We’re pleased to share Compass Associates’ 2026 Salary Guides, delivering the most comprehensive salary and compensation benchmarking across the Independent Health, Care and Specialist Education sectors.

This series of seven detailed reports provides insight by UK region, care type and role, from Deputy Manager through to Regional Director. Our aim is to equip both candidates and clients with clear, data-led insight to support informed decision-making—particularly when considering a new role or making a key hire.

For employers, salary benchmarking plays a critical role in attracting and retaining skilled professionals within a highly competitive, high-turnover market. Ensuring pay structures remain aligned with market expectations helps organisations stay competitive while maintaining essential budgetary control. In a sector where employee satisfaction directly impacts quality of care and outcomes, benchmarking provides a robust, data-driven foundation for fair, market-aligned remuneration—helping to reduce turnover and build a more motivated, stable workforce.

Regular benchmarking enables providers to compete effectively for specialised talent, manage the high costs associated with staff turnover, and address issues such as internal pay disparities and pay compression as starting salaries rise. It also supports better control of labour costs, which typically represent a significant proportion of operating expenditure, while providing objective evidence to support remuneration decisions with internal stakeholders.

By reviewing compensation against evolving market trends, organisations can respond proactively to economic and sector-wide changes, ensuring staff continue to feel valued, fairly rewarded and engaged.

For candidates, salary benchmarking is equally important. It offers transparency around market rates, enabling professionals to assess whether they are being fairly compensated and to negotiate with confidence using reliable data rather than guesswork. Benchmarking also helps individuals understand their market value, evaluate job offers or career moves, and avoid being undervalued—while promoting greater pay equity across the sector.

Our reports deliver an in-depth analysis of salaries across multiple functions and regions, supported by expert commentary from Compass Associates’ Directors. All reports can be accessed below.

Elderly Care salary insights by role: