The UK tech sector continues to offer some of the most competitive salaries in Europe. Here's a breakdown of the roles paying the most in 2025, based on active job listings and industry salary surveys.
Top 10 Highest Paying UK Tech Roles
- Machine Learning Engineer — £95,000–£160,000
With AI adoption accelerating, ML engineers are in extreme demand across fintech, healthcare, and retail. - Cloud Architect (AWS/Azure/GCP) — £90,000–£150,000
Multi-cloud expertise commands premium rates as enterprises modernize infrastructure. - Engineering Manager — £85,000–£140,000
Senior ICs who can lead teams are worth their weight in gold. - Staff Software Engineer — £80,000–£130,000
The 'principal' level at top tech firms like Monzo, Revolut, and DeepMind. - Data Platform Engineer — £75,000–£120,000
Companies building data products need specialists who can scale pipelines. - Security Engineer (AppSec) — £75,000–£115,000
Cybersecurity talent shortage keeps salaries elevated. - DevOps/Platform Engineer — £70,000–£110,000
Kubernetes, Terraform, and CI/CD expertise are in constant demand. - Product Manager (Growth) — £70,000–£105,000
PMs with proven PLG track records command top of band. - Mobile Engineer (iOS/Android) — £65,000–£100,000
Consumer apps still drive premium mobile hiring. - Data Scientist — £60,000–£95,000
More commoditized than ML Engineering, but still very strong.
London vs Outside London
London salaries typically run 20–35% higher than equivalent roles elsewhere in the UK. However, Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh are closing the gap as remote-friendly companies expand hiring outside the capital.
How to Negotiate Your Salary
The single most effective tactic: always get competing offers. Data shows that candidates with a competing offer negotiate an average of 14% higher final compensation.