Publicans and managers of licensed premises salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£37,427
Employment patterns
- 89% of Publicans work full-time
- 29% are self-employed
- 99.6% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Publicans and managers of licensed premises pay in the UK
The typical publicans and managers of licensed premises in the UK earns a median salary of £37,427 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 mean (average) salary is higher, at £39,795. 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 publicans and managers of licensed premises actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 29% of Publicans 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: publicans and managers of licensed premises pay ranges from £18,044 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £37,909 in London, a difference of £19,865 (110%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see publicans and managers of licensed premises pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for publicans and managers of licensed premises at £37,909 — 1% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £18,044.
UK median £37,427
| Region | Median payUK median £37,427 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £37,909 | £37,909 | £38,324 | +1% |
| West Midlands | £36,823 | £36,823 | £36,801 | -2% |
| East of England | £35,136 | £35,136 | £33,625 | -6% |
| North West | £34,753 | £34,753 | £36,139 | -7% |
| South East | £28,907 | £28,907 | £35,953 | -23% |
| Scotland | £19,857 | £19,857 | £22,150 | -47% |
| North East | £18,083 | £18,083 | £18,950 | -52% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £18,044 | £18,044 | £18,999 | -52% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £37,909 | £37,909Mean £38,324 | +1% |
| West Midlands £36,823 | £36,823Mean £36,801 | -2% |
| East of England £35,136 | £35,136Mean £33,625 | -6% |
| North West £34,753 | £34,753Mean £36,139 | -7% |
| South East £28,907 | £28,907Mean £35,953 | -23% |
| Scotland £19,857 | £19,857Mean £22,150 | -47% |
| North East £18,083 | £18,083Mean £18,950 | -52% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £18,044 | £18,044Mean £18,999 | -52% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£37,427); ‘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 publicans and managers of licensed premises pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow publicans and managers of licensed premises pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for publicans and managers of licensed premises 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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