To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled UK to deliver pioneering battlefield system and bolster cyber warfare capabilities under Strategic Defence Review, published on 29 May 2025, how the starting salary for the Cyber Direct Entry programme compares with starting salaries in (a) cyber security roles in the private sector and (b) international cyber security roles.
Answered on
3 July 2025
There is no exact private sector equivalent for Cyber Operators in the Armed Forces, and private sector cyber salaries vary significantly. Cyber Direct Entrants are offered a starting salary exceeding £40,000, with the opportunity to earn up to an additional £25,000 through skills pay. This compensation package is complemented by the broader Armed Forces benefits package.