Women receive £2,380 less in bonus pay each year than men, according to new research from Brightmine. The findings show men are around 1.5 times more likely to receive a bonus and receive larger awards on average (£5,442 compared with £3,062 for women), contributing to a gender bonus gap of 44%.
Sheila Attwood, HR insights and data lead at Brightmine, comments: “Average bonus payments have increased for both men and women over the past year, and while the gap has narrowed slightly from £2,418 to £2,380, the underlying imbalance remains stark.”
“The divide becomes especially pronounced as employees age, suggesting that differences in progression, seniority and access to higher-value incentive schemes may compound throughout people’s careers. Employers should examine bonus outcomes alongside their wider pay-gap data and assess who receives awards, their relative value and how this varies by gender, age and seniority. Greater transparency and regular analysis can help organisations identify where disparities emerge and determine whether their reward practices are operating fairly.”
Key findings
- Men were more likely to receive a bonus: 14% of male employees received one, compared with 9% of female employees.
- Across annual bonuses, men received £2,380 more on average than women: £5,442 compared with £3,062, producing a 44% gender bonus gap.
- The gap widens with age. At 56, men received an average bonus of £8,817, compared with £3,769 for women – a difference of £5,048.
- The widest sector gaps were recorded in finance, where men received £6,120 more on average than women, and professional and business services, where the difference was £7,062.
- Overall, 13% of employees received a bonus, unchanged from July 2025. Among bonus recipients, the average payment was £4,572.
- Directors received an average of £63,672, equivalent to 37% of basic salary, while staff received an average £1,919, equivalent to 5% of salary.
Methodology
This resource is based on payroll data for 1,464,824 individuals employed in 1,190 organisations. The data is current as at July 2026 and is analysed by Brightmine Compensation Planning job level (entry level to chief executive), job function group and industry. Of the total sample, 186,787 individuals employed in 377 organisations received a cash bonus in the previous 12 months and form the basis of the bonus analysis. Commission and non-cash rewards are excluded.
