Higher Education Professional Services Salary Guide: Average Pay by Job Title
Real salary data across 10 professional services areas in UK higher education.
If you’re considering your next move in higher education, understanding what roles actually pay is essential. Based on Burman’s own placement data, here’s a breakdown of average salaries across key professional services areas in UK higher education.
Digital Transformation & Business Change – £57,201
The highest-paying area in the data. Lead Business Analysts average £62,908, Business Project Managers £58,055, and Change Managers £50,641. As universities invest in transformation programmes, when budgets allow, experienced change professionals command a premium.
IT Infrastructure – £51,011
Infrastructure Engineers average £51,963 and IT Infrastructure Engineers £51,500, with Senior Network Engineers close behind at £49,571. Demand for reliable IT infrastructure remains consistent even in financially stretched institutions.
Data / BI / MIS – £50,658
A growing area across the sector. Senior Technical Business Analysts average £61,059, BI Analyst Developers £49,571, and Data Analysts £41,343. The spread reflects how significantly experience and specialism affect earning potential in this space.
Project & Programme Management – £49,883
Programme Managers average £55,000, Project Managers £49,706, and PMO Analysts £44,943. As institutions manage restructuring and change programmes, project management skills remain in consistent demand.
Student Systems / SITS / VLE – £46,351
SITS Technical Managers average £52,075, Student Systems Analysts £44,000, and Student Records System Development Analysts £42,978. Niche but stable, SITS experience in particular remains a sought-after skill across UK universities.
Estates & Facilities – £47,514
Estates Managers average £50,742, Estates Project Managers £48,800, and Facilities Managers £43,000. A function that rarely disappears regardless of financial pressure.
Finance & Procurement – £47,266
Senior Finance Business Partners average £57,176, Finance Business Partners £48,800, and Management Accountants £35,823. The wide range reflects how seniority significantly shapes earning potential in HE finance.
HR – £45,932
Senior HR Business Partners average £53,678, HR Business Partners £49,395, and HR Officers £34,723. As institutions navigate restructuring and redundancy processes, experienced HR professionals are under increasing pressure, and demand.
Academic Data & Planning – £42,000
Planning Analysts average £45,000, Academic Data Analysts £43,000, and Data & Registry Officers £38,000. A specialist area that sits at the intersection of data and institutional strategy.
Registry & Student Services – £38,556
The widest salary range in our data. Student Records Managers average £53,282, while Course Administration Officers average £33,844 and Student Records Senior Assistants £28,543. Entry-level roles in this area represent some of the lowest salaries across professional services.
Looking for your next role in higher education professional services? Browse current opportunities at burmanrecruitment.com.
