UK Cyber security Salary Survey 2026: Hiring, Pay & Market Trends

The UK cyber market isn’t short on talent but it is becoming more mobile than most teams realise and increasingly competitive.

What’s changing isn’t just pay — it’s behaviour. People are more selective, more informed, and far more aware of what’s out there. They’re not jumping at the first opportunity, but they’re also not waiting around if something better comes along.

At the same time, hiring hasn’t necessarily slowed — but it has become less predictable. Processes are taking longer, expectations are shifting mid-cycle, and alignment between what companies want and what candidates expect isn’t always there from the outset.

That’s where most of the friction is coming from.

This report is built from what people in the UK market are actually seeing right now, how they’re thinking about moves, what they’re prioritising, and how decisions are being made on both sides.

If you’re hiring, or thinking about your next move, it should give you a clearer sense of where things stand and where they’re starting to shift.

The UK Cyber Security Salary Survey 2026 Report can be downloaded here.