Key Takeaways from the SecsintheCity Salary Survey
Earlier this year, we conducted our annual salary survey to discover if EAs, PAs, and other business support professionals were receiving adequate compensation for their roles. The responses we received from over 1,400 participants working in a variety of sectors for renowned brands such as BBC, Burberry and Monzo, indicated that the salary narrative was undoubtedly positive for this year. Within this article we’ll look at the key trends and offer insights into the factors that impacted business support professionals in 2024.
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Positive Salary Trends
In terms of general findings from our SecsintheCity salary survey, there was a positive salary increase across the board, with 60% of participants noting they received a pay rise.
To no-one’s surprise, London came on top in terms of salary again, with this lucrative financial hub showing a 7% uplift year-on-year. Other areas of positive growth were seen across Europe where a 2023 salary of £40,488 grew to £48,017 this year.
In addition to this increase, 51% of those surveyed obtained a bonus, with 32% of these gaining a healthy 10% or more of their salary. When looking at this salary uplift in terms of job title, 13 out of 15 job titles reported a salary hike, with the highest figures including roles such as:
• Concierge (38%)
• Project Managers (17%)
• Event Coordinators (17%)
• Marketing Assistants (16%)
This employer generosity highlights that despite national economic difficulties, companies continue to use salary as a way to incentivise employee retention and attract high-quality talent.
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Sector-Specific Insights
Looking at sector highlights, Private Individual/Family retained their reputation as the most profitable industry, with an 8% uplift on 2023 salary survey UK statistics. In close second was Banking/Finance who came back strong from 2023’s poor results with an average salary of £56,059, while the technology sector continued its upward trajectory, thanks to the ever growing demand for AI within this industry.
On a less positive note, HR saw the largest decrease in average salary, with these professionals reporting a £5,751 drop from the previous year. Below this we saw the lowest paid sectors including Retail, Accountancy and Education who ranged from £37,727 to £33,064.
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Impact of Hybrid Working
Hybrid working seemed to be a hot topic within this year’s salary survey, with flexible working arrangements proving to be the norm in 2024. Over half of our participants (65%) reported a hybrid schedule, with the average number of days in the office showing a small increase from the previous year.
When looking at these statistics in terms of job title, the roles with the highest percentage of professionals conducting flexible arrangements were:
• Project Managers (81%)
• Legal PAs (77%)
• EAs (74%)
Despite this, the greatest percentage increase in hybrid working was seen by Events professionals where statistics increased by 12% from 2023, thanks to the increasing prominence of virtual events. At the lower end of the scale, we saw receptionists with a minor 18% - an understandable result considering the face-to-face nature of the role.
When looking at these results, it’s no surprise that when questioned if a return to office would be a deal breaker, 68% of the SecsintheCity audience answered ‘yes’. At the peak of this we saw 79% of Team Assistants stating this rule would give them reason to find a new role. This begs the question - is hybrid working an expectation in 2024 rather than a benefit?
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Pay Disparities and Areas for Improvement
As with all salary surveys, it’s important to show the lows as well as the highs, with one key area for discussion being the multiple-boss movement. Our results showed that those supporting more than three professionals received the lowest salaries at £44,417, with the magic number in 2024 being two professionals, where participants saw salaries of £50,688 on average.
Regardless, when comparing these values to 2023 statistics, the salary for three or more professionals reflected an 8% uplift. This highlights that the positive salary trajectory continued across the board for these professionals, despite their negative face value.
Another pay disparity we saw was the ethnicity pay gap, where white respondents reported the highest salary at £48,145 on average. Although mixed/multiple ethnic groups saw a 13% increase in pay since 2023, black/African/Caribbean/black British survey participants saw a small salary decrease to £39,630, reflecting a stark £7,000 difference compared to their white colleagues.
This highlights the pressing need to address current diversity and inclusion initiatives, with an aim to implement these more heavily across all sectors and within all roles.
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What Next?
Salary surveys are an excellent tool for benchmarking and even negotiating your own salary if you don’t follow market norms. To read the full report, you can download this on SecsintheCity today.
For updates on taking part in the SecsintheCity 2025 salary survey, sign up to our newsletter or follow us on social media, so you can be one of the first to get notified.
If this salary survey has inspired you to look for a new role, you can apply for the latest PA, EA and Office Manager positions on SecsintheCity. Alternatively, you can upload your CV to get headhunted for the latest advertised and non-advertised roles.
