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UK Payroll Salaries: Where 2025/26 Stands
93% of payroll professionals who had a salary review in the past year received an increase.
Advertised pay has cooled in the South (down around 7% on average, and by as much as 14% for some roles) and in London (down around 5%), while the North has moved the other way, up by roughly 8% on average and by up to 19% in some roles. In 2024, location alone could account for a pay gap of £10,000 or more for the same role; today that gap has narrowed to around £2,000–£4,000, as skills and responsibility count for more than postcode.
Average Salaries across the UK
Average Payroll Specialist salaries across London, the South and the North, from 2022 to 2025. London continues to lead the market, reaching an average of £44,000 in 2025, while the South has eased back after peaking in 2024. The North has been the most consistent riser, closing the gap on the rest of the UK as demand for payroll expertise grows outside the traditional South East hubs.
Average Payroll Specialist salaries by region, from our 2025/26 Salary Guide. London Central & Greater London remains the highest-paying region at £44,000 on average, while Yorkshire & Humber sits lowest at £31,000. Outside London, most regions now sit within a few thousand pounds of each other — a sign of just how much the regional pay gap has closed over the past year.
Payroll Satisfaction
Salary reviews continue to shape how payroll professionals feel about their pay. Half of respondents had a review within the last six months, and of those who had one, 93% came away with an increase — most commonly driven by the cost of living rather than performance or promotion. Even so, overall satisfaction has softened: only around a fifth of professionals rate their current salary a full five out of five, and 16% say they've never had a review at all.
For employers, the takeaway is straightforward: regular, transparent salary reviews remain one of the most effective ways to protect retention in a market where payroll professionals have no shortage of other options.
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