Chief executives of the UK's top 100 listed companies are set to earn more than the average full-time worker's annual salary in less than three days of the new year, according to a stark new analysis.
The Stark Pay Divide in Numbers
The High Pay Centre think tank estimates that by just before midday on Tuesday, 6th January 2026, the earnings of FTSE 100 bosses will have overtaken the £39,039 typical yearly pay of a UK worker. This calculation is based on their research, which places the average annual salary for a blue-chip CEO at a staggering £4.4 million.
This sum equates to an hourly rate of approximately £1,353.23, which is 113 times more than the median full-time worker's income. The figures were compiled using salary disclosures from corporate annual reports and official government statistics.
Calls for Reform and Boardroom Defence
Andrew Speke, the interim director of the High Pay Centre, stated that these numbers "once again emphasise the huge gulf in how the work of most people is valued compared to a small number of feted executives." He challenged the justification for such disparity, arguing, "The idea that executives, as a class, are individually contributing over 100 times more in value than the workers they rely on is simply not credible."
This analysis follows a recent report from the same organisation showing that FTSE 100 chief executive pay grew by 6.8% to a record £4.58 million for the 2024-25 financial year. Among the highest earners were Simon Peckham and Peter Dilnot of Melrose Industries, who received a combined £58.9 million. In a separate case, Bet365's Denise Coates faced criticism after her 2025 pay package was revealed to be at least £280 million.
In contrast, Dame Julia Hoggett, Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange, argued in November that UK companies need to be more "forceful" in rewarding top executives with higher pay to attract the best global talent.
Legislation and the Push for Fairer Pay
Unions and fair pay campaigners have pointed to the newly enacted Employment Rights Act as a potential tool to narrow the widening chasm between boardroom and shop floor pay. The act received Royal Assent in December 2025.
Andy Prendergast, national secretary of the GMB union, highlighted that workers are only beginning to see wage growth after the cost-of-living crisis. "But fat cats are still creaming it in. That’s why the Employment Rights Act is so crucial: to give workers a level playing field to get the pay they deserve," he said.
Paul Nowak, TUC General Secretary, welcomed the act but called for further reforms. "The Government must act to rein in boardroom greed – including by guaranteeing workers a seat on executive pay committees," he urged.
The High Pay Centre also projected that partners at Magic Circle law firms will pass the average worker's salary by 8th January, while material risk takers at FTSE 100 banks will do so by 16th January. Partners at Big Four accountancy firms are set to overtake the figure by 20th January, with the top 1% of UK earners reaching it by 19th March.
