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Pay data: three months to February 2026

Two research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of February 2026.

  • Incomes Data Research focuses on the private sector and shows the median pay award rose to 3.5% in the three months to February 2026 (interquartile range: 3.0% to 3.7%).
  • Brightmine data reveals that median basic pay awards have settled at 3.3% for the three months to the end of February 2026. Nearly six in 10 settlements fall between 3% and 4%, with 3% the most common award. Pay freezes remain uncommon at 5.8% of all awards, and only a small minority of awards exceed 5%. Looking towards the rest of 2026, Brightmine forecasts that the median pay award will be 3%.