2026 base compensation benchmarks for Head of Data & ML roles in North & Midlands, drawn from live search mandates across the EQ Group portfolio. Shown in GBP and USD.
Base salary, excluding bonus and equity · Reviewed August 2026 · USD figures converted at £1 = $1.27 as of August 2026
A Head of Data & ML in North & Midlands is paid £105k to £170k in base salary in 2026, with a median of £135k ($135k to $215k, median $170k). Bonus and equity sit on top of these figures.
The three points of the published band, read by the scope of the seat rather than the job title. Same data, expressed the way an offer is actually built.
| Scope | GBP | USD | What the seat looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| First time in the role | £105k | $135k | Stepping up from a number two seat, smaller team, single market |
| The median hire | £135k | $170k | Proven in the role, owns a team and a target, one geography |
| Top of the band | £170k | $215k | Multi-market scope, P&L ownership, hiring plan and board exposure |
Every market we benchmark for this role, in local currency with the US dollar equivalent alongside it, so a US and a UK offer can be compared on the same line.
| Market | Range | Median | Median in USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| All US | $210k to $340k | $265k | $265k |
| California | $265k to $425k | $335k | $335k |
| New York | $240k to $390k | $305k | $305k |
| Massachusetts | $230k to $375k | $295k | $295k |
| Texas | $185k to $295k | $235k | $235k |
| Florida | $175k to $280k | $220k | $220k |
| All UK | £125k to £200k | £160k | $205k |
| South & London | £140k to £225k | £180k | $230k |
| North & Midlands this page | £105k to £170k | £135k | $170k |
The £105k to £170k band reflects base salary for Head of Data & ML hires closed in North & Midlands in the last 12 months. The median of £135k sits inside a market where technical scope, team size and equity mix push the top of the range faster than the base.
Compensation for Head of Data & ML in North & Midlands typically breaks down across three levers: base salary, annual bonus tied to commercial or delivery targets, and equity for growth-stage businesses. Total cash on target is usually 15 to 25 percent above base for leadership roles, and equity can add materially over a four-year vesting window.
For candidates: the fastest way to move up the band is a scope change, not a title change. Ownership of a P&L line, a hiring plan, or a new market delivers a larger step in the next offer than an incremental title bump.
For hiring leaders: paying at the median in North & Midlands keeps you competitive for the middle of the market. Paying at the £170k end is where you close the top decile of candidates who already have a strong current package to walk away from.
Bands are built from offers and closed placements across the EQ Group portfolio brands in the US and UK, reviewed August 2026. Figures are annual base salary in thousands, excluding bonus and equity. USD conversions use a single stated rate of £1 = $1.27 as of August 2026, so cross-market comparisons stay consistent rather than moving with the daily market.
A Head of Data & ML in North & Midlands is paid £105k to £170k in base salary in 2026, with a median of £135k ($135k to $215k, median $170k). Bonus and equity sit on top of these figures. The band is built from offers and closed placements across the EQ Group portfolio brands, reviewed August 2026.
Anything at or above the median of £135k is competitive for a standard scope seat. £170k is where the top decile of candidates is closed, and it usually reflects broader ownership rather than a longer tenure: a P&L line, a hiring plan, or a new market.
Yes. US markets typically carry higher base salaries in dollar terms than UK markets for the same scope. The comparison table on this page lists every market EQ Group benchmarks for Head of Data & ML, with each median converted to USD at a single stated rate of £1 = $1.27 as of August 2026, so a US and a UK offer can be read on the same line.
Yes. Every figure on this page is annual base salary, excluding bonus and equity. For leadership seats, total cash on target is usually 15 to 25 percent above base, and equity can add materially over a four-year vesting window.
Reviewed August 2026, from Head of Data & ML hires closed in North & Midlands in the preceding 12 months. It is not a survey of advertised salaries.