Managed service providers (MSPs) face an increasingly competitive hiring environment, as new research shows a near £91,000 gap between the highest and lowest-paid tech roles in the UK.
The study by IT training provider Tecnovy – based on salary data from Robert Half, Indeed and Glassdoor – highlights how strategic leadership and cybersecurity expertise command a significant premium. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) top the list at an average base salary of £123,712, followed closely by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) at £122,079.
Leadership positions dominate the upper ranks, with Chief Architects (£116,061), Chief Technology Officers (£104,321) and IT Directors (£92,978) all attracting six-figure packages or close to it. Security-focused roles, in particular, continue to see pay inflation as organisations grapple with rising cyber threats.
At the other end of the pay scale, entry-level and support roles such as Network Administrators (£32,651), Test Analysts (£34,794) and Applications Support staff (£38,998) are still essential to MSP operations but remain far less compensated. This disparity risks fuelling churn as skilled staff seek better-paid opportunities elsewhere – especially in specialist areas like cloud, architecture and security.
Ertul Topuzoglu, CEO of Tecnovy GmbH, said: "The high ranking of security-focused positions reflects the growing concern about cyber threats and data protection ...What's striking about these findings is the nearly £91,000 difference between the highest and lowest-paid tech roles. This salary gap presents a significant opportunity for tech professionals to increase their earning potential through targeted training and career progression."
With the talent market tightening, MSPs may need to rethink recruitment strategies to attract senior leadership while also nurturing junior talent into higher-value roles. The nearly fourfold pay gap, the report suggests, could be bridged over time with targeted skills development – but only if staff are given a clear path to progress.