• In contrast, mid-level and senior roles continue to experience upward salary momentum. Larger organisations, in particular, are offering significant premiums to attract and retain talent.
• On average, big tech-driven firms pay about £15,000 more than smaller companies, equivalent to a 20% salary uplift, even when excluding the smallest employers.
• This reflects increasing competition among well-capitalised organisations seeking to secure experienced professionals, protect intellectual property, and reduce talent churn.

At the top end of the market, senior leadership roles in Data and AI remain highly lucrative. Positions such as Chief Data Officer or Head of AI command an average salary of £156,100, with typical ranges between £120,000 and £200,000. These packages are often further enhanced with performance-related bonuses and long-term incentive structures.

More insight

Workforce data also shows that 66.7% of professionals surveyed reported receiving a pay rise in the past year, although this trend is not evenly distributed. Entry-level employees were least likely to benefit, with only 56% reporting a salary increase, reinforcing concerns about stagnation at the bottom of the career ladder.

• Work arrangement is also emerging as a key factor in compensation differences. Employees working fully from the office recorded higher average salaries compared to remote workers.
• Office-based professionals earned an average of £87,000, compared to £72,000 for remote workers, representing a 17.24% pay gap. This disparity is partly attributed to the concentration of senior leadership roles within office-based environments.

Despite relatively high earnings across the sector, perceptions of pay fairness remain mixed. Around 43% of respondents believe their salaries are lower or much lower than those of peers in similar roles, while only 14% believe they earn more than average.

What you should know

Nairametrics previously reported that demand for AI skills is accelerating across industries, with research showing generative AI capabilities can boost salaries by up to 47%, according to labour market insights from Indeed.

• PwC's Global AI Jobs Barometer 2024 further shows that job postings requiring AI skills are growing 3.5x faster than other roles, while AI-related roles can attract wage premiums of up to 25% in some markets.
• PwC also found that skills requirements are changing 25% faster in jobs most exposed to AI, highlighting how rapidly AI is reshaping workforce expectations and compensation structures.

In 2025, the average UK graduate salary stood at £40,000, compared to an average of £84,376 in the Data and AI sector.