PR and Communications Salary Survey 2026
2026 Market overview and salary benchmarks for UK agencies and in-house communications roles.
A More Measured Market in 2026
Welcome to the PRFutures PR and Comms 2026 UK Salary and Market Guide. Inside, you will find a detailed overview of salary benchmarks across PR & Communication roles, alongside market insight drawn directly from conversations with agencies, in-house teams and candidates across the UK.
Moving into 2026, the PR and communications market remains cautious, competitive and highly selective. Hiring has not ground to a halt, but it has become far more deliberate. This guide is designed to help employers benchmark salaries realistically, understand shifting talent expectations and plan with clarity, while giving candidates the context they need to navigate career decisions with confidence.
What we’re seeing is companies tightening their purse strings and protecting their margins, which has meant the senior end has taken the brunt of redundancies. Not because senior talent isn’t valued, but because businesses are nervous about fixed costs at the top. At the same time, demand hasn’t disappeared. It’s shifted.
Hiring is very much concentrated in the mid-level space, people who can deliver, manage day-to-day client work, and keep momentum without the top-end salary commitment. That’s where most activity has been over the past year.
Interestingly, we’re now starting to see a slight uptick at AD to Associate level, which suggests confidence is tentatively returning, but decisions are still cautious and heavily scrutinised. Businesses are hiring, but doing so with one eye firmly on profit protection.
UK PR Agency Salary Benchmarks 2026
Consumer PR
| Role | Salary Range |
| Account Executive | £27k–£30k |
| Senior Account Executive | £30k–£35k |
| Account Manager | £36k–£42k |
| Senior Account Manager | £42k–£48k |
| Account Director | £50k–£58k |
| Senior Account Director | £60k–£70k |
| Associate Director | £75k–£85k |
| Director | £85k–£110k |
| Managing Director | £100k–£150k |
| Chief Executive Officer | £125k+ |
Technology, Professional Services & Corporate PR
| Role | Salary Range |
| Account Executive | £28k–£32k |
| Senior Account Executive | £32k–£36k |
| Account Manager | £37k–£45k |
| Senior Account Manager | £45k–£50k |
| Account Director | £55–£65k |
| Senior Account Director | £65k–£75k |
| Associate Director | £75k–£85k |
| Director | £80k–£115k |
| Managing Director | £100k–£180k |
| Chief Executive Officer | £150k+ |
Financial, Services & Healthcare/Life Sciences PR and Public Affairs
| Role | Salary Range |
| Account Executive | £28k–£32k |
| Senior Account Executive | £33k–£37k |
| Account Manager | £38k–£46k |
| Senior Account Manager | £46k–£55k |
| Account Director | £60k–£65k |
| Senior Account Director | £70k–£80k |
| Associate Director | £80k–£90k |
| Director | £85k–£140k |
| Managing Director | £135k–£200k |
| Chief Executive Officer | £170k+ |
UK In-House PR and Comms Salaries by Sector
Consumer PR
| Level | Salary Range |
| Executive/Senior Executive | £27k–£40k |
| Manager | £40k–£55k |
| Senior Manager | £75k–£120k |
| Head of or Director (Regional) | £46k–£55k |
| Head of or Director (Global) | £100-£150k |
Technology, Professional Services & Corporate PR
| Level | Salary Range |
| Executive/Senior Executive | £30k–£45k |
| Manager | £50k–£65k |
| Senior Manager | £65k–£80k |
| Head of or Director (Regional) | £80k–£135k |
| Head of or Director (Global) | £110k–£200k |
Financial, Services & Healthcare/Life Sciences PR and Public Affairs
| Level | Salary Range |
| Executive/Senior Executive | £32k–£45k |
| Manager | £50k–£65k |
| Senior Manager | £65k–£85k |
| Head of or Director (Regional) | £85k–£145k |
| Head of or Director (Global) | £115k–£220k |
The PR and Marketing Overlap
Many in-house roles now blend PR, communications and marketing responsibilities. Professionals with experience across media relations, content, digital channels and brand strategy are often better positioned to secure higher salaries.
This convergence reflects how organisations now view reputation, brand and stakeholder engagement as interconnected disciplines requiring integrated expertise.
What Matters Most in 2026
The PR and Communications market is not broken, but it is recalibrating. Hiring decisions are slower, expectations are higher and the margin for error is smaller. At the same time, talented professionals are seeking stability, clarity and meaningful progression more than ever.
The organisations that will succeed in 2026 are those that invest thoughtfully, communicate transparently and build teams with long-term capability in mind. Likewise, the professionals who thrive will be those who demonstrate commercial awareness, adaptability and the ability to add value beyond delivery alone.
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Please do contact us for advice or if you have any current recruitment needs.