Whether you’re an employer looking to magnetise talent by building an attractive remuneration package or a professional planning your next career move, our guides provide the data and analysis you need to succeed.
With insights from over 18 million job postings on Reed.co.uk since 2017 and expert commentary, our guides empower you to make informed decisions in a fast-changing labour market.
Why salary and benefits insights are critical in 2026
The UK workforce is navigating a period of transformation. Economic shifts, skills shortages, and changing employee expectations are reshaping the job market. Employers are under pressure to attract and retain the best people they can, while professionals are seeking roles that align with their financial and personal goals.
Reed’s 2026 salary guides help you tackle these challenges head-on by offering:
Accurate salary benchmarks to stay competitive.
Research-backed insights into benefits that matter most to employees.
Regional and sector-specific data to guide your decisions.
Whether you’re hiring or job hunting, understanding the latest trends is key to thriving in 2026.
Who should use the 2026 salary guides?
Our salary guide is tailored for:
Employers looking to attract talent by benchmarking salaries against industry standards.
Growing businesses and startups setting competitive pay structures for all new roles.
Organisations focused on retention, ensuring current salaries and benefits align with market expectations.
Graduates and early-career professionals seeking clarity on salary expectations in all UK industries.
Professionals planning a relocation, with insights into local job markets and salary trends across the UK.
Jobseekers preparing for interviews or negotiations, armed with accurate, up-to-date salary data for their sector.
What industry-specific salary guides are available?
Our suite of guides cover 11 industries, offering detailed insights into salaries, benefits, and hiring trends. Sectors include:
Whether you’re benchmarking pay for entry-level roles or c-suite positions, our guides provide the data you need to make informed decisions.
Employers: Build competitive pay packages in 2026
In a tight labour market, offering competitive pay and benefits is no longer optional - it’s essential. Reed’s salary guides help employers to:
Benchmark salaries across roles, industries, and regions.
Identify benefits that resonate with today’s workforce, such as hybrid working and professional development.
Attract and retain talent with data-driven remuneration strategies.
Professionals: Take control of your career in 2026
Knowing your worth is the first step to achieving your career goals. Reed’s salary guides help professionals:
Assess whether your current salary reflects your skills and experience.
Identify roles and regions with higher earning potential.
Negotiate pay and benefits with confidence during interviews or reviews.
Whether you’re exploring opportunities in engineering, insurance, or finance, our guides equip you with the insights to make informed career decisions in 2026.
How can Reed’s salary guides 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.
The road ahead is undoubtedly challenging. The forces of AI, economic uncertainty, and shifting market dynamics require us all to be more agile, more innovative, and more people centric than ever before. For employers, this means rethinking recruitment strategies. You must look beyond traditional qualifications and focus on skills, adaptability, resilience and potential. It means investing in upskilling and reskilling your existing workforce to meet the demands of the new economy. And it means building a strong employer brand rooted in a genuine purpose that will attract the best people. For individuals, the message is clear: continuous learning is no longer optional. Developing a diverse skill set, particularly one that blends technical knowledge with people-centric abilities like communication, empathy, and critical thinking, will be crucial. We must all become lifelong learners to stay relevant and valuable in this evolving landscape.
Chairman and CEO, Reed
Why download the UK’s most trusted salary guides?
Our 2026 salary guides are your essential resource for navigating the fast-changing UK labour market. Here’s why they’re a must-have:
Accurate and reliable data: Built on insights from millions of job postings over nine years, they’re the most comprehensive and trusted source for salary benchmarking.
Regional insights: Access detailed salary trends across different UK regions to make informed decisions - whether you’re hiring, relocating, or negotiating.
Futureproof your talent strategy: With salary projections for 2027, you can stay ahead of market changes and plan effectively for emerging skills and roles.
Tailored for everyone: Whether you’re an employer, jobseeker, graduate, or startup, our guides are designed to meet your needs.
Visual clarity: Engaging charts and graphics make it easy to spot key salary shifts, benefits trends, and industry insights at a glance.
Make informed decisions with Reed’s 2026 suite of salary guides
Whether you’re crafting a competitive pay package or planning your next career move, Reed’s 2026 salary guides are your trusted resource for salary and benefits benchmarking.
Download your free suite of guides today and stay ahead in the UK job market.
