What should you pay your next leader?

Name: Search Studio UK startup and scaleup salary benchmark 2026
Creator: Search Studio

Directional base salary ranges for five functions from manager to C suite, built from current 2026 salary surveys, placement data and specialist market guides.

How to use this

A starting point for the brief, not a substitute for one.

These are permanent base salary bands, not total compensation. They are London weighted because the strongest current datasets are concentrated there. Regional offers often sit 5 to 15 per cent lower, while international scope, scarce sector knowledge or a demanding transformation remit can move a role higher.

Titles are inconsistent in growing companies. Match the range to the decisions, team, budget and outcomes the person will own.

Base salary in thousands

Choose the function.

Every range is a synthesis of published 2026 market data. Source notes are below.

Function

Sales

Base salary only. Commission and on target earnings can materially increase the total package.

Manager

Sales Manager

First line leadership, coaching and ownership of a defined team target.

£60k to £95kDirectional midpoint £78k

Head

Head of Sales

Building the sales motion, team and forecast around a repeatable route to revenue.

£90k to £170kDirectional midpoint £130k

Director or VP

Sales Director or VP Sales

Company wide revenue leadership with a larger team, more complex motion or international scope.

£120k to £208kDirectional midpoint £164k

C suite

Chief Revenue Officer

Executive ownership of revenue strategy, sales performance and cross functional commercial alignment.

£180k to £260kDirectional midpoint £220k

Take it into the hiring meeting

The complete benchmark, built to share.

Ten concise pages covering every range, the factors that move an offer and the questions that turn a benchmark into a proper brief.

Read the range properly

Three things the number cannot tell you on its own.

Role scope beats title

A Head of Finance reporting to a CFO is not the same hire as the sole finance leader advising the board.

Stage changes the trade

Earlier companies may exchange some base salary for meaningful equity. Later scaleups usually pay more for complexity and proven range.

Total reward still matters

Bonus, commission, equity, pension, flexibility and the quality of the mandate all affect whether a credible candidate will move.

Methodology and sources

Real data, with the caveats left in.

We checked these sources on 28 August 2026 and reconciled overlapping roles into practical ranges for UK startups and scaleups. We have not averaged incompatible titles or treated a job board estimate as a precise offer recommendation.

01
Robert Walters
London salary bands for Sales, Finance and People roles at employers with 50 to 250 people.
UK Salary Survey 2026
02
Robert Half
Role percentiles for Marketing and Operations, supported by placement data and third party vacancy data.
2026 UK Salary Guide
03
Wave Talent
Early stage technology context, London weighting and regional adjustment guidance.
UK Permanent Salary Guide 2026
04
Live Digital
National and London base salary and on target earnings ranges for Sales leadership.
UK SaaS Sales Salaries 2026
05
Accountancy Capital
Role scope and London salary ranges for Heads of Finance in growing businesses.
Head of Finance Salary Guide 2026
06
Morgan McKinley
Experience based London ranges for Head of Operations and Chief Operating Officer roles.
London Operations Salary Guide 2026

Salary data dates quickly. We plan to review this benchmark at least quarterly and will update the date whenever the underlying ranges change.

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