Updated for 2026 · Free data

UK IT Salaries 2026

Complete salary data for UK IT roles by position, region and experience level. Find out exactly what you could earn after an IT career change.

12
IT roles covered
10
UK regions
2026
Data updated

Salary by role and experience

All figures are annual gross salary in GBP. Based on UK job market data for 2026.

RoleCategoryEntry levelMid levelSenior levelLondon premiumCertificationDemand
1st Line IT Helpdesk
Most accessible entry point for career changers. High volume of vacancies across the UK.
Support£22,000-£26,000£26,000-£32,000£32,000-£38,000+15-20%CompTIA A+Very high
2nd Line IT Support
Natural progression from 1st line. Typically 12 to 18 months experience required.
Support£26,000-£32,000£32,000-£40,000£40,000-£48,000+15-20%CompTIA A+High
Microsoft 365 Administrator
Huge demand across NHS, local government and private sector. MS-102 certification strongly preferred.
Microsoft£28,000-£34,000£34,000-£45,000£45,000-£58,000+20%MS-102Very high
Azure Cloud Engineer
One of the fastest growing roles in UK tech. Strong demand from NHS Digital and large enterprises.
Cloud£32,000-£40,000£40,000-£55,000£55,000-£80,000+20-25%AZ-104Very high
Cloud Solutions Architect
Senior progression from cloud engineer. Usually requires 3 to 5 years cloud experience.
Cloud£55,000-£70,000£70,000-£90,000£90,000-£130,000+25%AZ-305High
Cyber Security Analyst
Shortage of qualified professionals. NHS, defence and finance sector pay premium rates.
Security£28,000-£36,000£36,000-£50,000£50,000-£70,000+20%CompTIA Security+Very high
IT Project Manager
Strong demand in NHS digital transformation programmes. PRINCE2 widely recognised in public sector.
Management£35,000-£45,000£45,000-£60,000£60,000-£85,000+20%PRINCE2 + AZ-900High
DevOps Engineer
High growth role. Terraform and CI/CD pipeline experience increasingly expected alongside cloud certs.
Cloud£38,000-£50,000£50,000-£70,000£70,000-£100,000+20%AZ-104 + TerraformVery high
Service Desk Analyst
Similar to 1st line helpdesk. NHS and local government are major employers of this role type.
Support£22,000-£27,000£27,000-£34,000£34,000-£42,000+15%CompTIA A+High
IT Business Analyst
Strong fit for NHS workers with clinical audit or change management experience.
Management£30,000-£40,000£40,000-£55,000£55,000-£75,000+20%PRINCE2 + BCSGrowing
NHS Digital Specialist
A specialist role requiring clinical systems knowledge, typically pursued after entry-level IT experience. Not the direct target of the SmoothOps 365 course, but a strong longer-term path for those with a clinical background.
Healthcare IT£30,000-£38,000£38,000-£50,000£50,000-£65,000+10%MS-102 or AZ-104Growing
Clinical Systems Admin
Manages EPR systems like EMIS, SystmOne, Lorenzo. Clinical background is a major advantage.
Healthcare IT£26,000-£34,000£34,000-£44,000£44,000-£56,000+15%MS-102High
Salary data reflects UK job market conditions as of 2026. Figures are indicative and vary by employer, location and individual experience. SmoothOps 365 does not guarantee specific salary outcomes.

Salary by UK region

How location affects your IT salary and what that means for your career change decision.

+20-25%
vs baseline
London
Highest salaries but also highest cost of living. Remote work has reduced London premium.
+10-15%
vs baseline
South East
Strong demand around M25 corridor, Reading, Brighton and Guildford.
Baseline
vs baseline
North West
Manchester and Salford are strong IT hubs. Good NHS digital employment.
Baseline
vs baseline
Yorkshire
Leeds and Sheffield growing tech scenes. NHS Digital headquartered in Leeds.
Baseline
vs baseline
West Midlands
Birmingham large employer base. Good opportunities in health and public sector.
-5 to 0%
vs baseline
Wales
Cardiff and Newport growing. NHS Wales actively hiring IT professionals.
Baseline
vs baseline
Scotland
Edinburgh and Glasgow strong. NHS Scotland good employer.
-5 to 0%
vs baseline
Northern Ireland
Belfast growing tech scene. Lower cost of living offsets salary difference.
+5-10%
vs baseline
East of England
Cambridge and Ipswich strong. Many biotech and healthcare tech employers.
-5 to 0%
vs baseline
South West
Bristol strong tech scene. Remote work has boosted salaries in the region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average IT salary in the UK?
It depends heavily on the role and experience level. Entry-level IT support roles typically start around £22,000 to £27,000, while experienced Microsoft 365 administrators, cloud engineers and cyber security analysts commonly earn £45,000 to £80,000 or more. See the full breakdown by role above.
What is the average IT support salary in the UK?
1st line IT support typically pays £22,000 to £26,000 at entry level, rising to £32,000 to £38,000 at senior level. 2nd line support pays more, usually £26,000 to £48,000 depending on experience.
How much does a cloud engineer earn in the UK?
An Azure Cloud Engineer in the UK typically earns £32,000 to £40,000 at entry level, £40,000 to £55,000 at mid level, and £55,000 to £80,000 or more at senior level, with London roles paying a further 20 to 25% premium.
How much does a cyber security analyst earn in the UK?
A Cyber Security Analyst in the UK typically earns £28,000 to £36,000 at entry level, rising to £36,000 to £50,000 at mid level and £50,000 to £70,000 at senior level. Demand is very high and qualified candidates are in short supply.
Is IT support a good entry point for a career change?
Yes. IT support roles have the lowest barrier to entry of any IT career path, typically requiring a recognised entry-level certification like CompTIA A+ rather than a degree, and they lead directly into higher-paying roles like Microsoft 365 administration, cloud engineering and cyber security within 12 to 24 months.

Ready to reach these salaries?

SmoothOps 365 trains healthcare workers and career changers into IT roles in 3 months. Weekend sessions only. Keep your current job throughout.

View the IT Career Programme NHS career change guide