Banner Default Image

Human Resources salaries


Over in the world of human resources we’ve seen a small uplift in salaries since last year, but nothing that should surprise HR professionals.

In most organisations after all, other people’s salaries tend to fall into the rather large category of ‘Things That Only HR (And Whoever Does Payroll) Know’, so we sense they’d be aware of any major shifts already.

However what we can confirm is an increase in demand for Learning & Development professionals, driven by demand from junior HR staff keen to study for their CIPD qualification.


The learning curve

In a field where many staff are qualified by virtue of experience, but far fewer by official accreditation, CIPD qualification is a clear way for candidates to set themselves apart from the pack, and is almost invariably required for more senior positions. Hence the demand. 

But studying while working isn’t easy and doesn’t come cheap, so we meet plenty of candidates who are looking for employers to sponsor their studies. For charities, offering sponsorship is an upfront cost of course, but since (almost by definition) it tends to attract the most motivated and capable individuals, it’s a strategy that can readily pay for itself over time.

Meanwhile demand for HR Business Partners remains high, with a slight increase in turnover too; people who can bridge the gap between HR and everyday operations, getting everyone’s buy-in and making sure HR is helping (not hindering) the organisation in achieving its aims.​











 How have we defined small, medium and large charities? Click here for details.

Processes and professionalisation

Business partners are also likely to have played a role in HR processes becoming increasingly robust, often borrowing best practice from the commercial world to put clearer policies and procedures in place. 

For example, as a charity employee in 2019 you’re considerably more likely than your predecessors to have official processes for things like requesting a pay review, or booking time off. Not everyone’s a fan of course, but it’s generally considered a step forward from the ‘trying to catch Carol in a good mood on Friday’ approach that it’s often replaced.

Clued up on compensation

As recruiters, we naturally work with HR contacts on a daily basis, and our experience - perhaps encouragingly for their organisations - is that most are supremely on the ball when it comes to pay and benefits. 

Knowing that they can’t match commercial salaries, charity HR people typically understand the value of other benefits very well, being well-versed in what they can offer, what’s working elsewhere and what people are looking for. 

All of which means those requests for flexible working rarely go unheard, but remember that granting them may well be at the mercy of a hiring manager who may have different views, and who will often have the final say. 



Contact your specialist consultant

If you'd like to know more about the charity HR market, discuss recruitment requirements or potential career opportunities, why not talk to our specialist?


Human Resources

Rishi Raja

020 7820 7322 • Email Rishi






Download the full 24-page 2019 Salary Report


Welcome and introduction 

Summary and market trends 

Fundraising ►

Marketing, PR & Digital ►

Business Services ►

Policy, Advocacy & Campaigns ►

Finance ►

Human Resources ►

Projects & Programmes ►

Temporary & Interim ►

Executive salaries ►

Candidate insights ►

Career shifters ►

Regional updates ►

Methodology & FAQ ►






  • Blank
  • Blank
  • Blank
Blogthumb Final

Thinking of temping? Here’s what to consider…

Temping offers flexibility, variety and a chance to boost your CV - but is it right for you?​ Hear from current Harris Hill temps as freelance writer and guest blogger Nicola Greenbrook explores...Do you ever catch yourself gazing out of the window, dreaming about a work life that breaks away from the conventional nine-to-five? Are you someone with multiple interests and many interconnecting ca...

Read more
Blog Thumb 2

Celebrating UK charity jobs for UK Charity Week 2023!

It's UK Charity Week 2023, so join us for a whirlwind festive tour of some of the best opportunities with charities around the country!​Yes, even though it feels about 30 seconds since you bundled last year’s decorations into an overstuffed box in the loft*, it’s December already, which means it’s time to get them down but more importantly, time for UK Charity Week 2023, celebrating the brillia...

Read more
B Corp Blogthumb Final

Harris Hill is now a Certified B Corporation

We're delighted to share the news that Harris Hill is now B Corp Certified! It makes us part of a global community of businesses meeting high standards of social and environmental impact, accountability and transparency, and leading the transformation of the global economic system. That's a big ambition, but at the simplest level, being certified is recognition that we're here for the right rea...

Read more
Blogthumb 2

Access all areas: how to use the Recite Me toolbar

As part of our diversity and inclusion strategy, the Harris Hill website now features the award-winning Recite Me assistive toolbar, providing a wide range of accessibility and language support tools for a more inclusive online experience. Here’s an overview of the benefits and how to use it.​There’s a lot to look out for when you’re searching for a new job online. In most cases, you'll actual...

Read more
Blogthumb

Meet the 2023 Charity Softball finalists!

​Landing just ahead of the big day and 20th anniversary celebrations, meet the teams playing for glory in the 2023 Charity Softball League!Like any other year, 2003 gave the world some things we’d rather it hadn’t - war in Iraq, the SARS outbreak, the Black Eyed Peas – but over the course of that long hot summer, it also gave us (courtesy of founding father Leo Visconti) something we’re very gl...

Read more
Finance Blog Thumb

2023 Salary Survey: finance market trends

They’re certainly earning their keep in these financially-challenging times, but are charity finance professionals securing higher salaries and what’s happening in the market? Here’s what our finance experts have to say on the subject, updated from our 2023 Salary Survey, which you can view or download below for all the figures.​​​​​​Finance market trendsTo the world of charity finance now, whe...

Read more
Blogthumb Final2

How to secure new talent (without spending a fortune)

Candidate scarcity and high inflation have made securing new staff more challenging (and expensive) than ever, but there ARE ways to improve your hiring prospects that needn't cost a thing...(updated and extended from the 2023 Harris Hill Salary Survey)Beyond the world of marketing, where they grow on carefully-branded trees, our 2023 Salary Survey finds candidates in short supply and high dema...

Read more
Temps Blog Thumb

Considering hiring a temp? Here’s what you need to know…

​Hiring temps is a flexible and cost-effective way to fill gaps and bring in extra resource or skills, but if you haven't before, where should you start and what are the benefits? Freelance writer and HR specialist Nicola Greenbrook talks us through everything you need to know.What is a temp?A temporary agency worker or ‘temp’ differs from a permanent member of staff as, rather than being direc...

Read more