Understanding IT Technician Salary in the UK

If you're looking at an it technician salary in the UK, the most reliable starting point is the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). The latest provisional data for 2025 shows that the median gross annual pay for information technology technicians is £34,712, with a median hourly rate of £18.51. This places IT technicians slightly below the overall UK median full-time annual salary of £39,039, but the role offers clear progression paths and regional variations worth understanding.

Hourly to Annual Conversion: The Basics

To make sense of an hourly rate, you need to know the typical working week. Most full-time roles assume around 37.5 hours per week (common in office and NHS settings) or 40 hours in some industries. The conversion formula is simple:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

For example, at the median hourly rate of £18.51 and 37.5 hours: £18.51 × 37.5 × 52 = £36,099 (slightly above the ASHE median annual figure because ASHE annual pay includes only employees who have been in the job for a year or more and may include absences).

Use our Hourly to Salary converter to try different hours and rates.

Seniority and Pay Bands

IT technician pay varies widely by experience and responsibility. The ASHE data provides percentiles that show the distribution:

• 10th percentile (entry-level): £23,613 per year / £13.13 per hour
• 25th percentile (lower quartile): £27,806 / £15.07
• Median (50th percentile): £34,712 / £18.51
• 75th percentile (upper quartile): £44,139 / £23.08
• 90th percentile (experienced/senior): £55,586 / £28.39

This means a junior IT technician might start around £23,000–£28,000, while a senior technician or team lead can earn over £44,000. The 90th percentile figure of £55,586 suggests that top-end roles, possibly with specialist skills or management duties, command significantly higher pay.

Regional Differences

Location plays a major role in IT technician salary. While ASHE does not publish regional breakdowns specifically for IT technicians, general UK earnings data shows that London and the South East have the highest median pay, while Northern Ireland, Wales, and the North East tend to be lower. The NHS pay scales for 2026/27 illustrate this: a Band 6 role (which often includes IT technicians) has a base hourly rate of £20.44, but with Higher Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) for London, the rate can rise to around £24.53 per hour (a 20% uplift). Private sector employers in London often apply similar weighting.

For example, an IT technician earning the UK median of £18.51 per hour in Manchester might see a London equivalent of £22.21 per hour after a 20% weighting. Always check whether a job advert includes London weighting or a regional allowance.

Comparing with National Living Wage and Other Benchmarks

The National Living Wage (NLW) for employees aged 21 and over was £12.21 per hour in April 2025, rising to £12.71 per hour for 2026/27. Even an entry-level IT technician at £13.13 per hour is above the NLW, and the median of £18.51 is well above it. This reflects the skilled nature of the role.

For context, the overall UK median hourly pay for full-time employees was £19.67 in April 2025. IT technicians at £18.51 are slightly below that average, but the gap narrows for senior roles. The NHS Band 6 rate of £20.44 per hour (2026/27) is comparable to the UK median, suggesting that public sector IT technician roles can be competitive.

What the Figures Don't Include

ASHE figures are based on basic pay and exclude overtime, bonuses, commission, and benefits. Many IT technicians receive on-call allowances, overtime pay for out-of-hours work, or performance bonuses. These can add thousands to annual take-home pay. Additionally, the ASHE sample is a 1% snapshot and may not capture every employer type. Always read your contract carefully and use our salary data pages for more detailed breakdowns.

Career Progression and Salary Growth

The ONS notes that caring, leisure and other service occupations saw the largest earnings growth (7.1%) in 2025, but IT technician pay also increased by 5.8% year-on-year, slightly above the overall median growth of 5.3%. This suggests steady demand. Moving from a support technician role to a database administrator or network engineer can push annual pay into the £40,000–£55,000 range, as seen in the upper quartile and 90th percentile figures.

Using the Hourly to Salary Calculator

If you're negotiating a new role or considering a contract, our hourly calculator lets you input your hourly rate and see annual, monthly, and weekly equivalents. Remember that the standard conversion assumes 52 weeks of full-time work. If you work part-time or have unpaid leave, adjust accordingly.

Summary

An it technician salary in the UK typically ranges from £23,600 for entry-level to £55,600 for experienced professionals, with a median of £34,712. Hourly rates vary from £13.13 to £28.39. Location, seniority, and employer sector (public vs private) all influence pay. Use the conversion formula hourly × 37.5 × 52 to estimate annual salary, and always factor in London weighting if applicable. For the most accurate picture, combine ASHE data with your own research on specific roles and regions.