Security and investigation activities: average pay and jobs in the UK
Full-time employees in security and investigation activities earned a median £34,326 in the year to 5 April 2025 (ONS ASHE), £4,713 less than across all industries.
What the figures show
That is in the lowest third of 84 divisions.
74% of jobs are full-time.
Full-time medians: women £30,445, men £34,678.
The median rose 33.3% from £25,753 in 2021.
The Business Register and Employment Survey counts 224,000 people working in it in Great Britain in 2024, up 6% since 2019; 32% are in London.
There were 16,440 business sites in March 2026, nearly all (81%) with fewer than 10 staff (UK Business Counts).
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £23,912 | £490.50 | £12.60 | £8,391* | £115.90* | £12.50 |
| 20th percentile | £26,566 | £547.20 | £12.99 | £18,185* | £314.20* | £12.84 |
| 25th percentile | £27,718 | £570.20 | £13.21 | £22,189 | £425.90 | £13.09 |
| 30th percentile | £28,869 | £597.40 | £13.52 | £24,797 | £477.30 | £13.40 |
| 40th percentile | £31,347 | £647.60 | £14.04 | £27,552 | £550.40 | £13.84 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £34,326 | £700.90 | £14.85 | £30,532 | £613.80 | £14.36 |
| 60th percentile | £37,160 | £754.20 | £15.71 | £34,149 | £689.90 | £15.23 |
| 70th percentile | £40,447 | £827.90 | £16.97 | £37,604 | £754.80 | £16.15 |
| 75th percentile | £42,681 | £866.50 | £18.20 | £39,961 | £797.90 | £17.20 |
| 80th percentile | £45,561 | £921.10 | £19.44 | £42,122 | £849.10 | £18.58 |
| 90th percentile | – | – | – | – | £999.70* | – |
| Mean | £39,512 | £786.20 | £17.52 | £33,364 | £639.00 | £17.34 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £25,753 | £530.60 | £11.36 | £24,639 | £496.10 | 96 |
| 2022 revised | £27,210 | £562.70 | £11.82 | £24,842 | £490.40 | 83 |
| 2023 revised | £29,036 | £589.00 | £12.84 | £26,826 | £520.00 | 102 |
| 2024 revised | £31,145 | £632.40 | £13.73 | £28,240 | £552.20 | 104 |
| 2025 provisional | £34,326 | £700.90 | £14.85 | £30,532 | £613.80 | 111 |
Where the 224,000 jobs are, 2024
| Region or nation | Employees | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| London | 72,000 | 72,000 |
| South East | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| North West | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| East Midlands | 21,000 | 21,000 |
| East of England | 16,000 | 16,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| West Midlands | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| Scotland | 14,000 | 14,000 |
| South West | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| North East | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Wales | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Great Britain | 224,000 | 224,000 |
16,440 business sites by size
| Staff | Sites, March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Micro (0 to 9) | 13,385 |
| Small (10 to 49) | 2,320 |
| Medium (50 to 249) | 630 |
| Large (250 or more) | 105 |
| Total | 16,440 |
2021: 14,815; 2022: 15,000; 2023: 15,530; 2024: 15,840; 2025: 16,255; 2026: 16,440.
Related
Administrative and support service activities · Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities · Services to buildings and landscape activities · UK average weekly earnings growth
ASHE Table 16: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · notes · 15 October 2026