Architecture and interior design salaries
in Manchester - 2026
Based on data from 3,000+ active job vacancies, 1,890 survey respondents and insights from 65 recruitment experts.
Architecture and Design
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How much do architecture and design professionals earn in Manchester?
Architecture and design salaries in Manchester range from £24,875 for an entry-level role to £150,000 for a Head of Legal in 2026. Qualified architects earn £50,000, senior architects £52,000, and directors and partners earn £90,000 to £125,000. Manchester sits below London at senior level, but a lower cost of living stretches the difference. All figures are GBP base salaries excluding bonus.
Based on 1,890 survey responses, 1,200+ placements and 3,000+ live vacancies.
Manchester salary tables 2026
Base annual salaries in GBP, excluding bonus. Roles marked * typically earn commission or bonus on top. Benchmark your own salary with our calculator, or go deeper with our dedicated architecture and interior design guides.
Showing annual base salaries, excluding bonus.
Architecture salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | £24,875 | £26,000 | £27,000 | |
| Part II (0-2 yrs) | £27,000 | £29,000 | £32,000 | |
| Part II (3-4 yrs) | £30,000 | £34,000 | £38,000 | |
| Architect (0-4 yrs) | £37,000 | £41,000 | £46,000 | |
| Architect (5+ yrs) | £48,000 | £50,000 | £55,000 | |
| Senior Architect | £45,000 | £52,000 | £56,000 | |
| Associate | £48,000 | £55,000 | £58,000 | |
| Associate Director | £60,000 | £67,000 | £72,000 | |
| Director | £75,000 | £90,000 | £110,000 | |
| Partner | £90,000 | £110,000 | £125,000 | |
| Technician | £30,000 | £38,000 | £46,000 | |
| Senior Technician | £45,000 | £52,000 | £60,000 | |
| Design Manager | £50,000 | £58,000 | £70,000 | |
| Senior Design Manager | £60,000 | £78,000 | £90,000 |
Interior design salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Interior Designer | £24,875 | £25,000 | £26,000 | |
| Junior Interior Designer | £24,875 | £27,000 | £30,000 | |
| Midweight Interior Designer | £32,000 | £35,000 | £40,000 | |
| Senior Interior Designer | £45,000 | £50,000 | £58,000 | |
| Associate | £58,000 | £62,000 | £70,000 | |
| Design Director | £72,000 | £85,000 | £100,000 | |
| Junior Technician | £28,000 | £30,000 | £31,000 | |
| Technician | £32,000 | £37,000 | £44,000 | |
| Senior Technician | £42,000 | £47,000 | £63,000 | |
| FF&E Designer | £32,000 | £40,000 | £45,000 | |
| Senior FF&E Designer | £40,000 | £52,000 | £60,000 | |
| Junior Interior Architect | £26,000 | £29,000 | £33,000 | |
| Interior Architect | £34,000 | £39,000 | £48,000 | |
| Senior Interior Architect | £45,000 | £55,000 | £65,000 |
Business support salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptionist | £24,875 | £28,000 | £32,000 | |
| Studio Coordinator | £28,800 | £35,000 | £42,000 | |
| Project Administrator | £28,000 | £35,000 | £40,000 | |
| Studio / Office Manager | £40,000 | £45,000 | £50,000 | |
| Practice / Operations Manager | £50,000 | £60,000 | £75,000 | |
| Personal Assistant | £35,000 | £40,000 | £50,000 | |
| Executive Assistant | £45,000 | £55,000 | £70,000 | |
| Marketing Assistant | £28,800 | £30,000 | £35,000 | |
| Marketing Coordinator | £32,000 | £40,000 | £45,000 | |
| Marketing Manager | £45,000 | £50,000 | £60,000 | |
| Bid Assistant | £28,000 | £32,000 | £35,000 | |
| Bid Coordinator | £35,000 | £40,000 | £45,000 | |
| Bid Manager | £44,000 | £55,000 | £60,000 | |
| Business Dev. Manager | £50,000 | £55,000 | £65,000 | |
| Project Coordinator | £35,000 | £40,000 | £45,000 | |
| Document Controller | £35,000 | £40,000 | £45,000 | |
| HR Administrator / Coordinator | £28,800 | £30,000 | £35,000 | |
| HR Advisor / Generalist | £35,000 | £40,000 | £45,000 | |
| HR Manager | £45,000 | £50,000 | £60,000 | |
| Project Manager | £38,000 | £45,000 | £55,000 | |
| IT Support Technician | £28,000 | £35,000 | £42,000 | |
| IT Manager | £45,000 | £60,000 | £70,000 | |
| Facilities Assistant | £25,000 | £28,000 | £30,000 | |
| Facilities Manager | £35,000 | £40,000 | £50,000 | |
| Finance Assistant / Book Keeper | £28,800 | £32,000 | £38,000 | |
| Finance Manager / Controller | £45,000 | £50,000 | £65,000 |
Strategic business support salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head of Bids / Proposals | £65,000 | £80,000 | £100,000 | |
| Head of Commercial | £100,000 | £120,000 | £140,000 | |
| Head of Communications / Marketing | £75,000 | £85,000 | £100,000 | |
| Finance Director | £75,000 | £85,000 | £120,000 | |
| Head of HR | £70,000 | £80,000 | £90,000 | |
| Head of IT | £70,000 | £80,000 | £90,000 | |
| COO / Head of Ops | £100,000 | £120,000 | £140,000 | |
| Head of Business Development | £90,000 | £100,000 | £120,000 | |
| Head of Legal / Legal Counsel | £110,000 | £130,000 | £150,000 |
Architectural & interior products salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showroom Assistant* | £27,000 | £32,000 | £35,000 | |
| Showroom Manager* | £30,000 | £37,000 | £42,000 | |
| Marketing Coordinator | £32,000 | £36,000 | £40,000 | |
| Marketing Manager | £45,000 | £50,000 | £60,000 | |
| Sales Support | £25,000 | £32,000 | £38,000 | |
| Procurement Coordinator | £28,000 | £34,000 | £45,000 | |
| Procurement Manager | £40,000 | £42,000 | £50,000 | |
| Project Manager | £35,000 | £45,000 | £60,000 | |
| Production Manager | £35,000 | £45,000 | £60,000 | |
| Sales Representative* | £30,000 | £40,000 | £50,000 | |
| Sales Manager* | £50,000 | £60,000 | £80,000 | |
| Business Development Manager* | £35,000 | £50,000 | £60,000 | |
| Account Manager* | £35,000 | £42,000 | £50,000 | |
| Junior Account Manager* | £25,000 | £33,000 | £38,000 | |
| Senior Sales Manager* | £55,000 | £65,000 | £85,000 | |
| Head of Sales* | £80,000 | £90,000 | £110,000 |
Urban design and landscape salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Urban Designer | £28,000 | £31,000 | £33,000 | |
| Urban Designer | £36,000 | £42,000 | £44,000 | |
| Senior Urban Designer | £48,000 | £55,000 | £65,000 | |
| Urban Design Director | £62,000 | £94,000 | £114,000 | |
| Junior Landscape Architect | £27,000 | £30,000 | £31,000 | |
| Landscape Architect | £36,000 | £38,000 | £44,000 | |
| Senior Landscape Architect | £50,000 | £47,000 | £52,000 | |
| Landscape Architect Director | £70,000 | £94,000 | £120,000 |
BIM, CAD and IT salaries in Manchester
| Role | Low | Average | High | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIM Modeller | £32,000 | £34,000 | £36,000 | |
| BIM Technician | £37,000 | £45,000 | £50,000 | |
| BIM Coordinator | £38,000 | £47,000 | £57,000 | |
| BIM Architect / Lead | £47,000 | £54,000 | £62,000 | |
| BIM Manager | £65,000 | £70,000 | £75,000 | |
| CAD / BIM / IT Manager | £55,000 | £68,000 | £90,000 | |
| Head of BIM | £78,000 | £83,000 | £104,000 | |
| Computational Specialist | £36,000 | £48,000 | £65,000 | |
| IT Technician | £26,000 | £33,000 | £42,000 | |
| IT Manager | £47,000 | £57,000 | £70,000 | |
| Head of Digital Design | £80,000 | £95,000 | £110,000 |
Source: Bespoke Careers 2026 Salary Guide.
How Manchester compares
Average base salary for the same level in the two UK markets we benchmark.
Base annual salaries in GBP from the Bespoke Careers 2026 Salary Guide.
What’s shaping Manchester salaries in 2026
Early career
Part I architects start at £26,000 and Part II at £29,000 to £34,000. Graduate Interior Designers start at £25,000. Manchester sits within a couple of thousand pounds of London at entry level, before the gap widens with seniority.
Qualified
A qualified architect with 5+ years averages £50,000, level with London. Senior Architects reach £52,000 and Design Managers £58,000. BIM Managers earn £70,000 and Heads of BIM £83,000.
Senior
Associates average £55,000 and Associate Directors £67,000, both a step below London. This is where the gap to the capital opens up. Design Directors in interior design reach £85,000, level with London.
Leadership
Directors earn £75,000 to £110,000 and Partners £90,000 to £125,000. Strategic business roles match London: Head of Legal at £130,000, Head of Commercial and COO at £120,000.
Get the full 2026 Salary Guide
105 roles across 11 locations, hiring trends for every market, and practical advice for your next pay conversation. Built from 1,890 survey responses, 1,200+ placements and insight from 65 recruitment experts. Free to download.
Frequently asked questions
What are the highest-paying architecture and design jobs in Manchester?
Partners in architecture pay the most in Manchester at £90,000 to £125,000, followed by Directors at £75,000 to £110,000. On the business side, Head of Legal reaches £150,000, Head of Commercial and COO both reach £140,000, and in interior design Design Directors reach £100,000.
How much do architects earn in Manchester?
Architects in Manchester start at £26,000 at Part I, rising to £34,000 at Part II, £41,000 for an architect with 0-4 years, £50,000 once qualified with 5+ years and £52,000 at Senior Architect. Associates earn £55,000, Directors £90,000 and Partners £110,000 on average.
How much do interior designers earn in Manchester?
Interior designers in Manchester start at £25,000 as a graduate, rising to £35,000 at midweight level and £50,000 for Senior Interior Designers. Associates earn £62,000 on average, with Design Directors reaching £85,000.
How do Manchester salaries compare to London?
Manchester sits below London at senior level but is close at junior and midweight. A Senior Architect averages £52,000 in Manchester against £57,000 in London, and a Director £90,000 against £110,000. In interior design the two cities are level from senior level up, with Design Directors at £85,000 in both. The lower Manchester cost of living stretches the gap further.
How is the salary data collected?
Our salary data draws on input from over 1,890 survey respondents, 1,200 recent placements, 3,000 job listings and insight from 65 recruitment experts.
Explore more
Benefits at Manchester architecture and design practices
Salary is only part of the package. Alongside the salary tables, we benchmark the benefits Manchester architecture and design practices offer at three levels, based on our 2026 survey of 1,890 professionals. Use it to weigh up a full offer, or to see where your practice’s package stands against the market.
Health and wellbeing benefits
| Benefit | Standard | Enhanced | Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee assistance programme | |||
| Free flu vaccine | - | ||
| In-house yoga / fitness sessions | - | ||
| Life insurance | - | ||
| Gym membership | - | ||
| Private healthcare | - | - | |
| Inclusive spaces (prayer / quiet rooms) | - | - |
Career development benefits
| Benefit | Standard | Enhanced | Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Part III course fees | Contribution | Full / clawback | Full |
| Paid Part III study leave | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Mentoring programme | |||
| In-house seminars & workshops | |||
| External training | |||
| Paid certification | - |
Work-life balance benefits
| Benefit | Standard | Enhanced | Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual leave | 23 days | 25 days | 28+ days |
| Hybrid working | - | 2 days p/w | 3 days p/w |
| Sick leave | SSP + 3 | SSP + 5 | SSP + 10 |
| Holiday closure (extra leave) | |||
| Flexible working hours | |||
| Enhanced parental leave | - | ||
| Birthdays off | - | ||
| Working from abroad policy | - | ||
| Sabbatical | - | - | |
| Crèche | - | - |
Workplace perks
| Benefit | Standard | Enhanced | Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food supplied in office | Fruit / snacks | Weekly meal | Catering |
| Annual parties | |||
| Paid social staff events | |||
| Social clubs | - | ||
| Birthday / seasonal gifts | - | ||
| Organised sporting teams | - | ||
| Showers / bike storage facilities | - | ||
| Volunteer days | - | ||
| Staff contributory groups | - | ||
| Office trips | - | ||
| Travel opportunities | - | - |
Financial benefits
| Benefit | Standard | Enhanced | Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle to work scheme | |||
| Additional pension | - | ||
| Travel card loan | - | ||
| Bonus schemes | - | ||
| Salary sacrifice | - | - | |
| Local discounts | - | - | |
| Car allowance | - | - | |
| Transport allowance | - | - | |
| Employee share scheme | - | - | |
| Free / discounted products | - | - |
Source: Bespoke Careers 2026 Salary Guide survey. Individual practices vary; use the tiers as a guide to what the Manchester market offers, not a guarantee of any single employer’s package.
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