More hospitality workers are earning under £30k this year than they were last year with nearly half of all employees (46%) earning this amount – full-time and part-time - compared with 37% in 2024, and 30% in 2023, according to the results of a major new salary survey.
The UK’s Largest Hospitality Salary Survey 2025, created by Hospitality Jobs UK and KAM Insights in partnership with the Access Group, surveyed over 500 hospitality workers across a range of roles and seniority levels.
Some 82% of respondents work full-time in the sector with 67% of those earning under £30k. Employees earning under £30k were more likely to be in their early career, although the survey reveals an increase in those with five to seven years’ experience earning £30k as well as a higher number in the 45+ age bracket.
While average salaries across various sectors of hospitality have gone down, with the exception of contract catering, the Salary Survey reports a less contented hospitality workforce than it did last year with more people being asked to work longer hours - 22% of respondents said they worked 16 hours or more over their contracted hours, compared with 16% who did so last year, although slightly more employees are being paid for those additional hours (41%) compared with last year (38%).
Overall employee satisfaction is down, according to the survey, with 74% of employees prepared to recommend a career in hospitality compared with 82% in 2024 and fewer employees considering they have a good work/life balance with 56% saying they did, down from 59% last year.
“This year’s Salary Survey paints a concerning picture for the hospitality sector,” commented Anthony Tattersall, general manager of hospitality at Access.
“It highlights that employees are facing increased challenges, with many key results moving in a negative direction compared to previous years. While this is disappointing, it’s not entirely unexpected. The sector is under immense pressure, especially with impending changes to National Insurance Contributions and the Minimum Wage.”
However, the percentage of respondents who think they’ll still be working for the same company in 12 months’ time has stayed relatively stable at 60%, compared with 62% in 2024, which suggests that few are planning a job move. The survey also reveals that compared with last year employees are placing a higher importance on working with great people as the main thing to keep them in their role, followed by a supportive management team.
The importance of training was also highlighted, with 35% of respondents saying they received some training but didn’t consider it enough to help them feel confident in their role, although the use of technology was seen as a positive in the work environment with 49% saying it improved their job satisfaction and 66% reporting that technology had made their daily tasks easier, or much easier.
When it comes to AI in the workplace, the majority (41%) of respondents viewed it as a helpful tool in their job.
“In this environment, it’s understandable that employee satisfaction may not be top priority as operators wrestle with how to manage costs, but a happy and well-trained workforce is undeniably more productive and are also more likely to stay, reducing costly staff turnover. The survey also demonstrates that hospitality has people and camaraderie at its core which keeps employees engaged and enjoying their work while a positive attitude to the role technology, and particularly AI, is playing demonstrates a progressive industry that’s moving with the times,” added Tattersall.
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