- Employers
- Salary
How to run a pay review: A guide for employers
November 1, 2026 · 10 minute read
Salary plays a central role in attracting and securing the right candidates. If expectations aren’t aligned with the market, roles can be harder to fill and offers are more likely to fall through. Explore practical salary and compensation advice to help you set competitive pay, manage expectations and improve hiring outcomes.
Salary guides
Understanding what the market is paying is key to setting the right salary. Without this, it’s difficult to position roles competitively or move quickly when the right candidate is available.
Our 2027 UK salary guides provide up-to-date benchmarks across marketing & sales, tech, IT and data, alongside comparisons to 2026 and projections for 2028. Use them to guide salary decisions and strengthen your overall hiring strategy.
FAQs
Salary benchmarking is the process of comparing what you’re offering for a role against current market rates. It helps ensure your salary is competitive for the skills and experience you’re looking for. Accurate benchmarking reduces the risk of rejected offers and improves your ability to attract the right candidates.
Setting a competitive salary starts with understanding market benchmarks for similar roles, locations and seniority levels. Combining this with your budget and hiring priorities helps you position the role effectively. A well-aligned salary makes it easier to attract and secure suitable candidates.
Candidates often reject offers when salary expectations aren’t aligned with the market or their experience. This can happen if benchmarking hasn’t been done properly or expectations weren’t discussed early. Aligning salary from the outset helps reduce the risk of losing candidates late in the process.
A compensation package typically includes salary, bonus, benefits and any additional incentives. Candidates often look at the full package rather than salary alone. Clear communication around the overall offering helps improve engagement and decision-making.
If salary expectations are too low or unclear, roles can take longer to fill. Candidates may not apply, drop out during the process or decline offers. Aligning salary early helps maintain momentum and reduces delays in hiring.
Salaries should be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain aligned with the market. This is particularly important in fast-moving sectors where demand and expectations can change quickly. Regular reviews help support both hiring and retention.