Discover how to stay competitive in the UK job market with Reed’s 2025 salary and benefits guides. Covering 10 key industries, these guides provide a comprehensive analysis of average UK salaries, benefits trends, and regional variations. Whether you’re an employer benchmarking pay to attract top talent or a professional evaluating your earning potential, our guides are the ultimate resource to help you succeed this year.
With data from 21 million jobs posted on Reed.co.uk since 2016, these guides offer invaluable insights into the evolving labour market and help you make data-driven decisions about pay and benefits.
Why salaries and benefits matter more than ever in 2025
The UK workforce is under pressure, with economic and societal challenges impacting hiring and retention. Over nine million people remain economically inactive, with only two-thirds of the working-age population employed. This creates a unique challenge for employers looking to secure top talent while retaining their current workforce.
As businesses adapt to these challenges, it’s critical to focus on both recruitment and retention strategies. Offering competitive salaries and benefits not only attracts talent but also ensures your best people remain engaged and committed. Reed’s salary guides are here to help you navigate this complex landscape.
Who can benefit from the 2025 salary guides?
Reed’s 2025 salary guides are tailored for:
Employers: HR managers, hiring specialists, and business leaders seeking accurate salary benchmarking data to build competitive remuneration packages.
Professionals: jobseekers and employees keen to understand their market value and plan their career paths effectively.
With sector-specific data and regional insights, our guides are a must-have resource for anyone navigating the UK job market.
Industries covered in the 2025 salary guides
Our salary and benefits guides span 10 UK industries, offering precise data on salaries, benefits, and hiring trends across a wide range of roles. Sectors include:
From entry-level positions to executive roles, these guides provide the data you need to benchmark salaries accurately.
How employers can use the 2025 salary guides to benchmark pay
In today’s competitive labour market, offering fair and attractive pay is essential. Reed’s salary guides allow employers to:
Compare salaries across roles, regions, and industries to ensure pay is competitive.
Refine benefits offerings based on what employees value most.
Attract top talent with data-driven remuneration packages that stand out in the market.
With nearly 50% of UK professionals dissatisfied with their pay, ensuring your salary offerings are competitive is critical for retention and recruitment success.
Jobseekers: know your worth in 2025
Understanding your earning potential is key to making informed career decisions. The 2025 salary guides help jobseekers:
Evaluate if they’re being paid fairly for their skills and experience.
Plan their next career step by identifying roles and regions with higher earning potential.
Negotiate effectively during job interviews or performance reviews with accurate salary benchmarks.
Whether you’re exploring roles in technology, marketing, or finance, our guides provide the insights you need to maximise your career opportunities.
Key findings from the 2025 salary insights
Reed’s salary guides are informed by data from 21 million jobs and a survey of 5,000 UK professionals conducted in late 2024. Key findings include:
Forty-three per cent of employees work unpaid overtime due to excessive workloads.
Nearly 50% of workers are unhappy with their current salaries.
Fifty-nine per cent of professionals rank salary increases as the top factor in feeling valued by their employers.
Benefits most valued by employees include hybrid working, onsite parking, and paid professional development opportunities.
These insights can help employers shape their benefits packages and ensure salaries remain competitive.
What’s new in the 2025 salary guides?
Reed’s updated annual salary guides include:
Salary projections for 2026 based on current trends and hiring patterns.
Regional analysis for up to 12 UK regions, helping employers and jobseekers understand local variations.
Insights into emerging roles and skills driving demand in key industries.
A visual overview of salary trends and benefit shifts over the past year.
By leveraging these insights, you can make informed decisions about hiring, retention, or career growth.
James Reed’s perspective on the future of work
“To build an economy in which work is accessible, rewarding, and inclusive, we must embrace bold and innovative solutions as employers.
"Work has often been framed as the less desirable side of ‘work-life balance,’ a narrative that discourages engagement. To shift perceptions, we must actively market the many positives of employment - financial independence, personal growth, skill acquisition, and social life and contribution. People should be inspired to see work not as a burden, but as an opportunity to shape their futures and to give their lives added meaning.”
– James Reed, Chairman and CEO, Reed
Why choose Reed’s salary guides for 2025?
Reed’s salary guides are the most trusted benchmarking tools in the UK, offering:
Comprehensive data: insights from over 21 million job postings across 10 industries.
Specialist expertise: analysis and commentary from industry-specific recruitment experts.
Actionable insights: detailed salary and benefits data to help employers and professionals plan effectively.
Regional comparisons: insights into salary variations across UK regions, from London to rural areas.
Make smarter decisions with accurate benchmarking
Whether you’re a business leader crafting a competitive remuneration package or a professional planning your career, Reed’s 2025 salary guides are your trusted resource for salary and benefits benchmarking.
Download our free guides today and stay ahead in the UK job market.
