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After a couple of tough years, there are signs of life in the technology hiring market. Following a sustained period of layoffs, 46% of hiring managers in the UK IT and tech sector plan to add new positions for permanent full-time employees, according to recruiter Robert Half’s latest technology salary guide.
Outside of big tech, the financial services, private equity, retail, manufacturing, and energy sectors are slated to be the most actively recruiting for tech talent this year.
What impact is this shift having on salaries?
Proficiency with AI is a focus area for hiring managers, as is adding cloud and data and analytics skills. “Businesses across the UK are waking up to the broad potential of artificial intelligence, with 72% of employers encouraging their workers to use generative AI tools for routine tasks and enhanced productivity,” Robert Half’s latest trends report concluded.
In this environment, job security is a top priority for tech employees, with 43% of those surveyed by Robert Half placing greater importance on job stability over salary. And 48% would like financial allowances for working from home offered by their employers as a benefit, with many happy to take a pay cut for the benefit of remote working.
Below, we have picked out the average starting salaries for engineering and management roles in the UK from Robert Half’s 2025 Salary Guide, based on research conducted in June and July 2024. These figures represent the national average salary range for the 50th and 75th percentile of applicants.
Chief technology officer (CTO): £124,750-£158,250
Chief Architect: £125,750-£145,000
Head of Engineering: £89,500-£110,750
DevOps Manager: £96,000-£106,500
Lead Engineer: £73,250-£81,000
Test Manager: £56,250-£76,250
Cloud Engineer: £60,750-£66,000
Fullstack Developer: £57,250-£70,500
Front-End Developer: £56,000-£76,750
Back-End Developer: £53,250-£72,250
