Insights · Salary Benchmarks
Tech salary benchmarks 2026: London vs New York vs San Francisco
In short: San Francisco sets the global ceiling on technology pay. New York runs a close second, lifted by fintech and quantitative trading firms. London pays lower headline base salaries than either US city, but offers a uniquely tax-efficient equity route through the UK’s EMI scheme. AI and machine-learning roles command a 40–60% premium over comparable engineering roles in all three cities.
Scope: San Francisco and the wider Bay Area, New York City, and London. All figures are annual base salary unless total compensation (TC) or on-target earnings (OTE) is stated.
The figures below were last restated in June 2026. The page was last reviewed on . The first fully sourced restate under the schedule below is due 1 October 2026.
AI & machine learning
The highest-premium category in 2026 — roughly 40–60% over baseline engineering pay; San Francisco the global ceiling.
| City | Role | Median base | Total comp (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Mid-level (3–5 yrs) | $207,474 – $222,174 | $250,000 – $390,000+ |
| San Francisco | Senior / Lead (6+ yrs) | $246,250 – $355,000 | $400,000 – $600,000+ |
| New York | Mid-level (3–5 yrs) | $165,000 – $200,000 | $210,000 – $280,000 |
| New York | Senior / Lead (6+ yrs) | $218,000 – $320,000 | $300,000 – $450,000 |
| London | Mid-level (3–5 yrs) | £81,500 – £102,000 | £95,000 – £130,000 |
| London | Senior / Lead (6+ yrs) | £113,250 – £134,000 | £140,000 – £200,000+ |
Software & platform engineering
Still the highest-volume hiring category; AI tooling has raised demand for senior architects of complex systems.
| City | Role | Median base | Total comp (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Senior Software Engineer | $191,700 – $236,925 | $300,000 – $450,000 |
| San Francisco | Senior Platform / DevOps | $195,000 – $240,000 | $255,000 – $385,000 |
| New York | Senior Software Engineer | $180,000 – $220,000 | $260,000 – $360,000 |
| New York | Senior Platform / DevOps | $180,000 – $225,000 | $240,000 – $310,000 |
| London | Senior Software Engineer | £80,250 – £130,000 | £95,000 – £165,000 |
| London | Senior Platform / DevOps | £82,000 – £112,500 | £100,000 – £150,000 |
Product & program management
AI Product Managers earn a 10–25% premium where the role involves genuine model work. Technical Program Managers track engineering-leadership pay.
| City | Role | Median base | Total comp (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Senior AI Product Manager | $190,000 – $250,000 | $320,000 – $366,000 |
| San Francisco | Technical Program Manager | $177,951 – $199,138 | $203,500 – $245,000 |
| New York | Senior AI Product Manager | $180,000 – $230,000 | $280,000 – $342,000 |
| New York | Technical Program Manager | $182,500 | $220,000 – $280,000 |
| London | Senior AI Product Manager | £73,750 – £92,000 | £115,000 – £143,500 |
| London | Technical Product Manager | £80,000 – £115,000 | £100,000 – £160,000 |
SaaS sales
SDR comp has shifted from “meetings booked” to “opportunity accepted”. In New York, SaaS startups compete with trading firms for talent.
| City | Role | Base salary | On-target earnings (OTE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Enterprise Account Executive | $130,000 – $150,000 | $250,000 – $350,000+ |
| San Francisco | Sales Dev. Rep (SDR) | $65,000 – $85,000 | $85,000 – $110,000 |
| New York | Enterprise Account Executive | $120,000 – $150,000 | $240,000 – $300,000+ |
| New York | Sales Dev. Rep (SDR) | $60,000 – $80,000 | $80,000 – $105,000 |
| London | Enterprise Account Executive | £70,000 – £120,000 | £130,000 – £240,000 |
| London | Sales Dev. Rep (SDR) | £33,000 – £40,000 | £49,000 – £60,000 |
Customer success & operations
As SaaS shifts to efficient, retention-led growth, customer success leadership is now senior and well paid.
| City | Role | Median base | Total comp (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Director of Customer Success | $168,273 – $186,537 | $200,000 – $260,000 |
| New York | Director of Customer Success | $151,668 – $161,690 | $180,000 – $250,000 |
| New York | VP of Customer Success | $233,675 – $249,297 | $280,000 – $350,000 |
| London | Head / Director of CS | £66,000 – £80,000 | £85,000 – £120,000 |
Executive & technical leadership
| City | Role | Base salary | Target OTE / TC (excl. founder equity) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | CTO | $320,000 – $390,000+ | $600,000 – $1,200,000+ |
| San Francisco | CPO | $284,000 – $325,000 | $389,000 – $576,000 |
| San Francisco | CRO | $244,452 – $347,218 | $486,000 – $600,000+ |
| New York | CTO | $340,000 – $358,000 | $550,000 – $1,000,000+ |
| New York | CPO | $220,000 – $269,976 | $389,000 – $538,000 |
| New York | CRO | $200,000 – $250,499 | $350,000 – $500,000+ |
| London | CTO | £160,000 – £250,000+ | £250,000 – £500,000+ |
| London | CPO | £115,000 – £137,500 | £160,000 – £280,000 |
| London | CRO | £160,000 – £280,000 | £270,000 – £530,000 (OTE) |
Robotics & autonomous systems
A 2026 growth area — edge computing, computer vision, industrial automation.
| City | Role | Median base | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Mid/Senior Robotics Engineer | $165,303 – $240,900 | High |
| New York | Mid/Senior Robotics Engineer | $160,000 – $180,000 | High |
| London | Mid/Senior Robotics Engineer | £82,500 – £106,711 | Moderate |
How these benchmarks are put together
Two different things are being measured in the tables above and it matters which one you are reading. Median base is the annual salary a company commits to in the contract of employment. Total compensation is base plus bonus plus the annualised value of equity, and it is largely self-reported by people in the roles rather than advertised by employers. The two come from different data with different populations behind them, so a base figure and a total compensation figure on the same row are not two views of one number, and the gap between them is not a bonus you can simply offer.
The total compensation column skews towards large technology employers, because that is where self-reported compensation data is densest. Read against the audience this page is written for — scaling AI and SaaS companies — the top of a total compensation range is usually a large-cap number rather than a Series B number, and it is labelled as such rather than averaged away into something that looks reasonable and is true of nobody.
Figures are checked against the market every month and fully restated every quarter, on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October, with the review date published on every table. Nothing here is a Hurren & Hope rate card or a quotation. These are published market ranges, and what any one company should actually pay depends on stage, funding, location policy and the shape of the team the hire is joining.
Equity: the part that decides US offers (and why London can still win)
- US (SF & NYC): equity is central, not a bonus. Early-stage uses options and SAFEs; public-market comp uses RSUs. Funded startups issue refresh grants around Series B to keep key people aligned to a long-term exit.
- London / UK: headline bases are lower, but the EMI scheme is a powerful tax vehicle — qualifying gains can attract Capital Gains Tax capped at 18% on the first £1m of lifetime gains (as of April 2026), making UK equity highly efficient on exit despite lower upfront valuations.
How to build a competitive offer
- Benchmark to level and scope, not title — titles are inconsistent across startups.
- Lead with total comp in the US, base + EMI equity in the UK.
- Treat AI experience as a premium line item (40–60% for engineers, 10–25% for genuine AI PMs).
- Move fast — the strongest candidates are off the market quickly.
Once you’ve benchmarked the role, we can help you make the hire — permanent, contract or retained search — and you can spread the cost with Pay While They Stay™.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a senior software engineer earn in 2026?
Senior software engineer base salaries run roughly $191,700–$236,925 in San Francisco, $180,000–$220,000 in New York and £80,250–£130,000 in London, with total compensation materially higher once equity and bonus are included.
Which city pays technology talent the most?
San Francisco sets the global ceiling, especially for AI/ML and executive roles, with New York close behind. London’s headline bases are lower but its EMI equity scheme makes total take-home on exit highly tax-efficient.
How much more do AI/ML engineers earn?
Roughly a 40–60% premium over comparable baseline engineering roles in 2026.
Is London equity worth less than US equity?
Not necessarily. UK EMI options can be taxed at a capped 18% Capital Gains rate on the first £1m of lifetime gains (April 2026), which can make UK equity highly efficient on exit despite lower upfront valuations.
How current are these figures?
These benchmarks are checked against the market every month and fully restated every quarter, on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October. The figures currently shown were last restated in June 2026; the page was last reviewed on and the first fully sourced restate is due 1 October 2026. The review is scheduled and dated rather than done when someone remembers, so the figures above are never more than a quarter old.
Benchmarks are indicative market ranges for scaling AI and SaaS companies and will vary by company stage, funding and individual experience. Not financial or tax advice.
Related reading
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