Pay Up or Expect Attrition: 77% of Cyber Professionals Missed Out on Pay Rises Last Year
IT Pro, Monday, April 27th, 2026
77% of UK cybersecurity professionals received no pay raises last year, with nearly half planning to switch roles.
According to Harvey Nash's 2026 Tech Talent & Salary Report, 77% of UK cybersecurity professionals missed out on pay raises last year, significantly below other tech roles like DevOps and infrastructure support which saw 60% receive increases.
The lack of compensation combined with rising workloads and limited career progression has created serious attrition risks, with nearly half (48%) of cyber professionals planning to switch jobs within the next year.
Industry leaders warn that organizations are failing to match cybersecurity responsibilities with adequate rewards, causing talented staff to leave for other opportunities. This trend exacerbates existing UK cybersecurity skills shortages that are already putting firms at higher risk of cyberattacks.