The proportion of junior charity roles that fail to cover essential living costs has increased to a third, according to new research, prompting concerns about the sector’s finances.
CharityJob’s Salary Report 2026, which examines over 55,000 roles posted on its jobs board last year, says that 34% of full-time/annualised entry-level and junior roles in London paid below the London living wage, up from 24% the previous year.
Similarly, 33% of entry-level and junior roles outside the capital last year paid below the UK-wide real living wage, set by the Living Wage Foundation, compared to 25% in 2024.
The report says this is concerning, as it suggests some charity employees “may struggle to afford basic necessities and maintain a healthy lifestyle”.
Meanwhile, the report says 2025 saw a transition to a recruiter-led market, with the number of jobs falling by 18% year-on-year, reflecting broader national labour-market trends.
Median salary rose by 3% to £36,000
The report shows that the median salary for a role in the charity sector rose by 3% year-on-year to £36,000 in 2025.
In comparison, salary growth in the private and public sectors stood at 5.4% and 5.3% respectively, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The median salary for a London-based role was £38,757 in 2025, a 2% year-on-year increase. This was 21% higher than the median salary for a role outside the capital, at £32,135 (6% increase).
The report says that despite fewer roles being posted, median salaries were broadly stable across experience levels.
It says pay across all job types increased or remained stable between 2024 and 2025, except finance which saw a 4% decrease.
The largest increases were seen in HR roles, which rose by 11%, followed by business services and fundraising, both of which increased by 5%.
“Jobs in the admin and support work categories paid the least, with median salaries of £30,000,” the report says.
Looking at salaries by working arrangements, the report says that hybrid roles had the highest median salary (£39,500), compared to remote (£38,000) and on-site (£31,401).
CFG: ‘Government support needed’
Sarah Ann Moore, director of finance and operations at the Charity Finance Group (CFG), said: “The findings around entry-level and junior pay are deeply concerning, though sadly not surprising.
“The fact that a third of entry-level and junior roles in London paid below the London living wage is a stark reminder that the people providing vital services to communities up and down the country are too often not being paid what they deserve.
“These staff are the backbone of our sector, and it’s troubling to see that, for many, even the basic threshold of a living wage remains out of reach. We’ve seen the financial pressures on charities intensify considerably in recent years, and this data reflects that reality.”
Moore added that the economic impact of the Iran war had deepened financial pressures faced by charities, with CFG seeking support from the government following a recent meeting at Number 10.
“Without action, we risk a situation where perhaps the most dedicated and mission-driven workforce in the country is simply unable to sustain itself,” she said.
“And yet, the charity sector has shown remarkable resilience time and again. It’s encouraging to see that the median charity salary has risen to £36,000 (a 3% increase on the previous year) and that charities are finding other meaningful ways to support and retain their people.
“The report’s findings on flexible working are positive, and the level of demand candidates show for remote roles speaks to how important flexibility has become as part of a wider employment offer.”
Increase in volunteer opportunities
The research also reveals a rise in the number of volunteer roles being advertised for the second year in a row, despite the number of paid roles decreasing.
In 2025, 17,385 volunteer roles were posted on CharityJob’s website, a 5% increase from 2024 (16,624).
All categories saw an increase in volunteer roles, except for support work, despite having the third-highest number of roles, at 2,235.
The business services category had the highest number of volunteer roles (4,030), followed by fundraising (3,908). Finance had the lowest, with 253.
Operations saw the biggest increase in volunteer roles (18%), followed by policy, advocacy, governance and campaigns (17%).
The report says the continued growth in volunteer numbers “suggests that charities may be relying less on paid roles and depending more on the skills of volunteers to help maintain services”.
