The food & FMCG sector is evolving rapidly, and staying informed about salary benchmarks is essential for both employers and professionals. Our 2026 food & FMCG salary guide delivers the most current pay trends, detailed wage data, and expert insights across eight UK regions.
Whether you’re a hiring manager aiming to attract the best talent or a professional planning your next career move, this guide provides the clarity you need to make informed decisions.
The food & FMCG sector is navigating a period of cautious optimism. While hiring processes may be slower, opportunities abound for businesses that are agile and strategic. The key to success lies not just in adopting new technologies but in understanding what truly motivates today's workforce.
Regional Director - Food & FMCG, Reed
Who is the 2026 food & FMCG salary guide designed for?
Our food & FMCG salary guide is tailored for:
Employers aiming to attract talent by benchmarking salaries against competitors.
New startups determining competitive pay for their employees.
Businesses looking to retain talent by aligning existing salaries with market standards.
Graduates and young professionals entering the industry, providing a clear understanding of salary expectations.
Food and FMCG professionals ensuring their current earnings align with regional averages.
Professionals planning to relocate, offering insights into local job markets and salary trends.
Jobseekers preparing for negotiations with potential employers.
Looking for food & FMCG benchmarking insights?
Gain a competitive edge in the food industry with precise benchmarking insights. This guide gives you all the information you need to make informed decisions about your salary and benefits package. Whether you are looking to hire a food/beverage technologist in the Midlands, a hygiene manager in the South East, or a technical director in London, this is your go-to resource.
Curious about what you should be earning?
Discover how your salary compares to industry standards and ensure you're positioned for success in today’s competitive food and FMCG market.
Whether you're looking to enter the industry, negotiating a pay rise, or exploring new opportunities, this guide is your go-to resource for staying informed and ahead of the curve.
For the first time in years, employers are actively listening to employees and jobseekers’ feedback and adapting their strategies. This includes rethinking traditional working patterns, such as the four-on-four-off 12-hour shifts, which can be unsociable and difficult to balance with family life. By considering more flexible hours, companies are looking for new ways to make roles more appealing and secure the workforce needed to keep production lines moving. This willingness to evolve signals a proactive approach to overcoming the region's unique geographical and demographic hurdles, turning recruitment challenges into opportunities for innovation.
Area Manager, Reed
What jobs are covered in the Reed food & FMCG salary guide 2026?
This guide provides salary data for a number of key roles across the food sector, from entry-level to c-suite executives, including:
Health & safety manager
QA/QC technician
Specifications technologist
NPD technologist
NPD manager
Quality auditor
Chief commercial officer
Sales manager
How can Reed’s food & FMCG salary guide assist with benefits and rewards benchmarking?
At the end of 2025, we conducted our annual survey of 5,000 UK workers to understand how they feel about their salaries, benefits, role and responsibilities, as well as job satisfaction and market trends.
Some key findings include:
20% of professionals feel unhappy with their current salary.
The overwhelming reason for salary dissatisfaction is that pay hasn't kept pace with the cost of living.
26% of respondents have £100 or less leftover each month after essential bills, with seven per cent stating their entire salary goes to essentials.
To switch jobs, individuals expect a substantial average pay increase of £12,139.55.
On average, men earn £48,367.15, while women earn £33,852.12, a difference of over £14,500.
And women have significantly less disposable income, with an average of £626.61 left over monthly compared to £983.38 for men.
Younger workers (25-34) are most willing to sacrifice benefits for higher pay…
… while older workers (55+) are significantly less willing to do so, suggesting they value their existing benefits more.
See all the results from our survey and use this guide to make informed decisions on salaries and benefits in the UK’s food & FMCG sector for 2026.
Download your copy now.
