Cyber security professionals: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time cyber security professionals in the UK earned a median £54,647 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 40% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 38th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £42,761 and £71,808.
Median full-time pay: women £26.83 an hour, men £27.70 an hour.
ASHE counts roughly 31,000 employee jobs, 97% full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 9.7%, from £49,836, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 91,200 people in this line of work, 17% of them in South East.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £32,471 | £651.30 | £17.42 | £32,302 | £635.90 | £16.94 |
| 20th percentile | £39,612 | £789.60 | £21.19 | £39,509 | £785.40 | £21.16 |
| 25th percentile | £42,761 | £853.90 | £22.48 | £42,704 | £850.60 | £22.53 |
| 30th percentile | £45,512 | £893.60 | £24.05 | £45,226 | £891.60 | £24.19 |
| 40th percentile | £50,355 | £959.70 | £25.67 | £50,392 | £959.80 | £25.78 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £54,647 | £1,015.90 | £27.62 | £54,816 | £1,017.90 | £27.73 |
| 60th percentile | £59,422 | £1,131.60 | £30.16 | £59,658 | £1,141.40 | £30.36 |
| 70th percentile | £64,413* | £1,239.80 | £34.17 | £64,820* | £1,247.60 | £34.36 |
| 75th percentile | £71,808* | £1,341.60 | £35.43* | £73,083* | £1,341.90 | £35.85* |
| 80th percentile | – | £1,414.70* | £37.69* | – | £1,416.50* | £38.46* |
| Mean | £59,627 | £1,133.40 | £30.37 | £59,569 | £1,132.50 | £30.62 |
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 | £49,836* | £980.90* | £26.11* | £48,420* | £963.10* | 14* |
| 2022 revised | £45,694* | £842.80 | £22.65 | £45,184* | £840.20 | 20* |
| 2023 revised | £45,546 | £844.70 | £22.54 | £45,573 | £842.30 | 27* |
| 2024 revised | £48,583 | £993.60 | £26.33 | £48,555 | £987.50 | 35 |
| 2025 provisional | £54,647 | £1,015.90 | £27.62 | £54,816 | £1,017.90 | 31 |
Cyber security professionals by region
UK: 91,200 (± 11,700), April 2025 to March 2026. 9 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 15,400* | ± 4,900 |
| South West | 9,600* | ± 3,500 |
| Scotland | 9,000* | ± 3,400 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What cyber security professionals do
Cyber security professionals design, implement, test and maintain cyber security systems and track, investigate and analyse data linked to cybercrime. (ONS SOC 2020, 2135)
Also covers: data security manager, ethical hacker, forensic computer investigator, IT security analyst, technical security consultant, penetration tester, security architect, security manager, soc analyst, AI red teamer, AI security engineer, computer forensic investigator, computer security consultant, cyber intelligence analyst, cyber intelligence specialist, cyber security analyst, cyber security architect and cyber security auditor (60 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up response plans for situations where security is compromised
- Develops test plans for security systems and undertakes and documents the testing of security systems weaknesses and errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions
- Develops quality standards and validation techniques
- Makes recommendations concerning software/system quality
- Deals with and reports on breaches in security
- Uses specialist software to gather and analyse information and evidence relating to cybercrime and presents findings to law enforcement officials or private clients
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification, although entry with other academic qualifications and/or significant relevant experience is possible. There is a variety of relevant vocational, professional and postgraduate qualifications available.
Related
Information technology professionals (median £56,348) · Programmers and software development professionals · IT quality and testing professionals · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026