Cyber Experts Not Attracting Higher Salaries, Despite Attacks

Why It Matters

Stagnant pay erodes cyber talent retention, heightening organisations’ exposure to costly breaches and regulatory scrutiny. Addressing compensation is now a strategic imperative for safeguarding digital assets.

Key Takeaways

• 77% of UK cyber staff received no pay increase last year
• Only 23% of UK cyber professionals got a salary raise
• 48% plan to change jobs within 12 months, highest attrition risk
• Cyber roles show lower optimism than infrastructure or software engineering
• 61% of UK cyber workers don’t fear AI-driven job loss

Pulse Analysis

The talent crunch in UK cyber security is deepening, as the Harvey Nash data shows a stark disconnect between market demand and compensation. While businesses scramble to patch vulnerabilities after headline‑making attacks at Jaguar Land Rover and Marks & Spencer, the majority of cyber practitioners are seeing stagnant wages. This mismatch fuels a talent exodus; nearly half of surveyed professionals intend to leave within a year, a churn rate that can cripple incident response capabilities and inflate recruitment costs.

Compensation trends across the broader tech sector highlight the disparity. Infrastructure, DevOps and AI/ML engineers are enjoying pay hikes in the 55‑60% range, reflecting their perceived value in digital transformation initiatives. Cyber security, however, lags far behind, with only a quarter of workers receiving raises. The resulting morale gap is evident in optimism scores: just 45% of cyber staff expect future salary growth, versus over 50% in adjacent disciplines. Companies that ignore this gap risk not only losing seasoned defenders but also attracting less experienced talent, which can weaken overall security posture.

Strategic leaders must treat cyber talent as a core capability rather than a cost centre. Aligning remuneration with market benchmarks, offering clear career pathways, and reducing workload pressures can curb attrition. Moreover, positioning cyber teams as business enablers—visible to boards and customers—enhances trust and compliance outcomes. In a landscape where a single breach can erode millions in revenue and brand equity, investing in competitive pay and supportive environments is no longer optional; it is a defensive necessity.