The NHS and Network Rail dominate the list of central government’s highest-paid digital and technology professionals.

The Cabinet Office has published its annual rundown of the best-paid employees of central government departments, agencies, and non-departmental public bodies. As of 30 September, there were 415 government officials paid £150,000 or more in real terms, with a further 26 part-time employees earning at least an equivalent amount on a pro rata basis.

Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, is central government’s biggest earner, with a salary of between £745,000 and £749,999. This places him about £100,000 or more ahead of second-placed Mark Thurston, who takes home in excess of £600,000 as chief executive of High Speed Two.

The top 11 are all employees of Department for Transport-owned entities, including David Waboso, Network Rail’s managing director, group digital railway, who is ninth. His estimated salary of £380,000 to £384,999 makes him the highest-paid digital and technology professional in the government’s employ. His pay has increased by £30,000 since the publication of last year’s list.

The list contains a further 21 technologists earning £150,000 or more per annum in real terms. Five of these are employed by Network Rail, and six work for NHS England or NHS Digital.

Fewer than one in seven – three out of 22 – of the government’s highest-earning digital professionals are women. NHS Digital chief executive Sarah Wilkinson, with a pay packet of £190,000 to £194,999, is the government’s highest-paid woman in a technology role.
 

Central government’s highest-earning digital professionals

1. (9th overall) – David Waboso, managing director, group digital railway, Network Rail
£380,000 - £384,999

2. (Joint 39th) – Jeremy Vincent, group chief information officer, Network Rail
£230,000 - £234,999

3. (Joint 55th) – Adrian Simper, strategy and technology director, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 
£210,000 - £214,999

=3. (Joint 55th) – Michael Flynn, transformation director, digital railway, Network Rail
£210,000 - £214,999

5. (Joint 74th) – Ruth McKernan, chief executive officer, Innovate UK
£200,000 to £204,999

=5. (Joint 74th) – Andrew Doherty, chief rail technology officer, Network Rail
£200,000 to £204,999

7. (Joint 94th) – Mayank Prakash, director general, IT and chief information officer, Department for Work and Pensions
£195,000 to £199,999

8. (Joint 104th) – Sarah Wilkinson - chief executive, NHS Digital
£190,000 to £194,999

9. (Joint 150th) – Keith McNeil, chief clinical information officer for health and social care, and NHS director of IT, NHS England 
£180,000 to £184,999

10. (Joint 208th) – Simon Atterwell - director, telecoms asset management, Network Rail
£170,000 to £174,999

11. (Joint 236th) – Will Smart, chief information officer, NHS England
£165,000 to £169,999,

12. (Joint 270th) – Bryan Clark, director of digital and change, HM Prisons and Probation Service, unchanged
£160,000 to £164,999

=12. (Joint 270th) – Kevin Gallagher director of digital and change, HM Courts and Tribunals Service
£160,000 to £164,999

=12. (Joint 270th) – Kevin Baughan, deputy chief executive, Innovate UK
£160,000 to £164,999

15. (Joint 314th) – Peter Short, national clinical lead, GP, NHS Digital
£155,000 to £159,999

=15. (Joint 314th) – Manpreet Pujara, clinical director for patient safety, NHS Digital
£155,000 to £159,999

=15. (Joint 314th) – Martin Elliot, director service design, Information Systems and Services, Ministry of Defence
£155,000 to £159,999

=15. (Joint 314th) – John Seglias, group chief digital and information officer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
£155,000 to £159,999

19. (Joint 358th) – Juliet Bauer, chief digital officer, NHS England
£150,000 to £154,999

=19. (Joint 358th) – Juan Villamil, director infrastructure and operations services, Department for Work and Pensions
£150,000 to £154,999

=19. (Joint 358th) – Kevin Cunnington, director general, Government Digital Service
£150,000 to £154,999 

= 19. (Joint 358th) – Nigel Shaw, chief information officer, Defence Equipment and Support
£150,000 to £154,999