What we're seeing in the 2026 hiring market.
Across our 2026 salary surveys, one pattern is consistent: hiring has become more deliberate.
Adtech businesses are prioritising efficiency, yield and measurable revenue. SaaS and Martech teams are being held more closely against pipeline, retention and commercial outcomes. In Emerging Media, the focus has shifted towards scalable monetisation, audience growth and long-term brand value.
Hiring volumes may have stabilised, but expectations have risen. Employers are placing more value on people who combine specialist knowledge with clear commercial impact, whether that's programmatic and data expertise, enterprise GTM experience or creative talent that can connect content, community and revenue.
Salary premium for AI & technical fluency
Our SaaS & Martech data shows AI and technical capability increasingly carrying a premium across GTM teams.
Key findings from our 2026 salary data.
Across Managing Director, Commercial Director, Country Manager and VP Sales roles, the median benchmark is £160,000.
Experienced enterprise sellers remain one of the most valuable GTM profiles, with salaries rising to £180,000 at the most senior end.
Leadership roles across Emerging Media command a £175,000 median, with CEO salaries reaching £350,000+.
Agency Sales remains a core commercial hiring area, with senior leadership in the function reaching £140,000.
Sales leadership remains highly competitive, with CRO salaries reaching £300,000+ at the top end of the market.
Demand for senior AI and innovation talent is translating into significant compensation, with SVP-level roles reaching £250,000+.
Adtech Salary Survey.
Hiring across Adtech is becoming more selective, with greater emphasis on commercial impact and specialist expertise.
Our 2026 survey benchmarks UK salaries across sales, programmatic, publisher, account management and leadership roles, helping employers sense-check compensation and plan new hires.
VP Sales benchmark at a £160k median, while Managing Director salaries reach £290k.
SaaS & Martech Salary Survey.
Hiring across SaaS and Martech is becoming more commercially accountable, with GTM teams increasingly measured against pipeline, revenue and retention.
Our 2026 survey benchmarks UK salaries across sales leadership, enterprise and mid-market sales, customer success, marketing, partnerships and pre-sales.
Enterprise AE salaries reach £180k at the top end, with experienced sellers continuing to command a premium.
Emerging Media Salary Survey.
Hiring across Emerging Media is becoming more structured and commercially focused, with growing emphasis on monetisation, audience growth and scalable revenue.
Our 2026 survey benchmarks UK salaries across leadership, growth, influencer marketing, creative strategy, social video, editorial and commercial roles.
Executive leadership salaries reach £350k+ at the top end, reflecting the premium on senior operators who can connect audience, growth and revenue.
How we build our salary benchmarks.
Our 2026 surveys combine Ultimate Asset’s direct experience hiring across our specialist markets with wider UK market data. The aim is to give employers and candidates a practical view of current salary ranges, rather than a theoretical average.
Salary benchmarking questions.
UK Adtech sales salaries vary significantly by seniority and sales model. Agency Sales roles range from around £48,000 to £140,000, while Client Direct Sales can reach £150,000. VP Sales roles benchmark between £120,000 and £200,000.
Our 2026 UK benchmark ranges from £65,000 to £180,000 base salary, depending on experience, with a median of £115,000.
The current surveys benchmark annual base salaries. Commission, bonus, equity and OTE can vary considerably by company and role and should be considered separately when benchmarking the overall package.
For specialist and fast-moving markets, we recommend reviewing benchmarks at least annually and whenever a critical new hire goes to market. Candidate expectations can move faster than company-wide salary reviews, particularly in scarce or high-demand skill areas.
Yes. We can provide a current market view based on the role, seniority, location and skills required, using our live hiring activity and conversations across the markets we recruit in.