Cyber security - one of the most unhappy jobs in global tech as over 70% miss out on pay rises

Although cyber security is the third most in-demand tech skill across the globe, a new report finds that cyber security professionals missed out on pay rises more than any other technology role last year - leaving them the 3rd most unhappy in their role globally (23%), just behind those working in QA/Testing (24%) and Infrastructure/Support (25%).

The Harvey Nash Tech Talent & Salary Report, that surveyed over 3,600 technology professionals globally, found that almost twice the proportion of tech professionals working in DevOps (56%), Product Management (51%) and Business Analysis (50%) compared to those in cyber security (29%) received a pay rise last year. The report says that these findings perhaps beg the question: how hard are organisations working to keep their cyber talent?

When it comes to expectations for a salary increase in 2026, those working in Firmware/Hardware Engineering (65%), AI & Machine Learning (58%) and DevOps (54%) lead the way with expecting a pay rise, but those working in cyber security (40%) are much less confident, falling below the global average (44%) across all roles and out of the top ten roles to expect a rise this year.

The Harvey Nash report also found that almost half (49%) of cyber security professionals are looking to move jobs in the next twelve months - well above the global average across roles (39%). Those sectors most likely to experience an exodus of talent across all roles in the next twelve months are power and utilities, manufacturing and telecommunications.

However, despite cyber security professionals getting itchy feet, it doesn’t seem to be because of the threat of AI taking their job, rising workloads, or how under resourced they expect their team to be this year. In fact, cyber security professionals (48%) are the 3rd most likely not to feel threatened by AI taking their job, behind Firmware/Hardware Engineering (55%), and Technology Leaders (58%). The top three tech roles feeling under most threat from AI are: 1. QA/Testing, 2. AI & Machine Learning, 3. Databases.

Ankur Anand, CIO of Harvey Nash said:

“The data should be a wake-up call. We’re asking cybersecurity teams to stand on the front line of business risk, yet too often we’re not matching that responsibility with the reward, progression and operating environment that keeps people in the profession. When pay lags the market, workload keeps rising and the role is seen as a blocker rather than an enabler, it’s no surprise that attrition starts to look like the path of least resistance.

If organisations want to reduce exposure and respond faster when incidents happen, they need to treat cyber talent as a strategic capability: valued, visible and supported by leadership. The organisations that get this right won’t just retain their best people – they’ll build trust with customers, regulators and their own boards.”

Across the 3,646 technologists surveyed, The Harvey Nash Tech Talent Report also found the following:

Push and pulls factors for technologists:

Push factors - For over half (53%) of technologists, pay retains its top position as the primary reason for considering leaving their role, with career progression continuing to come second (39%) and organisational culture not far behind (32%).
Pull factors – Technologists take a wide-ranging approach to what makes their next assignment an attractive one. Almost three quarters (69%) follow the money, but the opportunity to work from anywhere is also important. Half of respondents globally (50%) said that they would not be prepared to accept a role that didn’t offer hybrid working, and 40% are prepared to take a lower salary to work from home more often.
The most important pull factors for men and women - Female technologists are slightly more concerned with factors such as health care plans, pensions and flexible working hours than their male peers. In turn, men are more interested in opportunities to travel and to relocate.
The wellbeing effect - Hybrid working is also viewed as a wellbeing factor with the top two benefits identified as reduced commuting times providing better use of personal time and increased productivity (77%), and improved work-life balance (72%).

Reskilling and upskilling in AI:

Experimenting in AI - Three-quarters (75%) report being given access to AI tools and platforms and 43% are given dedicated time to experiment and learn.
Waiting for training or left to self-learn - While over a third (37%) of organisations are investing in AI upskilling, one in five technologists are expected to self-learn and almost a quarter (23%) are waiting on formal training.

Good tech leadership:

Great leaders - When it comes to defining what makes a great tech leader, more than half (54%) of respondents say that great communication remains key, and 49% value their leader’s ability to create a positive culture within the team.
Deep understanding of tech – Respondents to the survey continue to value their leaders having a deep understanding of technology, with almost half (48%) making this one of their top three leadership traits. 1 in 6 feel that a lack of technology understanding amongst leaders is a huge barrier to delivering their tech goals, with almost a third (29%) rating it as a significant issue. IT Strategy also appeared on the top list of leadership qualities for the first time in several years of reporting – a sign that technologists may be concerned about the need for clear strategic and business case direction in the age of AI.

The Inclusive workplace:

Tech sector not doing enough - While just under a half (48%) think the tech sector is doing enough to support female participation in technology, almost one third of female respondents (30%) compared to less than a quarter of their male counterparts (22%) believe that the tech sector is not doing enough.
Decrease in focus and investment in DEI – Although almost all (83%) think their organisation does enough to support diversity in the workplace, 1 in 10 technologists report a decrease in focus and investment in DEI over the last two years.
Sense of purpose v DEI - Almost all (84%) tech professionals stated that an organisation’s sense of purpose is important when selecting a new role, but only 59% think their approach to DEI holds the same weight. This rises to 71% when the respondent is female and 69% when the respondent identifies as any ethnicity other than white; 50% of white males agree.

Simon Crichton, CEO of Harvey Nash concluded:

“With technology moving so fast, and AI beginning to change the game, technology leaders have many plates to spin. Tech professionals are looking to their leaders with an expectation of clear strategic direction, fair reward, flexible approaches to working, and a supportive environment in which they can build fulfilling careers. A standout feature this year is tech team members’ concern that IT strategy should be clear. There are undercurrents of worry about the impact of AI – even if it also presents career opportunities. The best technology leaders are those that integrate the development and deployment of AI into a coherent overall strategy that continues to have the skills and abilities of tech professionals at its heart.”

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-ENDS-

About the report

The Harvey Nash Global Tech Talent & Salary Report is based on a survey of over 3,646 technology professionals globally (including 1,394 in the UK and 629 in the US). The survey took place between 4th November 2025 and 26th January 2026. This report is part of a suite of reports and surveys that Harvey Nash publish annually, including its highly respected Digital Leadership Report, which was launched in 1998 and is the world’s largest and longest running survey of senior technology leaders.

To request a full copy of the results, please visit https://www.harveynash.co.uk/tech-talent-and-salary-report-2026.

About Harvey Nash

Harvey Nash is a specialist global technology recruitment firm that connects the world's most innovative companies with the technology talent they need to succeed. For over 35 years, Harvey Nash has been a pioneer and leading voice in the global technology space, having long term strategic partnerships with blue chip customers. With offices across multiple continents, including North America, the UK. Europe and Asia, Harvey Nash experienced in partnering with organisations on their specialised technology talent requirements including Cyber, DevOps, AI & Automation, Data, Cloud and Software Engineering.

For further information visit www.harveynash.co.uk