HR director pay has grown at a faster rate than most other roles in HR, research has revealed.
The median salary for HR directors grew by 20.9% between 2024 and 2025, according to research published on Friday (28 March) by pay and employment research organisation, Incomes Data Research.
The median salary for HR directors was £111,982 in 2024 but increased to £135,381 in 2025.
Pay for more junior HR roles grew at a slower pace, the research findings have shown. The median salary for HR advisors increased by 1.5% between 2024 and 2025, from £40,303 to £40,902.
The median salary for HR assistants broadly stayed the same between 2024 and 2025, with £25,000 remaining the median salary.
The previous year, between 2023 and 2024, the median pay for HR directors also increased, with HRDs receiving a 12% increase in pay. The pay for HR advisors increased 8% between 2023 and 2024.
Researchers from Incomes Data Research also investigated the state of recruitment and retention in the HR sector. Where recruitment difficulties exist, they were linked to senior HR roles: 17% of respondents reported that recruiting HR directors was ‘very difficult’.
This research finding reflected what Chris Goulding, managing director of HR recruitment firm Wade Macdonald, saw in his firm’s own research.
Speaking to HR magazine, Goulding said: “Incomes Data Research’s finding that the recruitment of HR directors is 'very difficult' strongly reflects what we’re seeing at Wade Macdonald. Our own Routes to the Top report revealed just how much the HR profession has evolved. The modern HR director is no longer simply an operational leader, they are a strategic partner, responsible for navigating complex business change, leading on culture, and driving transformation.
“We also know from our report that up to 40% of current HR leaders are planning to step away from their roles in the next five years, with many considering retirement, consultancy, or a move out of HR altogether. That shift will only add more pressure on organisations to identify and develop future-ready HR leaders now."
