The third annual Paraplanner Salary Survey from Antony George Recruitment, sponsored by The Financial Planning Club, gathered 587 verified responses covering pay, benefits, qualifications, working patterns, career aspirations and the use of artificial intelligence.
More than half of paraplanners remain unhappy with their salary despite widespread pay increases, according to new research that suggests recognition, career progression and workplace technology are becoming increasingly important factors for professionals in the sector.
The survey found that 75.2% of respondents had received a pay rise during the past 12 months. However, 51.2% said they were still not satisfied with their salary.
According to Lee Old, co-founder of Antony George Recruitment, the findings highlight a disconnect between pay increases and how paraplanners view their progression and value within firms.
“If your responsibilities have grown and your pay has moved by a couple of per cent, it does not feel like a rise. It feels like drift, and paraplanners have noticed.”
Half of UK paraplanners now earn £45,000 or more, with the median salary band sitting between £45,000 and £49,999. More than 30% earn £50,000 or above, while just under one in ten earn more than £60,000.
Location and qualifications continue to influence earnings. London respondents averaged around £52,000 compared with approximately £41,700 in the North East, while Chartered paraplanners averaged £54,800 compared with £44,300 for those qualified to Level 4.
Alongside questions on salary, the survey gathered 251 written responses about what paraplanners would change about their role. While remuneration featured heavily, recognition emerged as a recurring theme.
One respondent called for: “Fighting the assumption we’re just report-writing teams, and more appreciation for the complexity of the role.”
Another highlighted the need for: “Greater respect from advisory roles, and visibility of career progression.”
Reflecting on those responses, Old said: “Firms sometimes assume this is a money conversation. The written answers suggest their technical people are mainly asking to be taken seriously.”
The findings also challenge the long-held assumption that paraplanning is primarily a route into advice.
Among respondents asked about career direction, just 4.5% said they viewed paraplanning purely as a stepping stone to becoming an adviser, while 70% said they see career opportunities within paraplanning itself.
Old said the results should encourage firms to think more broadly about progression opportunities. “A firm with one route forward – the adviser route – is planning careers for people who do not want them. Some want to become technical specialists, some want to lead a paraplanning team, and some want more client exposure without ever advising.”
The survey also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence within advice businesses. More than three-quarters (77.2%) of respondents said their firm now uses AI in some form, although only 3.5% described it as extensively embedded.
AI generated more written responses than any other topic in the survey. Views were mixed, with some respondents welcoming the technology’s ability to reduce administration and free up time for more meaningful work, while others expressed concerns about its potential impact on paraplanning roles.
Old said technology adoption is increasingly becoming a factor when professionals assess potential employers. “The gap between firms investing in embedded systems and those relying on manual processes is beginning to influence where paraplanners choose to work.”
Flexible working continues to play a significant role within the profession, with 82.1% of respondents working from home for at least part of the week and one in five working fully remotely.
Despite concerns around pay and recognition, paraplanners appear largely positive about their working lives, with 75.5% rating their work-life balance as good or excellent.
Taken together, the findings suggest firms looking to attract and retain paraplanning talent may need to focus on more than remuneration alone, with recognition, clear career pathways and investment in technology also influencing how paraplanners view their future within the profession.
To understand more of Antony George’s Paraplanner Salary Survey findings, head here: Paraplanner Salary Survey 2026 – Antony George Recruitment
Main image: lightbulb, absolutvision-82TpEld0_e4-unsplash
