UK IT and technology salary benchmarks and trends

Name: Salary negotiations
Creator: Robert Half

2027 UK Salary Guide

Book a salary consultation

Jobseekers: Explore opportunities and grow your career.

As organisations across the UK expand their use of AI, cloud and data platforms, technology hiring managers are aligning pay more closely to the specialised capabilities tech and IT roles now require, selectively exceeding budgeted salary ranges to secure the talent they need. Professionals with expertise in areas such as security and AI are the ones receiving higher offers.

These candidates combine technical depth and human judgment and know their value, making it harder for employers to compete for them when pay falls below market rates or roles expand in scope without corresponding salary adjustments.

Hiring managers: Meet with us to get customised salary insights and guidance so you can build offers candidates say yes to.

Salary Calculator

View salaries by category

Enter your city to see salaries tailored to your local market. Starting salaries can vary significantly depending on your skills and experience, the size and sector of the organisation, and the demand for the role in your area. The city you choose reflects not only the urban centre but also the surrounding region.

Business Intelligence and Data Analytics

Cloud and Infrastructure

Digital Transformation - Project Services

Information Security

IT Leadership

Software Development and Testing

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

Head of AI

98000

157250

205000

Head of Machine Learning

77250

92750

118500

Head of Data and Analytics

72750

77250

86750

Business Intelligence Manager

54000

68250

80000

Business Intelligence Analyst

33500

44000

57750

Machine Learning Engineer

61500

77000

97250

Machine Learning Consultant

57500

71250

84500

Artificial Intelligence Engineer

50750

67000

92500

Artificial Intelligence Consultant

42250

56500

69000

Data Scientist

57500

66500

82000

Data Engineer

57500

67000

79500

Data Governance Manager

49500

65750

78000

Database Manager

54500

61250

66750

Data Analyst

33750

48500

57250

25th percentile

The candidate has little or no prior experience in the position and is still developing relevant skills.

50th percentile

The candidate has an average level of experience and has most of the necessary skills.

75th percentile

The candidate has above-average experience, has most or all the necessary skills, and may have specialised qualifications.

2027 UK IT and technology compensation trends

Insights at a glance

46%

of IT and tech hiring managers are offering salaries above their planned ranges to secure top talent.

78%

cite the need to secure candidates with specialised skills as a reason.

38%

are paying more for professionals with generative AI skills.

Specialised skills commanding premiums

Professionals with the following skills may command higher pay:

Software and applications development

Generative AI solutions use

Cybersecurity

Agentic AI use and/or programming

Data science and database management

Salary negotiations

Candidates with specialised, in-demand skill sets have greater leverage in compensation discussions, and many employers are responding in kind. The IT salary survey points to a targeted, skills-driven approach to compensation, where negotiation is driven by the premium placed on hard-to-find expertise.

73%

of managers are willing to negotiate base pay.

46%

say candidates frequently negotiate higher salaries based on specialised skills.

24%

of professionals struggle with knowing their market worth.

Rewards that motivate career moves

When base pay is similar, IT and technology professionals weigh other factors heavily when considering a job change. Benefits, perks and incentives can help companies strengthen offers and stand out to in-demand candidates. Top benefits and perks that would motivate a job change include:

Work‑life balance and flexibility

Hybrid work options, flexible work schedules, unpaid leave, sabbaticals/leaves of absence

Financial

Bonuses, meal vouchers, commuting discounts, home office equipment allowance

Discover perks that strengthen your offer

Roles, industries and certifications on the rise

Salary growth above the 2.1% average for IT and technology roles is expected for positions that require expertise in enterprise systems, cybersecurity, software development, data analytics, architecture and technology-led business transformation.

+4.2% ERP Functional Consultant

+3.8% Security Network Engineer

+3.7% Back-End Developer

+3.5% Business Intelligence Analyst

+3.5% Project Manager

+3.4% Chief Architect

Certain industries continue to invest heavily in IT and technology talent, particularly as they advance digital transformation, strengthen cybersecurity, adopt AI and modernise technology infrastructure.

Business Services

Finance / Insurance / FinTech

IT and SaaS

Manufacturing / Industrial Facilities

Trade / Retail

Certifications can command higher pay, especially when they validate expertise in AI, cloud technologies, cybersecurity and information security management.

AWS Certified AI Practitioner

Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate

Cloud (AWS / Azure / GCP / Salesforce)

CISSP / CISM

Google AI

ISO27001

Smarter hiring. Better jobs. Personalised guidance.

Get salary insights you can act on

You’ll get a customised salary benchmark report and personal support to help give you a competitive edge in your search for skilled talent. Get customised salary insights

Build your team with skilled talent

Need to hire? Our recruiters are here to help you quickly find experienced professionals who are the right fit for your business. Hire talent

Looking for a job?

Search hundreds of opportunities to find roles that match your strengths and goals, with expert support on salary negotiations every step of the way. Search jobs

IT career insights: Growth, guidance and pay trends

Most in-demand tech jobs in the UK: Q2 job hiring trends for 2026 Get the latest intel on the top 10 tech jobs in the UK with our Q2 guide. Our experts cover: competitive industries, hiring advice, and more.

How to negotiate a pay rise with your employer: 6 practical tips from recruitment experts Want to know how to ask for a salary increase? Our expert recruiters share new salary data alongside 6 practical tips for negotiating a pay rise this year.

Emerging AI skills that will redefine the future of tech roles and hiring Learn which AI skills are emerging in tech and why they matter for your career.

Rising expectation of leadership: 5 expert insights on cyber risk in the AI era Three industry experts share insights on cyber risk in the AI era and what business leaders should know about the increasingly complex threat landscape.

Beyond dashboards: 6 big questions about the future of data, BI, and AI in 2026 Discover how businesses can prepare for the future of data, business intelligence and AI-driven automation.

2026's highest paying IT roles in the UK Which role can get you the best salary in tech? Our recruiters share new insights on the 6 top-paying tech jobs in the UK, fresh from the 2026 Salary Guide.

Five roles created by AI A look at five roles created and influenced by AI.

Why is it crucial to have a CISO on the board? Hiren Joshi, Branch Director at Robert Half, explains why it’s crucial to have a chief information security officer at the top table.

Trends and salaries by professional field

Get projected 2027 starting salaries and salary insights in 6 professional fields.

Finance and accounting

Marketing and creative

Legal

Administrative and business support

Human resources

The salary benchmarks in the UK Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has placed across the UK, along with 365k third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use for independent validation.

Non-salary data referenced in the UK Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. Robert Half commissioned research amongst 1,500 respondents using an online data collection methodology. The respondents represent 500 hiring managers and 1,000 workers in finance and accounting, IT and technology, administrative and office support, marketing and creative, and legal. Respondents are drawn from a sample of small-to-midsized enterprises (20-249 employees), and large (250-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organisations across the UK.