By midday today, the typical CEO of a FTSE 100 company will have earned more than an average worker’s annual salary. Data from the High Pay Centre reveals that these top executives took home an average of £4.4 million in pay and benefits last year, up from £4.22 million in 2024.
The figures suggest that FTSE 100 CEOs only need to work less than three days in 2026 to surpass the yearly earnings of an average UK worker. The median CEO pay of £4.4 million is 113 times higher than the average full-time worker’s salary of £39,039.
This analysis coincides with the recent approval of the Employment Rights Act, which aims to empower workers by granting trade unions better access to workplaces and informing new employees of their union rights.
The High Pay Centre attributes the widening income gap between CEOs and workers to the decline in trade union memberships since the 1980s. They advocate for fair pay through the implementation of the Employment Rights Bill and increased worker representation in company decision-making.
Andrew Speke, interim director of the High Pay Centre, criticized the disproportionate earnings of CEOs compared to workers, calling for corporate governance reforms and increased taxation on high earners to address inequality and enhance social mobility.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak supported the Employment Rights Act as a step towards fairer working conditions but urged the government to curb excessive corporate compensation by ensuring worker representation in executive pay decisions.
A GMB union spokesperson highlighted the importance of the Workers’ Rights Act in addressing the disparity between worker wages and CEO earnings, emphasizing the need for fair compensation practices.
Top Earning FTSE CEOs
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