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The 10 Highest-Paying Contract Tech Roles

Based on the 2025 Nexus Connect Tech Talent Salary Guide

The 10 Highest-Paying Contract Tech Roles in London Specialty Insurance | 2025
Based on the 2025 Nexus Connect Tech Talent Salary Guide

Cost control may be top of mind, but for many insurance businesses, the ability to access specialist talent at speed is just as critical. In 2025, the contract market continues to play a key role in delivering tech change - from regulatory programmes to cloud, cyber and data modernisation.

Using data from the 2025 Nexus Connect Tech Talent Salary Guide - built from live market activity and current day rate benchmarks across the London Market, we’ve identified the 10 highest-paying contract roles. These roles reflect where demand is strongest and where specialist expertise is commanding premium day rates.

The Top 10 Highest-Paying Contract Tech Roles in 2025

Role	Top-End Day Rate (Outside IR35)	Top-End Day Rate (Inside IR35)
CTO / CIO / COO	£2,100	£3,300
Programme Director	£1,500	£2,000
CISO (Chief Information Security Officer)	£1,750	£2,000
Head of Data	£1,100	£1,300
Head of Change	£1,650	£2,450
Strategy Director / Head of Strategy	£1,750	£2,200
Head of Engineering	£1,700	£2,100
Chief / Head of Enterprise Architecture	£1,750	£2,550
Cloud Security Architect	£1,050	£1,250
Application Security Architect	£950	£1,050

Key Trends - Contract Hiring

Employers are using contract resource to deliver transformation without long-term cost exposure
Day rates remain strong in niche areas like cyber security, data engineering, and cloud — though competition and negotiation have increased
There's a noticeable shift toward shorter-term, outcome-driven engagements
Outside IR35 confidence has improved, with more determinations being made in favour of contractors
Hybrid flexibility and clear delivery credentials remain key for securing top-tier assignments

What’s Driving These Day Rates

Ongoing demand for delivery-critical roles as firms push ahead with change despite cautious permanent hiring
Mid-sized insurers and scale-ups are turning to contract resource for speed and agility
Contractors who offer regulatory, platform, or cyber experience remain in high demand — especially with Blueprint Two, DORA, or legacy modernisation programmes
IR35 clarity and better scoping of outcomes have encouraged a rise in Outside IR35 project work

Download the full 2025 Tech Talent Salary Guide

Or get in touch to discuss contract hiring plans, IR35 considerations, or role benchmarking.

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