We are delighted to launch The Works Search Salary Guide 2026, now in its seventeenth year and, for the first time, created in partnership with Financial Narrative and Opinium. The Guide is an in‑depth and precise benchmark for salaries, bonuses and career movement across UK corporate affairs roles. Based on insights from 545 corporate communications professionals (and checked against our database), this year’s findings point to a market splitting in two: in-house reward is strengthening, while agencies face tighter budgets, smaller bonuses and bigger retention risks.
Here are some snippets of the trends we’re seeing across pay, bonuses and movement in corporate comms right now:
Salary growth is showing signs of recovery, with average increases rising year-on-year. But the bigger story is who is feeling that improvement. In-house teams are still seeing more dependable pay progression, while many agencies are working with tighter salary budgets — and that means fewer people receiving an uplift.
After a stronger previous year, bonus participation has dipped, with agencies seeing the sharpest decline. In-house roles continue to outperform on both bonus access and the size of awards, widening the gap in total reward packages and making it harder for agencies to compete for (and keep) talent.
One of the most concerning findings in the 2026 Guide is the widening gender bonus gap, which has increased sharply in the past 12 months. While the overall gender pay gap remains modest, the direction of travel on bonuses is a reminder that progress can be fragile - and uneven.
More than half of communications professionals are considering a move, with agency talent leading the charge, desiring sought-after in-house roles. Pressure on workloads, shrinking teams and constrained pay are pushing many people to reassess their next step, while competition for in-house roles remains intense.
Commenting on the findings, Sarah Leembruggen, MD at The Works Search said:
“Salary movement is positive overall, but in-house teams continue to see steadier pay progression and more reliable and healthier bonuses, while agencies are making tougher decisions amid tighter budgets. That pressure is showing up in morale and retention - we’re seeing a market full of capable, experienced people actively reassessing what they want next. For agencies especially, retention is fast becoming a strategic priority. The widening gender bonus gap is a clear step backwards, reinforcing the need for transparency and consistency in reward if we’re serious about long-term equality.”
While redundancy levels remain steady, team reshaping, cautious growth expectations and shifting employee priorities will define the year ahead. The employers that respond decisively on pay, progression and fairness will be best placed to attract and retain the strongest corporate communications talent.
If you’d like a copy of our annual Salary Guide 2026 (including full salary bands, bonus data and market insights), head to our website.
To download our full Annual Salary Guide 2026, click here.
Time for a change? Check out our latest jobs.
The Works Search: a search consultancy specialising in PR and corporate communications. We have unrivalled matching abilities and are known for finding the top 5% performers in the industry - the ones who deliver and make your reputation great. For more advice or market insights, do get in touch with us on 0207 903 9291 or email: sarah@the-works.co.uk.
