Defence & Security Salary and Rate Guide 2026

Salary and day rate benchmarking for Defence & Security roles

Hiring in the Defence & Security sector is driven by specialist skills, security clearance requirements and a highly competitive talent market. Having access to accurate, up-to-date salary and contractor rate data is essential for organisations operating in secure and mission-critical environments.

The Talent Locker Defence & Security Salary & Rate Guide 2026 helps employers benchmark salaries and day rates across key Defence and National Security roles in the UK. Built using Talent Locker’s own hiring data and market insight, the guide provides a clear, practical view of current market conditions and future trends.

Talent Locker specialises in Defence & Security recruitment, supporting both high-growth start-ups and established defence organisations. This downloadable guide has been compiled by Emma Homann, Lead Consultant in Defence & Security, and includes benchmarks for roles including:

• Chief Engineers / Technical Authorities
• Systems Engineers (including Integration & Systems Design roles)
• Senior Technical & Specialist Engineers
• Cloud & Infrastructure Engineers
• Software Engineers (Embedded, Systems & Secure Environments)
• Solutions Architects
• Engineering Managers supporting mission-critical programmes

And many more.

Whether you’re planning new hires, reviewing existing packages or sense-checking contractor rates, this guide is designed to give you clarity and confidence.

For role-specific insight, contact Emma Homann at 📧emma@talentlocker.co.uk