Trends in Charity Salaries 2026: What It Means for Your Charity Career
Are you thinking of finding a new role in the charity sector, and curious about what you might be able to earn? Or wondering how your salary compares to others in similar roles? Our latest data shows a competitive job market, but one that’s still full of opportunity if you know where to look. We’ve now published the CharityJob Salary Report 2026 to help answer some of these questions.
The report analyses charity salaries and recruitment trends from more than 55,000 jobs posted on our site in 2025. It provides insight into how the charity job market is evolving, what’s happening with pay, how work expectations are changing and what this means for your career or job search.
The job market is pretty competitive
One of the biggest trends is the continued imbalance between jobs and candidates.
In 2025, the number of roles posted on CharityJob fell by 18% – replicating the downward trend visible across the UK job market. At the same time, applications surged and clicks on ‘Apply’ increased by 37%, with an average of 69 clicks per job. So, for those on the hunt, you can expect a competitive market. Being conscious of that fact can give you an edge but realistically you may need to apply for more roles or take a more targeted approach to stand out from the crowd.
Charity salaries rise modestly
Despite difficult market conditions, pay has continued to increase, although more slowly than in the private sector. The median charity salary rose to £36,000, a 3% increase from 2024, indicating that pay is still growing but not dramatically. Charities are still adjusting salaries, but increases are relatively restrained compared to rising living costs.
Where you’re based continues to matter; a London premium still exists (+21% on average), but charity salaries outside London are rising (up 6%) and helping to close the gap.
Salaries were broadly stable across experience levels. And did you think that larger charities would pay more than smaller ones? You’d be wrong: small charities recorded the highest median salary and the largest increases, no doubt challenging many assumptions that larger organisations would mean higher pay.
Where the opportunities are
The majority of job categories showed stable or increasing salaries, although some roles saw stronger growth than others. HR roles in particular saw the largest increase (+11%), while fundraising and business services also saw healthy growth. Finance roles were still the highest paid overall at £48,000, whilst admin and support roles remained the lowest paid, with median salaries of £30,000.
There’s also the number of available roles to consider when planning your career progression. Fundraising roles were comparatively less competitive than other categories, with the second highest number of jobs available (5,568), but receiving the lowest number of clicks on ‘Apply’. HR had the lowest number of new jobs, with 814.
If flexibility matters to you, you’re not alone
Hybrid working remains dominant and the most popular way of working. Hybrid roles made up the largest share of jobs posted (51%), offered the highest median salary (£39,500) and showed the strongest salary growth year-on-year.
This reinforces a clear trend we’ve seen throughout our recent research into benefits and generational values: that flexibility is no longer considered a perk, but it’s closely tied to pay, wellbeing, culture, and how people often evaluate organisations and roles holistically.
What this means for you
In a more competitive market being informed gives you an edge. Understanding which roles are growing, typical salary benchmarks and potentially focusing on opportunities that may be out of your comfort-zone could help you make smarter long-term career moves.
Get the full picture
Download the CharityJob Salary Report 2006 – Free Summary to explore:
- Salaries by job type and experience level,
- Which roles are growing, and which are declining,
- How location and flexibility impact pay,
- Insights to help you plan your next move.