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Career path · United Kingdom

HR Director: career path and pay in the UK

Where a HR Director goes next, what each step typically pays in the United Kingdom, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from HR Director to CHRO / Chief People Officer.

Also for the United States: HR Director in the US

The path

Step 1 · 8 to 12 years

HR Director

Low · 24%

£95K to £140K

Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.

What this step adds

HR strategyTeam leadershipOrganizational developmentExecutive partnershipChange management

Credentials that help: SHRM-SCP - US, SPHR - US, CIPD Level 7 - UK/EU.

Step 2 · 12 to 15 years

VP of Human Resources

Low · 24%

£110K to £170K

Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.

What this step adds

Executive leadershipHR strategyTalent strategyOrganizational transformationBoard relations

Credentials that help: SHRM-SCP - US, SPHR - US, CIPD Level 7 - UK/EU, CIPD Chartered Member - UK/EU.

Step 3 · 15+ years

CHRO / Chief People Officer

Low · 24%

£125K to £190K

Typical UK pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.

What this step adds

C-suite leadershipPeople strategyCulture transformationInvestor relationsGlobal HR

Credentials that help: SHRM-SCP - US, SPHR - US, CIPD Level 7 - UK/EU, CIPD Chartered Fellow - UK/EU.

Exposure and pay along the path

Exposure to AI, now to later

24% → 24%

Stays level across the path. Lower is better.

Typical pay, now to later

£95K to £140K → £125K to £190K

UK estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale UK.

What the work involves

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

Skills that matter most

  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • English Language
  • Administration and Management
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training
  • Law and Government

Education people bring

  • Bachelor's Degree: 82%
  • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: 9%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate: 5%

Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Other paths from here

More HR paths in the UK

Related occupations in O*NET: Human Resources Specialists, Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping, Management Analysts, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, Labor Relations Specialists.

Your own role

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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale UK, UK national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0

Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor UK, Indeed UK and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to £5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.