Security Engineer Salary UK 2025 — Permanent, Contract & Day Rates
Last updated: June 2025 • 7 min read • Written by: ClickMasters HR Team • Reviewed by: Market data reviewed annually
Direct Answer
Security Engineer salaries in the UK range from £55,000 (junior) to £900–£1,400/day (senior). CREST certification (for penetration testers) commands a 30–40% premium. Cloud security (AWS/Azure security architecture, IAM, security groups) is the fastest-growing security specialism. UK GDPR Article 32 technical measures expertise is increasingly required for financial services security roles. CISSP certification adds 15–25% premium.
Market Outlook
Security Engineers (Application Security, Cloud Security, Penetration Testers) are among the most undersupplied roles in the UK technology market. UK GDPR Article 32, Cyber Essentials mandates, FCA operational resilience, and NCSC Secure by Design requirements have dramatically increased demand.
Salary benchmarks by Seniority
IR35 Tax Position
Day rates assume outside IR35. Inside IR35 contractor day rates in the UK are typically 15–25% higher to compensate for the lack of tax efficiency and additional payroll costs. ClickMasters engineers are directly employed by us, representing **zero IR35 risk** for clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about security engineer salary standards.
Approximately £120,000–£175,000 mid-level. Senior: £120,000–£175,000. London +20–30%.
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