New industry figures show that pay in the UK’s hospitality sector is down more than 10% year-on-year, with pub and bar teams among the hardest hit. Although the steepest decline overall was seen in the hotel sector, average salaries in the bar/pub/club segment dropped 10%, from £39,193 in 2024 to £35,328 this year.
The UK’s Largest Hospitality Salary Survey 2025, carried out by Hospitality Jobs UK and KAM Insights in partnership with The Access Group, also revealed that front of house staff have seen the biggest drop in earnings across all roles, with average salaries falling 12.5%, from £24,332 to £21,276.
Salaries were down across most hospitality sectors. Hotel and accommodation fell by nearly 17%, fast food, cafés and street food by 13.6%, and full-service restaurants by 7%. Only contract catering reported an increase, up 10%.
The survey also found that staff in the 36–54 age bracket were most affected by salary drops, with average earnings falling by nearly £1,000 year-on-year. By experience level, mid-career and senior employees fared slightly better, but overall, pay was down across the board, except for directors, whose salaries increased, and chefs, which remained stable.
While salary remains the top priority for staff, the survey found that workers also value holiday entitlement, training and development, flexible hours, bonus/tips and mentoring.
“Employers must consider the whole package as increasingly employees are looking for more than just a salary in order to provide them with job satisfaction,” commented Anthony Tattersall, General Manager, Hospitality, at The Access Group. “This year we have seen an increase in the relative importance of bonus/tips and shared parental leave with a decrease in importance of mentoring, dining discounts and counselling.”
The report also suggests that not all benefits are widely used. While training, flexible hours, and team building were popular, fewer employees took up counselling, shared parental leave, subsidised gym memberships or on-site accommodation.
Tattersall added, “Hospitality remains a sector built on people, passion, and adaptability. The industry must now focus on balancing competitive wages with career growth, culture, and innovation. Those who invest in retention strategies, rethink benefits, and embrace technology will emerge stronger, ensuring that hospitality continues to thrive in 2025 and beyond.”
The Salary Survey was conducted in Jan-Feb 2025, with 570 respondents across a range of ages, sectors and job types. You can download the full survey here https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/hospitality/form/resources/salary-survey/