45% |
| Scotland | £55,752 | £55,752 | £62,831 | +5% |
| South East | £51,847 | £51,847 | £59,063 | -2% |
| East of England | £51,144 | £51,144 | £64,596 | -3% |
| East Midlands | £49,634 | £49,634 | £62,420 | -6% |
| North East | £48,783 | £48,783 | £55,181 | -8% |
| West Midlands | £48,224 | £48,224 | £53,195 | -9% |
| North West | £48,198 | £48,198 | £56,359 | -9% |
| South West | £48,113 | £48,113 | £56,520 | -9% |
| Wales | £47,944 | £47,944 | £51,313 | -9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £47,050 | £47,050 | £51,243 | -11% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £76,710 | £76,710Mean £96,703 | +45% |
| Scotland £55,752 | £55,752Mean £62,831 | +5% |
| South East £51,847 | £51,847Mean £59,063 | -2% |
| East of England £51,144 | £51,144Mean £64,596 | -3% |
| East Midlands £49,634 | £49,634Mean £62,420 | -6% |
| North East £48,783 | £48,783Mean £55,181 | -8% |
| West Midlands £48,224 | £48,224Mean £53,195 | -9% |
| North West £48,198 | £48,198Mean £56,359 | -9% |
| South West £48,113 | £48,113Mean £56,520 | -9% |
| Wales £47,944 | £47,944Mean £51,313 | -9% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £47,050 | £47,050Mean £51,243 | -11% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£52,885); ‘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 production managers and directors in manufacturing pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow production managers and directors in manufacturing pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for production managers and directors in manufacturing by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Related roles in Production Managers and Directors
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →