Chief executives and senior officials salary in Scotland
Full-time average annual pay in Scotland
£87,808
Based on ~8,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£87,808
Mean
£107,381
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £87,808 |
| Mean | £107,381 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of chief executives and senior officials earn £48,429–£141,253. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£88,100
Employment patterns
- 85% of Chief executives work full-time
- 18% are self-employed
- 98.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Chief executives and senior officials pay in Scotland
The typical chief executives and senior officials in Scotland earns a median salary of £87,808 in 2025/26, based on around 8,000 employees — 2.3% (£2,027) below the UK-wide median of £89,835. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Across the UK, Scotland ranks 2nd of 11 regions for chief executives and senior officials pay. Regional medians run from £12,778 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £119,981 in London, a spread of £107,203 (839%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £107,381. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical chief executives and senior officials in Scotland actually earns.
To see what £87,808 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments and Scottish Income Tax rates.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £7,317 | £87,808 |
| Income tax | £2,106 | £25,277 |
| National Insurance | £314 | £3,767 |
| Student loan (Plan 4 (Scotland)) | £413 | £4,956 |
| Total deductions | £2,833 | £34,000 |
| Take-home pay | £4,484 | £53,808 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Chief executives and senior officials pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for chief executives and senior officials at £119,981 — 34% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £12,778.
UK median £89,835
| Region | Median payUK median £89,835 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £119,981 | £119,981 | £204,603 | +34% |
| Scotland (current region) | £87,808 | £87,808 | £107,381 | -2% |
| North West | £67,396 | £67,396 | Value unavailable | -25% |
| North East | £56,565 | £56,565 | £65,194 | -37% |
| South East | £55,636 | £55,636 | £52,818 | -38% |
| East Midlands | £55,542 | £55,542 | £58,271 | -38% |
| West Midlands | £53,963 | £53,963 | £63,898 | -40% |
| East of England | £52,763 | £52,763 | £53,969 | -41% |
| South West | £52,511 | £52,511 | £54,545 | -42% |
| Wales | £44,674 | £44,674 | £47,784 | -50% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £12,778 | £12,778 | £13,555 | -86% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £119,981 | £119,981Mean £204,603 | +34% |
| Scotland (current region) £87,808 | £87,808Mean £107,381 | -2% |
| North West £67,396 | £67,396 | -25% |
| North East £56,565 | £56,565Mean £65,194 | -37% |
| South East £55,636 | £55,636Mean £52,818 | -38% |
| East Midlands £55,542 | £55,542Mean £58,271 | -38% |
| West Midlands £53,963 | £53,963Mean £63,898 | -40% |
| East of England £52,763 | £52,763Mean £53,969 | -41% |
| South West £52,511 | £52,511Mean £54,545 | -42% |
| Wales £44,674 | £44,674Mean £47,784 | -50% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £12,778 | £12,778Mean £13,555 | -86% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£89,835); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
How chief executives and senior officials pay in Scotland has changed over time
Median annual pay for chief executives and senior officials in Scotland by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
Scotland median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)