What insurance professionals are earning in 2026
Pay in UK insurance is holding up well, but the picture is increasingly uneven. Technical, judgement-based and revenue-generating roles remain in strong demand, while more routine roles are seeing slower growth as automation and AI change how work gets done.
This guide brings together the latest published salary data for the UK insurance market with our own view as a specialist insurance recruitment agency that has been recruiting in insurance for 14 years. Figures are typical base salaries and exclude bonuses, car allowances and benefits.
Underwriting salaries 2026
| Role | Typical base salary (UK) | Market notes |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriting Assistant / Trainee | £24,000 – £30,000 | Hays entry level from £28,840 |
| Underwriter | £35,000 – £50,000 | Glassdoor UK base £28k–£53k; Prospects qualified c.£45k |
| Senior Underwriter | £50,000 – £75,000 | London underwriter average £57,679 (Glassdoor) |
| Underwriting Manager / Lead Underwriter | £75,000 – £100,000 | Prospects senior managers and leads c.£100k |
| Head of Underwriting | £100,000 – £150,000+ | Hays senior £138,750; head of function up to £267,500 |
Claims salaries 2026
| Role | Typical base salary (UK) | Market notes |
|---|---|---|
| Claims Assistant / Junior Claims Handler | £22,000 – £28,000 | Glassdoor UK average base £24,000 (range £20k–£29k) |
| Claims Handler (experienced) | £28,000 – £35,000 | Prospects £28k–£35k; PayScale London £31k–£34k |
| Technical / Senior Claims Handler | £35,000 – £45,000 | Insure Recruitment estimate between handler and manager |
| Claims Team Leader / Claims Manager | £45,000 – £60,000 | Prospects £45k–£60k; Glassdoor manager base £32k–£60k |
| Head of Claims | £90,000 – £150,000 | Hays senior £103,000; head up to £154,500; Prospects £100k+ in London |
Broking & account handling salaries 2026
| Role | Typical base salary (UK) | Market notes |
|---|---|---|
| Account Handler | £25,000 – £35,000 | Advertised account handler pay up 15% year on year (Reed) |
| Senior Account Handler / Account Manager | £35,000 – £50,000 | Prospects experienced account managers £30k–£60k |
| Account Executive | £35,000 – £55,000 | Glassdoor base £30k–£51k; advertised pay down 7.9% (Reed) |
| New Business / Development Executive | £45,000 – £75,000 | Prospects qualified brokers up to £75k |
| Broking Director | £100,000 – £150,000+ | Hays senior £138,750; head of function up to £267,500 |
Compliance & risk salaries 2026
| Role | Typical base salary (UK) | Market notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Assistant / Trainee | £25,000 – £31,000 | Prospects trainees up to £25k; Hays entry from £30,900 |
| Compliance Officer | £30,000 – £45,000 | Glassdoor UK average base £35,132 |
| Risk Manager | £30,000 – £70,000 | Prospects insurance risk manager range |
| Compliance Manager | £50,000 – £75,000 | Prospects senior and manager roles from £50k |
| Head of Compliance | £90,000 – £150,000 | Hays senior £92,700, head up to £154,500; compliance director pay up 7.8% (Reed) |
Biggest movers in advertised pay
Rising
- Insurance account handlers +15%
- Compliance directors +7.8%
- Protection advisers +30.3%
Falling
- Insurance account executives −7.9%
- Investment analysts −18.1%
Source: Reed, April 2026. Average advertised insurance pay rose 4.5%, slightly behind 5.3% across all UK jobs.
London vs the rest of the UK
Salaries in London and the London Market are typically higher than elsewhere in the UK, reflecting the concentration of insurers, Lloyd's businesses and specialist broking. For example, Glassdoor reports an average underwriter salary of £57,679 in London, compared with £41,592 across the UK.
The ranges above are UK-wide. Roles in London will usually sit towards the top of each range, and roles in other regions towards the middle or lower end, depending on the employer, class of business and level of experience.
What this means for you
Employers: with two in three professionals open to a move and nearly half unhappy with their pay, competitive and clearly advertised salaries matter more than ever for attracting and keeping good people.
Candidates: strong technical skills, qualifications and client-facing experience continue to command a premium, particularly in underwriting, claims and compliance.
How we compiled this guide
We reviewed the most recent publicly available salary data for UK insurance roles, published between December 2023 and July 2026, and combined it into typical base salary ranges for each role. Where sources differ, our ranges reflect the middle of the published figures. Ranges are indicative and will vary by employer, location, class of business, qualifications and experience.
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