Information technology directors: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time information technology directors in the UK earned a median £91,671 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 135% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
Only 3 of 382 occupations with a published full-time median are higher.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £69,515 and £119,408.
The mean, £110,618, is 21% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
Median full-time pay: women £80,962 a year, men £95,517 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 67,000 employee jobs, 94% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 45.2% (from £63,156), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 197,000 people in this line of work, 27% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £55,120 | £1,078.40 | £27.97 | £45,818* | £914.10 | £25.88 |
| 20th percentile | £65,763 | £1,305.70 | £34.93 | £59,781 | £1,195.80 | £33.63 |
| 25th percentile | £69,515 | £1,377.80 | £36.60 | £66,223 | £1,313.20 | £35.69 |
| 30th percentile | £72,635 | £1,440.50 | £38.32 | £70,060 | £1,382.60 | £37.66 |
| 40th percentile | £83,894 | £1,612.70 | £43.10 | £79,905 | £1,533.20 | £41.07 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £91,671 | £1,793.30 | £47.98 | £90,081 | £1,737.70 | £46.60 |
| 60th percentile | £102,394 | £1,986.90 | £53.34 | £99,338 | £1,929.90 | £52.51 |
| 70th percentile | £110,658 | £2,218.80 | £59.12 | £110,021 | £2,159.90 | £57.84 |
| 75th percentile | £119,408 | £2,339.40 | £62.89 | £116,436 | £2,299.80 | £61.96 |
| 80th percentile | £127,692* | £2,491.70 | £67.38 | £125,818* | £2,474.80 | £66.73 |
| Mean | £110,618 | £1,979.50 | £52.82 | £105,533 | £1,881.20 | £52.14 |
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 | £63,156* | £1,259.20 | £34.75 | £52,800* | £1,042.10 | 72 |
| 2022 revised | £73,834 | £1,409.50 | £37.67 | £68,928* | £1,374.10 | 45 |
| 2023 revised | £80,734 | £1,567.00 | £42.11 | £80,004 | £1,565.30 | 47 |
| 2024 revised | £83,961 | £1,625.90 | £43.26 | £80,401 | £1,564.50 | 61 |
| 2025 provisional | £91,671 | £1,793.30 | £47.98 | £90,081 | £1,737.70 | 67 |
Information technology directors by region
UK: 197,000 (± 17,200), April 2025 to March 2026. 4 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 52,700* | ± 11,800 |
| South East | 42,100 | ± 8,100 |
| East of England | 22,200* | ± 6,400 |
| East Midlands | 16,500* | ± 5,400 |
| West Midlands | 13,000* | ± 4,700 |
| South West | 12,100* | ± 4,000 |
| North West | 11,500* | ± 4,100 |
| Wales | 6,300* | ± 2,200 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What information technology directors do
Information technology directors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the work and resources necessary to provide and operate IT infrastructure and services, including networks, devices, servers and software that runs on the infrastructure within an organisation. IT programme managers and directors direct and provide technical oversight to particular IT programmes of a discrete duration and/or budget. (ONS SOC 2020, 1137)
Also covers: chief Information officer, IT Director, managing director (computer services), programme manager (computing/IT), technical director (computer services), company director, development director, digital director, managing director, operations director, product director, programme manager, technical director, technology director, telecommunications director, chief AI officer, chief operating officer and chief technical officer (41 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Develops in consultation with other senior management the IT strategy of the organisation
- Directs the implementation within the organisation of IT strategy, infrastructure, procurement, procedures and standards
- Develops the periodic business plan and operational budget for IT to deliver agreed service levels
- Considers the required IT staffing levels, oversees recruitment and appointment of staff and directs training policy
- Prioritises and schedules major IT projects
- Ensures that new technologies are researched and evaluated in the light of the organisation’s broad requirements
There are no pre-set entry requirements although candidates usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification together with substantial, relevant work experience. A variety of professional and postgraduate qualifications is available.
Related
Functional managers and directors (median £75,264) · Human resource managers and directors · Charitable organisation managers and directors · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026