Design Director Salary in Nottingham, United Kingdom

Nottingham pays Design Directors about £53,000. This figure reflects demand from local employers.

Salary by experience level

Entry-level (0-2 years)

Salary range (per year)

£39,500 to £48,000

Average (per year)

£43,750

New Design Directors in Derby join engineering, manufacturing, or digital firms.

Mid-level (3-5 years)

Salary range (per year)

£48,000 to £58,000

Average (per year)

£53,000

At mid-level, directors take on project and team management for national employers in transport, tech, or manufacturing.

Senior (6-9 years)

Salary range (per year)

£58,000 to £69,500

Average (per year)

£63,750

Senior roles oversee creative direction for large‑scale projects or lead design strategy for employers in Derby.

Principal/Lead (10+ years)

Salary range (per year)

£69,500+

Leads strategic design vision, mentors senior teams, and drives cross‑functional innovation initiatives.

Hourly Rates

For freelance or contract work, hourly rates are typically higher than equivalent salaried positions.

Junior

£23 - £35

per hour

Mid-level

£35 - £47

per hour

Senior

£47 - £72

per hour

Nationally, the median sits near £50,000. Thus Nottingham outpaces the average by roughly six percent, aided by lower housing costs than London.