Cybersecurity might be one of the most in-demand tech skills in the UK, but a new report from Harvey Nash shows that most security pros are stuck with stagnating wages.

Despite repairing the damage done by a wave of high-profile attacks last year and fending off countless others, the recruitment firm’s latest Tech Talent & Salary Report found 77% of the UK’s cybersecurity professionals missed out on a pay rise.

Surveying more than 1,300 UK tech professionals, the study found that around 60% of those in infrastructure, support and DevOps roles, and 55% in AI/ML, got a pay rise last year, compared with just 23% of those working in cybersecurity.

Pessimism surrounding pay expectations within UK cyber is rife, according to the report, with only 45% of security professionals anticipating a pay rise this year, compared to 53% of those in software engineering, and almost three-quarters (71%) of those working in AI and machine learning.

The Harvey Nash report also found that almost half (48%) of UK cybersecurity pros plan to change jobs in the next twelve months, above the UK average of 45% and the seventh‑highest rate of any tech role.

“We’re asking cybersecurity teams to stand on the front line of business risk, yet too often we’re not matching that responsibility with the reward, progression and operating environment that keeps people in the profession,” said Ankur Anand, Harvey Nash CIO.

“When pay lags the market, workload keeps rising, and the role is seen as a blocker rather than an enabler, it’s no surprise that attrition starts to look like the path of least resistance.”

Across the country’s tech industry, pay is the primary reason workers consider leaving their role (56%), followed by stalled career progression (38%) and poor organisational culture (30%).

When looking for their next assignment, 87% of UK professionals stated that an organisation’s sense of purpose is important, while 75% follow the money. The opportunity for remote work is also important, with more than half saying they would not be prepared to accept a role that didn’t offer hybrid working.

Hybrid working is also viewed as a well-being factor, with reduced commuting times providing better use of personal time and increased productivity (84%), and improved work-life balance (81%), resulting in 39% prepared to take a lower salary to work from home more often. 

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UK tech workers are also looking for more from their next boss, with 44% agreeing they value leaders who have a deep understanding of technology, and 18% feeling that a lack of technical literacy amongst leaders is a huge barrier to meeting their goals.

When it comes to defining what makes a great tech leader, more than half (57%) of UK workers said that communication is key, while 55% value a leader’s ability to create a positive culture within the team.

“Tech professionals are looking to their leaders with an expectation of clear strategic direction, fair reward, flexible approaches to working, and a supportive environment in which they can build fulfilling careers,” said Simon Crichton, CEO of Harvey Nash.

“The best technology leaders are those that integrate the development and deployment of AI into a coherent overall strategy that continues to have the skills and abilities of tech professionals at its heart.”