Reading Council Staff Salaries Spark Interest

Ten current members of staff at Reading Borough Council consistently earn more than £100,000 a year, the council's published pay bands show.

Chief executive Jackie Yates is top paid, on a flat £188,228.

The director of adult social care post is vacant; its salary band of £102,412-£117,831 would push the number of senior officers consistently earning over £100,000 to 11.

Meanwhile 11 senior staff have the potential to earn more than £100,000, as some pay bands stretch above that mark. Non-executive directors can earn £93,804-£109,223.

Only two listed roles cannot reach six figures: Kelly Hallett, director of children's commissioning resource and performance (£93,804-£99,970), and Louisa Dean, head of communications and marketing (£83,005-£96,892).

Job adverts for director of digital and IT and for the director of adult social care have appeared online. The digital and IT role (pay band £93,804-£109,223) is on Local Government Jobs; applications close Monday 25 May. The adult social care advert on Study Smarter expired on 18 January.

Attention on senior pay follows the TaxPayers Alliance's "Town Hall Rich List 2026". Reading council isn't named, but senior staff are likely among 4,733 local authority employees who received £100,000 or more in total pay in 2024/25.

The TaxPayers Alliance also found 1,255 local authority employees had total pay of at least £150,000 in 2024/25. At Reading, Mrs Yates earns above that level, and executive directors can also exceed £150,000.

Previously, a spokesperson for the council said: "The salaries paid are benchmarked and in line with other local authorities of a similar size.

"Director level posts are responsible for numerous public services delivered locally to many thousands of residents across Reading.

"They additionally include key roles which require specialist knowledge and experience, such as responsibility for children's social care, public health and finance for example.

"It is important salaries are set at a level that attracts and retains staff with the required skills, knowledge and experience to ensure vital public services are delivered to our communities."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter