The manufacturing and Logistics sectors are facing rapid change. Economic pressures, sustainability requirements, and increasing automation are reshaping how businesses operate and the skills they need from Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) professionals. Salaries are reflecting these shifts, with compliance, ESG, and digital risk expertise driving demand for top talent.
Below, we break down the salary benchmarks for health and safety professionals in manufacturing, using insights from our latest salary guide.
Health and Safety Co-Ordinator: £27,000 – £40,000
Typically entry-level, this role often involves managing ISO systems, coordinating training, and handling routine compliance tasks. Digital literacy is becoming essential as AI-driven tools automate much of the admin workload.
Health and Safety Advisor / Senior Advisor: £35,000 – £50,000
Generally requiring a NEBOSH Certificate (or equivalent), Advisors provide on-the-ground safety support, with Senior Advisors sometimes managing small teams. Travel-heavy roles may include a car or car allowance (circa £4000 - £6000 annually)
Health and Safety Manager: £55,000 – £65,000
Managers often cover single larger sites or multiple smaller sites, overseeing the spectrum of HSE from compliance to ESG reporting and operational safety. Regulatory complexity and sustainability pressures are pushing salaries towards the top end, especially for roles managing automation risks or large-scale facilities.
Senior Health and Safety Manager: £65,000 – £80,000
Found in larger businesses with multiple large sites or very large single sites, these roles act as a bridge to senior leadership and will often involve managing a small team. CertIOSH (formerly Grad IOSH) level or above is generally preferred, as is an environmental-related qualification. If a single site, the role often sits on the site's senior leadership team.
Head of Health and Safety: £80,000 – £100,000
The most senior HSE role in many SMEs often covers strategic risk, ESG alignment, and compliance across several sites. Packages usually include car allowances (£8,000+) and bonuses of 15%+. The role often reports into the Board and sits on the senior leadership team.
Health and Safety Director: £100,000 – £140,000+ (£140,000 – £180,000+ in FTSE 250 equivalent)
Today's Directors are required to lead on ESG reporting, digital safety transformation, and board-level compliance. These roles often come with long-term incentive plans, performance bonuses, and share options, especially in listed businesses.
At the largest global organisations, salary levels vary extensively depending on a range of factors, from geography, risk and size of business; however, they will generally sit at £180,000+.
How Employers Can Stay Competitive
The top Health and Safety talent across manufacturing and logistics is becoming increasingly multiskilled – from complex ESG reporting, through to digital transformation and cultural change.
The best candidates have a unique skill set and are often weighing multiple opportunities at once. Professionals with experience in large-scale production facilities, automation, or complex supply chains are especially sought after, driving top salaries.
Candidates are looking closely at employer reputation, job security, Safety and ESG performance of a business and the stability of operations. Businesses with inconsistent hiring processes, unclear growth plans, or weak safety and ESG performance are losing out to those offering clear career progression, training, and a proven commitment to building a strong culture.
With the talent gap unlikely to ease soon, employers should:
Set clear and realistic salary expectations early
Understand what skills are available at each salary level
Act quickly and communicate clearly throughout recruitment
Offer visible progression opportunities, especially on long-term projects
Partner with recruiters who understand the safety market and can access hard-to-reach talent
Employers who act decisively, offer clear career paths, and communicate their commitment to safety culture will be best placed to secure top talent in a highly competitive market.
If you are looking to benchmark your salaries, please contact Sam Tearne. Sam focuses on placing health and safety professionals into the FMCG Manufacturing and logistics industries.
Contact Sam on 01923 963 651 or sam.tearne@irwinandcolton.com