TLDR: A new report reveals a significant salary gap between public and private sectors for digital governance professionals, particularly in AI governance, leading to a talent challenge for government bodies struggling with budget constraints.
The public sector is facing a critical talent challenge as salaries for digital governance professionals, especially those in artificial intelligence (AI) governance, surge in the private sector. A new international salary report highlights a widening compensation gap, making it difficult for government roles to compete.
According to the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Salary and Jobs Report 2025–26, professionals working in privacy, AI governance, and digital responsibility are commanding significantly higher salaries. The report indicates that individuals specializing in both privacy and AI governance earn a median pay of £133,000. For those focused solely on AI governance, the median salary stands at £119,000, while privacy-only roles see a median of £96,000.
Legal and compliance specialists within AI governance roles are among the highest earners, with median base salaries reaching £143,000, and even higher in the technology sector at £161,000. The report further notes that professionals managing multiple digital governance domains, such as data governance, cybersecurity, and ethics, earn on average £24,000 more than those in narrower roles. Those with two or more digital governance responsibilities are 25 percent more likely to earn over £158,000.
In stark contrast, government salaries remain the lowest across all sectors. The average salary for professionals in the government and education sector is £95,000, with a median of £81,000. This compares unfavorably with private sector areas like healthcare, where the average salary is £129,000, and defence, energy, and manufacturing, where average salaries exceed £160,000. Cybersecurity professionals in the technology industry, for instance, earn an average of £145,000, which is more than 50 percent higher than their government counterparts.
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Despite the growing demand for public sector expertise in AI and digital ethics, budget constraints are preventing many public bodies from offering competitive financial packages. This disparity poses a significant hurdle for government teams increasingly required to stretch across policy, compliance, and technology, exacerbating the talent challenge in critical digital governance areas.
