Tech salaries can vary widely for roles that look similar on paper. Getting the number right first time saves weeks of back and forth, and stops you losing your preferred candidate at the final hurdle.
Benchmark the real role
Compare roles with the same skills, seniority and responsibilities, not just the same job title. A "senior engineer" means different things in a start-up and a global bank.
Use several sources
- Live data from recruiters who are placing similar roles right now.
- What your own recent hires and offers looked like, and why candidates accepted or declined.
- Published salary surveys, used with care, as they can lag behind the market.
Location and working pattern
Remote and hybrid working mean you're often competing with employers across the UK, not just locally. Be clear how location affects your pay ranges.
Look at the whole package
Bonus, equity, pension, learning budgets, flexibility and a clear path to progression all count. They can close a gap when the base salary is fixed.
When the budget doesn't stretch
- Consider a slightly less senior hire with strong potential, plus training.
- Look at contract cover while you hire, or adjust the scope of the role.
- Be honest with candidates early about the range, to avoid disappointment late on.
We share salary and day-rate data from the searches we run every week, free and confidentially. Request a salary benchmark.
