Security cleared IT roles offer qualified and experienced candidates great opportunities to advance their career and increase their earnings. But what is the average IT salary in the UK in 2026 and what factors could increase your earning potential? Find out in this guide to compensation.
The UK’s IT industry offers some of the strongest career prospects of any sector, with steady demand for skilled professionals across a wide range of specialisms. According to the Office for National Statistics, the information and communication sector recorded one of the strongest year-on-year increases in full-time earnings of any UK industry in 2025, with median weekly pay rising by 6.5 per cent.
However, while the average IT salary in the UK compares well with other sectors, individual compensation can vary significantly, with pay shaped by factors including role, experience level, location and whether a position requires security clearance. This guide offers a clear overview of the current salary landscape, breaking down what IT professionals can expect to earn by role, experience and region, as well as exploring the key factors that influence pay across the sector.
According to earnings data from Glassdoor, the average IT salary in the UK in 2026 is around £46,160 per year, with most professionals taking home between £31,449 and £69,891. These calculations are based on salary information submitted by IT employees across the UK. The figures therefore reflect pay across a wide mix of roles, experience levels and industries.
The sector covers an enormous variety of jobs, so it’s worth looking at how earnings typically progress over a career.
Salaries tend to climb in line with growing technical expertise, broader responsibility and the ability to lead projects or teams. Specialist skills, certifications and experience in high-demand areas such as cloud, cyber security or AI can push earnings well beyond these typical ranges.
| Career stage | Years of experience | Typical salary range |
| Entry-level | 0 to 2 years | £25,000 to £35,000 |
| Mid-career | 3 to 7 years | £45,000 to £65,000 |
| Senior | 8+ years | £70,000 to £100,000+ |
The variety of jobs within the IT sector means earning potential can differ considerably from one specialism to another. Below are some of the most common information technology employment roles in the UK, along with typical average salaries based on 2026 data from Glassdoor. These figures are calculated using reported actual earnings, rather than those advertised in job vacancies, and include both base pay and average bonuses.
| Role | Average UK salary 2026 |
| Software developer | £44,500 |
| IT project manager | £54,870 |
| Cyber security analyst | £41,500 |
| DevOps engineer | £53,280 |
| Data Analyst | £37,500 |
| Cloud Engineer | £53,000 |
| Network Engineer | £42,750 |
While salaries vary across the sector, certain IT specialisms consistently command higher pay due to skills shortages and the growing strategic importance of the work. Five of the highest-paying information technology jobs in 2026 are:
While the above figures reflect the average IT salary in the UK as a whole, earnings can be significantly affected by where you work. Regional variations are largely driven by the concentration of major employers, the local cost of living and the supply of skilled professionals.
London consistently offers the highest pay. According to IT Job Board, technology salaries in the capital are typically 20 to 35 per cent higher than other UK regions, reflecting both the cost of living and the dense concentration of banks, global tech firms and government departments competing for talent. Other strong regional centres where salaries tend to offer stronger than average salaries include:
Pay tends to be lower in areas such as the north-east, Wales and Northern Ireland, which have fewer large tech employers and less salary competition. However, remote and hybrid working has begun to narrow the gap, with some employers offering London-rate salaries to staff based elsewhere.
Many IT jobs in sectors such as government, defence, intelligence and critical national infrastructure involve handling sensitive or classified information, or working in restricted locations. As a result, applicants are often required to hold a security clearance such as Security Check (SC) or, for the most sensitive roles, Developed Vetting (DV).
Because the pool of cleared candidates is relatively small compared to demand, employers often offer a premium to attract and retain them. Security cleared IT professionals can typically command higher salaries than their non-cleared counterparts in equivalent roles, with day rates for cleared contractors in fields such as cyber security, cloud and software engineering also tending to sit above the wider market average, particularly for roles supporting major defence and government programmes.
Beyond role, location and security clearance, a number of other factors can shape the earning potential of an IT professional. Some considerations to bear in mind when looking for jobs or putting together a CV include:
Yes. The UK IT sector continues to offer some of the strongest career and salary prospects of any industry, with clear progression as experience builds and significant uplifts for those working in high-demand specialisms or holding security clearances.
Future demand looks strong too. Gartner forecasts global IT spending will grow by 13.5 per cent in 2026, reaching $6.31 trillion (£4.65 trillion), driven largely by AI infrastructure and software. Areas such as cyber security, cloud and data are expected to see some of the strongest growth, so professionals with skills in these areas may be especially well-placed for career progression. Demand for those who can combine technical skills with project management capabilities will also remain high.
For anyone considering a career change in IT, now is a good time to explore the options. Upskilling in a high-demand specialism, gaining recognised certifications and pursuing security clearance can all open the door to significantly higher earnings.
Ready to see what you could be earning? Compare salaries and explore the latest IT vacancies on SecurityClearedJobs.com today.
Total compensation can include bonuses, pension contributions, private healthcare, flexible working, training budgets, certification funding and additional annual leave. When comparing job offers, these benefits can significantly increase the overall value of a package, even if the base salary is similar.
Absolutely. Employers often expect candidates to negotiate, especially for experienced or specialist positions. Researching market rates, highlighting relevant certifications and demonstrating measurable achievements can strengthen your position during salary discussions.
Contract roles can offer higher day rates than permanent positions, particularly for experienced professionals with specialist skills or security clearance. However, contractors are responsible for their own benefits and taxes, and may have longer periods between assignments, so it’s important to consider total compensation rather than day rate alone.
Yes. Certifications from providers such as Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, CompTIA, ISC2 and PRINCE2 can make candidates more competitive and may lead to higher salaries, particularly in cloud computing, cyber security, networking and project management. Employers often view recognised certifications as evidence of practical knowledge and commitment to professional development.
In many cases, yes. Employers in defence, government and critical national infrastructure often pay a premium for candidates with active security clearance because the pool of eligible professionals is smaller and demand remains high. The exact increase depends on the role, clearance level and employer.
Salary progression often depends on your experience, technical skills and willingness to take on greater responsibility. Many IT professionals see significant pay increases when moving from entry-level to mid-level roles, gaining sought-after certifications or changing employers after developing in-demand expertise.
Some of the best-paid IT careers include cloud architecture, AI and machine learning, cyber security architecture, DevOps engineering and data engineering. These roles command higher salaries due to a combination of specialist skills, industry demand and experience requirements.
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