Each month, Metrica Recruitment provides an in-depth look at the evolving salary trends in the UK IT and analytics sectors. Our May 2025 report outlines current salary benchmarks and key market movements across the most in-demand tech roles.
Based on the latest online market data, the table below highlights average salaries for some of the most in-demand analytical roles in the UK. These figures offer a useful benchmark for both job seekers evaluating opportunities and employers looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
| Junior Job Titles | May | Senior Job Titles | May |
| Data Analyst | £35,940 | Senior Data Analyst | £50,241 |
| Data Scientist | £52,349 | Senior Data Scientist | £72,423 |
| Data Engineer | £55,692 | Senior Data Engineer | £71,443 |
| Software Engineer | £48,858 | Senior Software Engineer | £68,645 |
| Data Governance Analyst | £45,501 | Senior Data Governance Analyst | £55,663 |
| Data Strategist | £51,264 | Senior Data Strategist | £62,500 |
| Automation Engineer | £46,590 | Senior Automation Engineer | £54,948 |
| Enterprise Data Architect | £81,298 | Senior Enterprise Data Architect | £87,142 |
| Web Developer | £32,178 | Senior Web Developer | £46,827 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | £61,826 | Lead Machine Learning Engineer | £96,691 |
| Network Security Engineer | £50,406 | Senior Network Security Engineer | £66,334 |
| ERP Analyst | £44,816 | Senior Software Architect | £108,325 |
IT Market Update
The UK’s IT job market continues its upward trajectory, driven by surging demand for digital infrastructure, security, and automation. In May 2025, average salaries for experienced IT professionals remained strong, reflecting ongoing talent shortages and competitive hiring across multiple sectors.
Top IT roles and average May salaries:
- Software Engineer – £48,858
- Data Engineer – £55,692
Key Trends:
- Cloud and DevOps roles are especially hard to fill, leading to premium salaries and counter-offers becoming more common.
- Cybersecurity professionals are in demand across finance, healthcare, and government sectors. While not listed in May’s dataset, similar roles now often command £60,000+.
- Software Engineers saw solid salary benchmarks near the £49,000 mark, aligning with national averages, though tech hubs like London and Cambridge may trend higher.
Salary Insight: Entry-level IT roles typically start around £23,000–£25,000, but many fast-track to mid-level pay brackets within two to three years due to accelerated skill acquisition (especially in cloud, full-stack, and automation).
Analytics Market Update
Data continues to dominate strategic decision-making across UK businesses, and employers are aggressively hiring for analytical roles. Salaries remain highly competitive for candidates with the right blend of tools and business acumen.
Top analytical roles and average May salaries:
- Data Analyst – £35,940
- Data Scientist – £52,349
- Data Governance Analyst – £45,501
Key Trends:
- Data Scientists and Engineers are at the top of the pay scale, reflecting the premium placed on advanced machine learning and scalable data pipeline capabilities.
- Skills in demand: SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau, and cloud data tools (Snowflake, Azure, AWS).
- Employers increasingly look for hybrid analysts who can not only interpret data but also tell compelling stories and influence business strategy.
Salary Insight: Entry-level analysts (often MSc graduates) are seeing starting salaries between £35,000–£40,000, with the ability to reach £50,000+ within 2–3 years, depending on specialisation.
Key Takeaways
- Data science, cloud, and cybersecurity roles continue to lead salary growth across the UK.
- Software and data engineers are in high demand, with average salaries exceeding £50,000.
- Entry-level salaries remain strong, with Data Analysts starting between £35,000–£40,000, and IT grads entering at £23,000–£25,000.
- Employers are still facing critical skill shortages, particularly in DevOps, cloud architecture, and AI-focused engineering.
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