Fractional CEO Salary & Full-Time CEO Pay — UK 2026
CEO salary benchmarks for the UK. A full-time CEO salary runs £120,000–£250,000 at SMEs, £200,000–£400,000 at mid-market, and a £500,000–£4.58m total package at FTSE 100 level; the Glassdoor UK median is £168,083 and the London average £386,410.
A fractional or interim CEO is engaged instead at ~£5,000–£10,000/mo (fractional, 2 days a week) or £1,000–£3,500/day (interim cover). Sourced from Exec Capital, Glassdoor, ERI and the High Pay Centre; reviewed 7 July 2026.
What a CEO earns in the UK in 2026
Company size is the biggest driver of CEO salary.
Exec Capital benchmarks SME CEOs at £120,000–£250,000, mid-market at £200,000–£400,000, and listed CEOs at a £500,000–£4.58m total package (High Pay Centre FTSE 100 median).
The Glassdoor UK median is £168,083 and the London average £386,410 (Exec Capital).
Fractional vs interim vs full-time: a fractional CEO works a fixed few days a week on retainer (~£5,000–£10,000/mo at 2 days, £130,000–£300,000 annualised); an interim CEO provides full-time temporary cover — turnaround, crisis or gap — at £1,000–£3,500/day; a permanent CEO carries salary plus bonus, LTIP and equity.
Fractional and interim CEO appointments have grown sharply post-2020 for growth-stage businesses and turnarounds.
See Fractional CEO Jobs UK for live mandates.
How fractional & interim CEO pay works
Interim (day rate)
Interim CEOs charge £1,000–£3,500/day via a personal service company; turnaround and crisis mandates attract the highest rates.
Fractional (retainer)
Fractional CEOs engage on a fixed-days-per-week retainer — a 2-day-a-week fractional CEO at a growth-stage business is ~£5,000–£10,000/mo, favourable to a full-time hire once employer NI, pension and recruitment fees are added.
The most important variable in CEO pay is company size — from £120k at an SME to a multi-million-pound listed package.
Fractional / Interim CEO rate comparison
Day rates, monthly retainers, and full-time comparison with current market data
Fractional / Interim CEO rate comparison
ASSUMPTIONS: 220 BILLABLE DAYS · 1.42× LOADED FOR FT
CEO Salary UK by company size
Full-time UK CEO base / total package by company size, with the fractional-equivalent retainer alongside. Exec Capital, Glassdoor and High Pay Centre — FACTS 202.
CEO Salary UK by company size
| Company size | CEO pay⬍ | Fractional / interim |
|---|---|---|
| SME | £120,000–£250,000 | £5,000–£8,000/mo |
| Mid-market | £200,000–£400,000 | £8,000–£12,000/mo |
| Listed (FTSE 100) | £500,000–£4.58m package | interim £1,000–£3,500/day |
| UK median (Glassdoor) | £168,083 | £6,000–£10,000/mo |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fractional CEO Salary roles and engagements
Current fractional / interim CEO opportunities
Current openings and market opportunities
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