The responses are in, and it’s time to announce the results of the 2025/6 Practice Manager Salary Survey. Our thanks go to the respondents who completed our survey and without whose help we would not be able to provide this insight into salary and how practice managers are feeling.

This year we received 112 responses, (107 non-partners and 5 partners). The overall salary of this group was £52,695, up slightly from last year's £51,521. The average salary for partners in our group of respondents was £77,120, whereas the non-partner average earnings stood at £51,554. 

Our cohort worked an average of 35.3 contracted hours per week, whilst their average overtime stood at 6.4 extra hours worked per week, for which only 48 managers were paid, with 63 receiving no payment for overtime worked. 

94 respondents were female, and 17 were male, continuing the gender split we see year on year.

In terms of support from their PCN, 49% were satisfied or very satisfied, but 38% remained ambiguous about the support they received and were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. 7% were unsatisfied, with only 5% being very unsatisfied. 

Looking at pay trends, 66% of respondents reported that their salary had risen over the last 12 months, and 2% reported it had fallen. But for 31%, their pay had remained the same. 

We asked whether our Practice Managers had a management qualification; 65% said yes (these ranged from NVQ Level 3, AMSPAR, the IGPM accreditation, and a level 7 post-graduate qualification), whereas 35% said no.

Check out the below infographic for the key findings of the 2025/6 survey, and read on below for comments.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge in primary care as a Practice Manager?

Positive

• "Excited about the possible opportunities"

• "Mostly enjoyable, apart from HR issues and a highly-stressful CQC inspection"

• "It’s challenging, unpredictable, hard work but very rewarding and I am fortunate to work with an amazing team and great partners! "

• "It’s incredibly hard going but I love my job"

• "It’s fine. I don’t buy into the narrative from PM re how stressful it is, manage yourself effectively! "

• "I enjoy it! The pace and variation day to day keeps me interested and on my toes "

• "Always busy, can be rewarding, I believe the new IT developments have really assisted our work"

• "Fast paced, never a dull moment and always something new to learn. "

• "Bearable."

• "There is a lot of innovation happening in primary care — digital systems, multidisciplinary teams, and new ways of delivering care through PCNs. A strong practice manager can really help shape how a practice adapts to these changes while supporting both patients and staff. Personally, I find the role very fulfilling because you can see the real impact of the work — whether it’s improving patient access, supporting the team, or helping the practice achieve quality targets like QOF. It’s demanding, but if you enjoy problem-solving, leadership, and making services better for patients, it’s a very rewarding career".

Negative

• "Worst it’s ever been. Great team and partners but ICB/NHSE/patient expectations unrealistic"

• "It’s getting harder. Patient expectations are completely unreasonable and unrealistic, it’s harder to find employable people, it’s even harder to get rid of people if they are not performing due to how protected they are by ridiculous employment law. In this job you used to have lots autonomy, now it feels like we are constantly scrutinised by the ICB who do nothing but micromanage us. If the ICB went, our job would be much better and more enjoyable. It feels like as a practice we are working harder than ever but getting paid less whilst costs are soaring."

• "Uncertain that the PM role will exist in 10 years"

• "Considering it's my 18th year in general practice, I feel more and more deflated with never ending demand, "to do list" that never ends and all the fields a PM seems to have to be an expert in (from HR, finance, rota planning, business and contract management, new projects introduction, building management to now even AI safety governance etc.)"

• "Too many laws in place that make it hard to manage staff as they have too many rights."

• "I like practice management. But we are severely hampered by the health secretary's lack of understanding of general practice or perhaps his enmity towards it. HR is also a completely poisoned chalice that takes up far too much of a PM's time."

• "Despair! I am only here due to pension trap. Retire end of January 2027 and am counting the days"

• "Its a slog these days. Carrying the emotional load for both the GPs and the staff takes its toll after so many years. The flexibility we used to have to be able to react to new initiatives or create new services is being eroded. We are all just becoming NHS franchises and I am no longer seeing the benefits of being a non-clinical partner - just the risks and the stress. Considering whether it is time to leave the sector which is a shame when I still have a good 10-15 years before I retire. I love this job and the practice team, but do I still have the energy to continue delivering at the pace required?"

• "Enjoy it but it is very stressful, difficult to ever switch off, difficult to take time out or look after yourself"

• "Crazy. Reactive rather than proactive. Govt pt access expectations far beyond any realisable/practical targets. £Resources stretched and insecure. But still we deliver a fantastic service (as do most GP practices) but still get kicked and abused. Disheartening."

• "I love my role but am increasingly disheartened and frustrated by the lack of proper recognition, support and funding from the external powers that be!"

• "Bringing managers in from outside the NHS has become essential as there is less home-grown potential. But the NHS is such an idiosyncratic entity they have no idea or means of learning what they need. Cuts everywhere, no peer groups for routine support, it’s a crisis waiting to happen. "

• "In Scotland and in our Health Board (GG&C) there have been clinical system changes (not well managed) and Domain changes, all of which has caused extra pressure for GP's and staff."