SAP professionals (especially those with S/4HANA experience) are highly sought after and often enjoy high-paying job opportunities, reflecting the value of their skills in implementing and managing SAP systems. SAP roles usually pay 25% higher than equivalent roles in general tech. For a detailed breakdown of the latest SAP salary and benchmarking data, click here. This data is summarised below.
SAP Leadership Roles are Among the Highest Paid in the Tech Industry
SAP leadership positions command some of the highest salaries and day rates in the industry. In the recent SAP Report, 38% of SAP customers were new to bluewaveSELECT – this kept demand for SAP leaders high. New customers often engage with bluewave during phase zero and phase one of new SAP programmes, which require highly-skilled Transformation, Programme and Project Managers. They lead stakeholders through design and manage delivery via third party implementation partners.
Example Salaries: Transformation Leaders can earn between £150,000 and £195,000 per year, while Programme Managers see salaries in the £100,000 to £150,000 range. SAP Architects, another key leadership role, typically earn £90,000 to £125,000.
Example Day Rates: Transformation Leaders can earn between £1,500 and £3,000 per day, while Programme Managers earn £800 to £1,200 per day. Even Project Managers in leadership roles can expect £650 to £850 per day.
SAP Project-Based and Technical Roles Command High Salaries and Day Rates
Beyond leadership, SAP jobs focused on specific projects or technical domains also pay well.
Example Salaries: Project Managers earn £70,000 to £95,000 annually and Technical SAP Consultants (such as BASIS or ABAP consultants) achieve salary ranges between £68,000 and £90,000. Additionally, roles like Security Consultants or Integration Specialists offer salaries in the £60,000 to £95,000 range, depending on the complexity of the role and required expertise.
Example Day Rates: Architects can command rates of £800 to £1,200 per day, while Integration Specialists and Data Managers earn between £650 and £900 per day. Similarly, BASIS and Security Consultants typically receive £450 to £650 per day.
S/4HANA Roles Attract Premium Pay
Positions requiring experience with S/4HANA, tend to pay a premium. In Q2 2024, the demand for S/4HANA skills continued to dominate, accounting for a staggering 90% of all open positions, 38% of which were created by new S/4HANA projects. (The SAP Report, 2024).
Example Salaries: An SAP S/4HANA Data Manager or Data Lead can earn up to £105,000, and similar roles involving niche S/4HANA integrations and advanced analytics often feature salaries at the higher end of the spectrum.
Example Day Rates: S/4HANA Change Managers and Process GPOs can command £650 to £1,800 per day, depending on the complexity and scope of the project.
These specialised roles are highly sought after as an increasing number of businesses migrate to S/4HANA.
Regional and Industry Differences Impact Pay Level
Salaries and day rates can vary significantly depending on location, industry, and whether the job is with an end-user or consultancy. Geographic location can also impact pay, with SAP professionals in metropolitan areas or industries like finance or pharmaceuticals generally earning more. Pay can also be impacted by whether or not the position has a niche skill element, the scope of the programme and the level of responsibility of the individual.
Conclusion
Overall, SAP jobs are among the most well-compensated in the tech and business sectors, with leadership, technical, and S/4HANA roles offering the highest salaries and day rates. Factors like regional demand, industry sector, and job function influence exact pay, but SAP remains a highly lucrative career path.
