Major salary differences amongst executive assistants exist across the UK, according to research by recruiter OfficeTeam.

It found that both temporary and permanent executive assistants in the South get higher hourly rates and annual salaries than those based in the North.

In London the average hourly rate for temporary executive assistants is £12.50 per hour, almost double the average hourly rate received by those in Scotland (£6.79 per hour), and £3.55 above the UK average of £8.95 per hour.

Permanent executives in the South also enjoy higher gross annual salaries than those in the North.

“These results provide quantitive evidence of the power of geography in influencing salaries,” says OfficeTeam’s regional director Victoria Sprott. “While employees continue to show a desire to receive more non-traditional benefits focused on achieving a work-life balance, managers must recognise the importance of salary in rewarding performance and strengthening brand loyalty.”