Public sector CIOs who earn more than the prime minister

Seven chief information officers (CIOs) are among the highest paid civil servants in the UK, earning a maximum of £250,000.

The list of 173 civil servants who earn more than the prime minister was published today by the Cabinet Office in an attempt to increase transparency in government.

Download this free guide

Gender diversity in the technology sector

In this e-guide, we tackle the issue of diversity in the IT industry and try to uncover why the number of women choosing IT as a career has been stagnating over the past few years. We also dissect some of the solutions that will help to increase the number of women in IT offered up by those fighting on the front line.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

• • I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

• • I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

The highest IT earner is Joe Harley, the IT director general and CIO at the Department for Work and Pensions, who earns between £245,000 and £249,999.

Government CIO John Suffolk takes home between £205,000 and £209,999 a year.

He is followed by the CIO at the Department of Health, Christine Connelly, who earns between £200,000 and £204,999. The department also pays its ICT director, Martin Bellamy, between £160,000 and £164,999.

Phil Pavitt, CIO at HM Revenue & Customs, earns £180,000 to £184,999, and Andy Nelson at the Ministry of Justice earns £190,000 to £194,999.

The last top earner is Nick Ramsay at the Ministry of Justice, who earns between £160,000 and £164,000 as its director of ICT portfolio and programmes.

The average advertised salary for London-based public sector IT directors was £97,000 in the first quarter of 2010, according to the SSL salary survey. The average figures for software houses in outer London was £110,000, while in retail it was £111,000.

The list included everyone in Whitehall who earns more than £150,000, with its publication being overseen by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude.

He said, "Transparency is at the heart of the government's programme, which is why the Cabinet Office, at the heart of government, is taking the lead. All departments will open up their data in the weeks ahead."

The move is part of the government's pledge to open up public sector data.