UK civil servants earning six-figure salaries rise 20% as Labour pledge to cut costs faces scrutiny

An official analysis shows the number of civil servants paid six-figure salaries rose by almost 20% in the year to March, complicating Labour’s pledge to curb government running costs. There were 3,350 civil servants earning between £100,000 and £150,000 at the end of March, up from 2,810 a year earlier. The tally for those paid £150,000 to £200,000 climbed 38% over the same period, from 290 to 400. Those earning more than the Prime Minister’s £169,344 salary rose by about 15% in the year to March 31. In total, 40 civil servants were paid £200,000 or more, up from 35 in 2024.

Official data released by the Government show the Ministry of Defence had the most six-figure earners in the year to March, with 480 people taking home £100,000 or more. Among them, 445 earned between £100,000 and £150,000, up from 290 in 2024, and 10 were paid £200,000 or more, up from five. The Department of Health and Social Care had the second-highest total with 405, and the Cabinet Office was third with 400.

Cabinet Office data also show the overall share of these six-figure roles remains small. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are developing a more agile and productive civil service, reducing departmental administration costs by 16 per cent over the next five years to deliver savings of over £2billion a year by 2030. These positions account for less than 0.7 per cent of the Civil Service. We need to ensure we can attract high calibre people to the civil service, but pay must always be justified, and deliver full value for money for the taxpayer."

Opposition figures seized on the figures to question Labour’s handling of public finances. Alex Burghart, shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "Labour promised they would cut costs, yet they’re doing the opposite—the pay bill is rising. At a time when they are breaking the public finances, they should be showing restraint. More focus should be placed on driving efficiency, cutting waste, and living within our means, rather than inflating the overall pay bill at the taxpayer’s expense. Only the Conservatives have a plan to ensure we live within our means and deliver an efficient civil service."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged in March that Labour would slash government running costs by more than £2 billion a year by the end of the decade, and the Cabinet Office says the 16% admin-cost cut is part of that plan to deliver savings of more than £2 billion annually by 2030. The new figures come as departments prepare for the next round of spending reviews, with ministers stressing that high-calibre talent must be recruited and retained while ensuring value for money for taxpayers.

Separately, the government emphasized that the payroll data reflect positions across departments rather than a single payroll change; officials noted that the six-figure bracket still represents a small share of the overall Civil Service.