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Average Activity Assistant Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

An activity assistant in United Kingdom earns about 23,600 GBP a year. That's 66% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 13,400 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 37,800 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does an activity assistant make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
23,600 GBP
1,966 GBP per month
Lowest reported
13,400 GBP
1,116 GBP per month
Highest reported
37,800 GBP
3,150 GBP per month

A typical activity assistant working in United Kingdom brings home around 1,966 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 13,400 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 37,800 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior activity assistant working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the activity assistant salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How activity assistant pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all activity assistants in United Kingdom earn less than 22,400 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 18,300 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 30,700 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of activity assistants sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 13,400 GBP. The highest stretch to 37,800 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

13,400
Low
22,400
Median
37,800
High
18,300
25th
30,700
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Activity assistant pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for an activity assistant in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical activity assistant salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    12,900 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +41% from previous
    18,200 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +33% from previous
    24,200 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +25% from previous
    30,200 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +17% from previous
    35,300 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    35,000 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 0 - 2 Years to 2 - 5 Years, where pay rises by about 41%. That is the point at which a activity assistant typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Activity assistant pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving activity assistant pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average activity assistant salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • High School
    18,000 GBP
  • Certificate or Diploma
    +17% from previous
    21,100 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +37% from previous
    28,900 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +22% from previous
    35,300 GBP

Activity assistant gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male activity assistants in United Kingdom earn an average of 24,800 GBP a year, while female activity assistants earn around 27,600 GBP. That works out to a 10% gap in favour of women, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Activity Assistant gender pay gap

10%

Men earn this much less than women on average in United Kingdom.

Women 27,600 GBP
Men 24,800 GBP

Pay raises for an activity assistant in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 11% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 9% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Activity assistant bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

29%

29% of activity assistants in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes an activity assistant a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3% of base salary. The remaining 71% of activity assistants reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Activity assistant: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Activity assistant salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Activity assistant pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Glasgow
  • London
  • Somerset
  • Bristol
  • Bradford
  • York
  • Liverpool
  • Wolverhampton
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion46,200 GBP45,100 GBP23,500-68,400 GBP
ScotlandRegion35,300 GBP35,300 GBP19,400-54,100 GBP
GlasgowCity29,900 GBP29,900 GBP15,200-42,700 GBP
LondonCity29,600 GBP29,100 GBP13,000-42,700 GBP
SomersetCity29,000 GBP31,200 GBP13,900-45,600 GBP
BristolCity29,000 GBP27,300 GBP14,000-42,300 GBP
BradfordCity28,800 GBP23,700 GBP12,900-40,700 GBP
YorkCity27,800 GBP22,400 GBP15,800-39,800 GBP
LiverpoolCity27,700 GBP31,400 GBP13,900-45,400 GBP
WolverhamptonCity27,600 GBP27,400 GBP10,200-41,900 GBP
NottinghamCity27,400 GBP23,600 GBP13,600-40,000 GBP
NewcastleCity27,400 GBP22,400 GBP13,900-39,800 GBP
EdinburghCity27,300 GBP27,800 GBP13,900-39,800 GBP
ManchesterCity27,200 GBP27,800 GBP15,400-42,300 GBP
LeicesterCity27,200 GBP27,400 GBP12,400-42,700 GBP
CardiffCity26,600 GBP25,800 GBP12,800-39,800 GBP
DerbyCity26,500 GBP29,900 GBP12,800-44,300 GBP
DundeeCity26,500 GBP26,200 GBP13,900-39,100 GBP
SheffieldCity26,400 GBP26,900 GBP14,300-44,800 GBP
SouthamptonCity26,400 GBP26,200 GBP13,700-36,500 GBP
LeedsCity26,400 GBP26,400 GBP15,800-43,500 GBP
BelfastCity26,200 GBP24,800 GBP15,300-42,500 GBP
BirminghamCity26,100 GBP31,200 GBP12,800-45,200 GBP
PeterboroughCity25,800 GBP26,500 GBP13,400-40,700 GBP
CoventryCity25,800 GBP26,100 GBP12,800-42,500 GBP
SwanseaCity25,700 GBP23,300 GBP15,100-37,900 GBP
ChesterCity25,300 GBP22,800 GBP10,200-39,500 GBP
WalesRegion25,300 GBP22,100 GBP13,700-35,600 GBP
WinchesterCity25,300 GBP23,700 GBP12,100-36,400 GBP
LincolnCity25,300 GBP23,700 GBP11,900-36,900 GBP
NorwichCity24,800 GBP23,100 GBP13,000-36,400 GBP
ArmaghCity24,800 GBP22,800 GBP13,400-38,700 GBP
PooleCity24,400 GBP26,500 GBP12,200-41,700 GBP
TruroCity24,400 GBP24,400 GBP12,100-35,300 GBP
St DavidsCity24,400 GBP22,600 GBP13,900-33,000 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity24,400 GBP23,600 GBP13,400-38,000 GBP
PlymouthCity24,200 GBP27,300 GBP13,400-39,500 GBP
CambridgeCity23,700 GBP22,800 GBP13,000-39,100 GBP
RiponCity23,700 GBP20,200 GBP12,800-35,300 GBP
BrightonCity23,600 GBP23,100 GBP13,500-36,500 GBP
OxfordCity23,600 GBP23,600 GBP11,800-40,500 GBP
PortsmouthCity23,600 GBP26,900 GBP12,200-38,000 GBP
AberdeenCity23,600 GBP23,500 GBP13,900-36,200 GBP
LisburnCity23,500 GBP23,500 GBP12,800-36,400 GBP
SalisburyCity23,400 GBP20,200 GBP12,800-33,500 GBP
WakefieldCity23,400 GBP23,800 GBP10,300-33,600 GBP
BangorCity23,400 GBP22,800 GBP9,900-33,800 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion23,100 GBP23,100 GBP10,200-36,800 GBP
NewportCity22,800 GBP27,000 GBP10,000-40,900 GBP
GloucesterCity22,800 GBP22,300 GBP12,600-33,300 GBP
StirlingCity22,800 GBP27,800 GBP11,900-39,800 GBP
ExeterCity22,800 GBP23,700 GBP13,500-35,600 GBP
DerryCity22,800 GBP23,700 GBP10,200-35,500 GBP
WellsCity22,300 GBP23,800 GBP12,200-35,300 GBP
DurhamCity22,100 GBP25,300 GBP11,900-35,500 GBP
CanterburyCity22,100 GBP22,100 GBP12,100-33,000 GBP
HartlepoolCity22,000 GBP21,300 GBP12,600-36,400 GBP
NewryCity21,500 GBP23,500 GBP12,100-36,000 GBP
StromnessCity21,100 GBP22,800 GBP9,140-35,400 GBP
KirkwallCity20,700 GBP23,700 GBP12,400-34,000 GBP
StrontianCity20,400 GBP20,900 GBP12,500-34,000 GBP
AbingdonCity20,100 GBP23,700 GBP12,400-35,300 GBP
InvernessCity20,000 GBP23,200 GBP9,500-33,500 GBP

Activity Assistant in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does an activity assistant make per month in United Kingdom?

    An activity assistant in United Kingdom earns about 1,966 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 23,600 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for an activity assistant in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level activity assistants in United Kingdom start near 13,400 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 37,800 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 18,300 and 30,700 GBP.

  • Is the median activity assistant salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 22,400 GBP, lower than the average of 23,600 GBP. Half of activity assistants in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for activity assistants in United Kingdom?

    Men working as an activity assistant in United Kingdom earn around 10% less than women on average (24,800 vs 27,600 GBP a year).

  • Do activity assistants in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 29% of activity assistants in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3% of base salary.

  • Do activity assistants earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays an activity assistant about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do activity assistants in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    An activity assistant in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 11% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 9% a year.