UK L&D Salaries: How Much Can You Earn in L&D?

Let’s face it.

There’s one question whose answer can often be a deal breaker in terms of whether you decide to pursue – or develop – a career in a particular area.

‘How much does it pay?’

There are a huge range of jobs that are available in the profession, so salaries naturally vary based on the specific role in question and its seniority. We did some research (which we’ve drawn from the Hays 2023 Salary Guide and other industry recruitment sources, like Indeed) into what you can earn and here’s what we found.

Here’s a run down of some of the most common types of L&D jobs in the UK – and the salaries that they pay!

Learning & Development Assistant Salary

In the UK, the average learning and development assistant salary is around £18,300. In London, the average L&D assistant salary is around £26,600.

This role is responsible for supporting the delivery of job-related training to employees in an organisation. It’s very varied, and you’ll complete a range of tasks to help the day-to-day functioning of the training strategy at your company.

It’s an entry-level position, so you won’t generally need much prior work experience to get this job. That said, having a CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice will really help your chances of securing this role.

Job Description

• Support management in carrying out the organisation’s training strategy
• Provide administrative/ logistics support to the L&D/HR department
• Be a point of contact for L&D in the organisation
• Manage an email inbox and respond to correspondence

Learning & Development Coordinator Salary

In the UK, the average learning and development coordinator salary is around £25,800. In London, the average L&D coordinator salary is around £29,600.

The Learning & Development coordinator is responsible for managing the delivery of training activities and projects at an organisation. You’ll take an active role in organising, implementing and reviewing new training programmes.

Job Description

• Support management in carrying out the organisation’s training strategy
• Organise the delivery of training events, courses and projects
• Provide wider administrative/logistics support to the L&D/HR department
• Research potential training providers, courses and qualifications

Learning & Development Officer Salary

In the UK, the average learning and development officer salary is around £26,500. In London, the average L&D officer salary is around £28,000.

This role is directly responsible for identifying the training and development needs of an organisation and helping to devise a strategy to meet them. They might also be required to deliver the training themselves, depending on what it is.

The L&D Officer is an intermediate position, so you’ll usually need some prior experience of the profession, plus a qualification like the CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development.

Job Description

• Help to identify the specific training needs of an organisation
• Help to create a strategy to improve skills and development
• Research, and liaise with, external training providers
• Provide wider administrative/ logistics support to the L&D/HR department
• Research potential training providers, courses and qualifications

Learning & Development Specialist Salary

In the UK, the average learning and development specialist salary is around £31,800. In London, the average L&D specialist salary is around £46,000.

The Learning & Development Specialist is usually responsible for devising, implementing and leading on the delivery of a learning and training strategy at an organisation.

It’s an experienced intermediate role, which usually calls for several years of work experience and significant evidence of professional education such as the CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development.

Job Description

• Lead on identifying the training requirements of an organisation
• Lead on delivering the training and employee development
• Liaise with department and senior management about the implementation of the wider business strategy
• Coaching line managers to help support employee learning and development

L&D Business Partner Salary

In the UK, the average learning and development business partner salary is around £55,000. In London, the average L&D business partner salary is around £65,000.

This role is focused on making sure that the learning and development strategy at an organisation is contributing to improved performance. They generally are responsible for ensuring that the learning at a company is aligned with its wider goals and targets, and, as a result, suggest more effective and efficient ways for senior management to implement strategy.

You’ll normally need at least a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development to qualify for this role, and a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development would be preferred.

Job Description

• Ensure that the implementation of organisation’s L&D strategy is aligned with its goals
• Identify areas for improved performance and efficiency
• Lead on delivering the training and employee development
• Mentor management on how to deliver and support training and learning

Learning & Development Manager Salary

In the UK, the average learning and development manager salary is around £50,000. In London, the average L&D manager salary is around £70,000.

The Learning & Development Manager is a senior intermediate role. Mainly generalist, rather than specialised, a learning and development manager will be responsible for managing the general implementation of learning and development in a company, managing a team of employees and liaising with the head of department and senior management.

Most L&D Managers will have completed the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development.

Job Description

• Contribute to devising, developing and implementing a learning strategy at an organisation
• Managing a team of L&D professionals to deliver the strategy
• Mentoring management to deliver the learning programme
• Managing allocated budgets and liaising with internal and external stakeholders

Head of Learning & Development Salary

In the UK, the average head of learning and development salary is around £70,000. In London, the average head of L&D salary is around £95,000.

The Head of Learning & Development is one of the most senior positions that you’ll be able to rise to in a learning and development department. It requires significant professional experience and advanced education such as the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic L&D.

In larger organisations, the Head of L&D will work closely with the Director of Learning & Development to ensure that the L&D strategy is implemented successfully. In smaller organisations, Head of L&D may be the most senior L&D role, and as such will be in charge of developing the strategy too.

Job Description

• Assist the L&D Director in devising a learning & development strategy
• Manage and monitor the department budget
• Liaise and negotiate with external learning providers
• Manage a team of L&D professionals

Director of Learning & Development Salary

In the UK, the average director of learning and development salary is around £80,000. In London, the average L&D director salary is around £94,000.

Generally the most senior role in the learning and development sector, the director of learning & development is ultimately responsible for every aspect of the implementation of an L&D strategy at an organisation.

You’ll have final say on the direction of your learning and development strategy and you’ll also be the main point of contact between the L&D department and senior management/the board.

You’ll probably need at least a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development to qualify for the role, as well as significant industry work experience.

Job Description

• Develop and drive the implementation of a learning and development strategy
• Support L&D managers to better deliver support and
• Devise, set and monitor budgets
• Provide reporting on the implementation of a L&D strategy
• Liaise with board members and senior management

Did you find the salary and corresponding role you were looking for? We hope that you have a better idea of how much you can earn in the L&D profession – and whether L&D is right for you!

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