Staff wages rise by 6.4% since January

According to Office of National Statistics (ONS) data, in June 2015, the average monthly pay for a hospitality worker was £1,116 a month (before deductions). This increased by 4.6% (£51) to £1,167 in June the following year.

In the same month of 2018, this amount increased by a similar proportion and amount of 4.1% (£48) to £1,215.

Again, from 2017 to 2018, the wage increase remained consistent as the average monthly pay packet went up by 4.2% (£51) to £1,266.

However, there was a change in this from June 2018 to June 2019. The increase was smaller than in previous years as pay went from £1,266 to £1,297, on average – still an increase but this time just 2.5% or £31 on the previous period.

Taking the first few months of lockdown into account, the amount from June 2019 to 2020 fell.

Salary changes

While the average monthly salary in 2019 was £1,297, this dropped to £1,154 the following year as pubs were shut under lockdown rules – a decrease of £143 or 12%.

The monthly figure steadily rose again over the next 12 months where, in June 2021, it was at £1,369, which was up £215, representing a lift of a fifth (18.6%).

Looking at the most recent period (12 months to June 2022), the average monthly pay for workers in the sector was £1,438.

While this was £69 more than the previous time-frame, it equated to only 5% more than June 2021.

Furthermore, when broken down into month-on-month figures, the average wage has dropped by £1 from May to June 2022.

Since the beginning of the year (January), there has been an increase of £87 (6.4%) from £1,351 to its current level of £1,438, however, in real terms with the current rate of inflation at 10.1%, this equates to a 3.7% pay cut.

Hourly pay

When it comes to the average hourly pay for different workers in pubs, data from insights specialist Fourth revealed those aged 23 and over in back-of-house roles earn £10.43 per hour. Meanwhile, front-of-house workers in the same age bracket earn £9.80.

However, younger age groups have seen the biggest pay rises in recent months, suggesting the sector is looking to hire younger workers to fill vacancies.

Back-of-house workers aged 16 to 17 are currently earning £8.22 an hour whereas their front-of-house counterparts get £7.87.

Workers aged 18 to 20 in the kitchen are receiving £9.22 while those facing the public are getting £8.63.

Finally, those aged between 21 and 22 are, on average, being paid £10.02 for back of house and £9.47 in front of house