For employers
Hire cybersecurity talent in United Kingdom
What to pay, what a hire really costs, how competitive the market is, and where to post - built on live data from United Kingdom's security job market.
476 open security roles in United Kingdom right now. That is your competition for the same candidates.
What to pay in United Kingdom
Benchmark ranges by role, refreshed quarterly.
| Role | Typical pay (USD) | Local |
|---|---|---|
| CISO | $120k - $210k | £95k–£167k |
| Senior Security Engineer | $85k - $130k | £67k–£103k |
| Cloud Security Engineer | $72k - $115k | £57k–£91k |
| AppSec Engineer | $65k - $105k | £52k–£83k |
| Security Engineer | $62k - $100k | £49k–£79k |
| Penetration Tester | $52k - $88k | £41k–£70k |
| GRC Analyst | $45k - $75k | £36k–£60k |
| SOC Analyst | $30k - $52k | £24k–£41k |
What a Security Engineer hire really costs
On a $81,000 salary in United Kingdom. On-costs (~25%) and the agency fee (~20%) are labeled, industry-standard estimates.
Via a recruitment agency
$117,450
$81,000 salary + $20,250 on-costs + $16,200 agency fee
Posting the role directly
$101,549
Same salary + on-costs, but $299 to post. Saves about $15,901.
Ready to hire?
Post your role to United Kingdom's security candidates
Direct-apply to your own ATS, no recruiter middleman. Or turn your company page into a branded employer page.
How to run the hire
Our data-backed guides walk through screening, interviewing, and closing each role - plus a free, printable hiring kit.
Free cybersecurity hiring kit
Interview scorecard, screening checklist, JD template, and offer checklist. Built for hiring managers.
Frequently asked questions
- What does it cost to hire a cybersecurity professional in United Kingdom?
- Salaries in United Kingdom range from about $30,000 for a SOC Analyst up to $210,000 for a CISO.
- What is the true first-year cost of a Security Engineer hire in United Kingdom?
- On a $81,000 salary, budget roughly $20,250 in employer on-costs. A recruitment agency at 20% adds about $16,200, taking the first year to $117,450. Posting the role directly instead costs $299, saving about $15,901.
- How competitive is the cybersecurity job market in United Kingdom?
- There are 476 open security roles in United Kingdom on our board right now. That is who you are competing against for the same candidates, so a published salary range and a fast, clear process matter.
- Where is the best place to post a cybersecurity job in United Kingdom?
- A specialist security board reaches candidates who are actively applying to security roles, rather than a generalist audience you have to filter. Our postings are direct-apply, so candidates go straight to your applicant tracking system.
Looking for work instead? See cybersecurity jobs in United Kingdom and the highest-paying roles there.