Quantum Computing Jobs in the UK 2026: Demand, Salaries & Hiring Data

A numbers-first reference on the UK quantum computing labour market as it stands in mid-2026 — estimated live vacancies, year-on-year growth, salary bands by seniority and sub-role, the leading regional clusters, and the employers doing the most hiring. Figures below are drawn from public job boards, salary aggregators, government strategy documents and sector commentary; quantum is a small, fast-moving market, so treat every number as an indicative snapshot rather than a precise census.

The Short Answer

As of June 2026, the UK appears to host roughly 90 to 250 live quantum computing vacancies at any one time, depending on how broadly "quantum" is defined; Glassdoor listed around 86 to 91 dedicated roles in mid-2026. Quantum job postings reportedly grew about 71% year-on-year, outpacing AI and cybersecurity. Salaries span widely: a quantum software engineer sits near £85,000, a hardware engineer near £95,000, and senior or error-correction specialists can reach £130,000 to £160,000-plus, with some niche roles advertised up to £280,000. The London–Oxford–Cambridge "golden triangle" accounts for an estimated 58% of roles, with Bristol's photonics hub near 11%. Demand outstrips supply: the UK quantum workforce is estimated at roughly 3,000 people today, and a national skills shortage is widely acknowledged. Most software roles are hybrid; hardware roles are largely on-site.

How many quantum computing jobs are there in the UK in 2026?

There is no official count, and the answer depends heavily on definition. A narrow search for "quantum computing" returned around 86 to 91 live UK roles on Glassdoor in mid-2026, while broader queries that include quantum sensing, cryptography, photonics and academic positions push the figure higher — plausibly into the low hundreds at any given moment.

That small absolute number masks rapid expansion. Sector commentary reports quantum job advertisements grew roughly 71% year-on-year (a figure most often cited from Q1 2025 into 2026), which several sources note is faster than the growth seen in AI or cybersecurity hiring over the same window. The underlying driver is policy as much as commercial demand: the UK's £2.5 billion National Quantum Strategy, plus a further large funding package and a world-first government quantum procurement commitment announced on 17 March 2026, are channelling money into hardware, software and commercialisation roles.

These figures should be read as directional. Quantum hiring is lumpy — a single funding round or government contract can add dozens of roles at one employer within weeks — so monthly vacancy counts swing more than in mature tech sectors.

What do quantum computing jobs pay in the UK?

Pay varies dramatically by role type, seniority and how genuinely "quantum" the work is. Generalist salary aggregators report a "quantum engineer" average near £39,000 and a "quantum computing engineer" average near £55,800, but those blended figures pull in adjacent and junior roles; specialist quantum positions advertised by hardware and software firms tend to sit considerably higher.

Indicative base salaries reported across boards and aggregators in 2026 include a quantum software engineer around £85,000, a quantum hardware engineer around £95,000, and a quantum algorithm researcher around £88,000 to £90,000. London roles are commonly cited as 15% to 25% above the UK average. At the senior end, specialist sources put mid-level hardware engineers at £95,000 to £125,000 and senior roles at £130,000 to £160,000-plus, with quantum error-correction roles spanning a very wide £55,000 to £280,000 depending on seniority and employer.

Two caveats. First, salary growth itself is unusually fast — algorithm researchers reportedly saw around 12% year-on-year growth and cryogenic hardware engineers around 11%, well above typical tech salary inflation. Second, advertised ranges are wide and equity, relocation and visa sponsorship frequently form part of total compensation at startups, so headline base figures understate the full package in some cases.

Where are the quantum jobs? Top UK regions and cities

UK quantum employment is highly concentrated. The London–Oxford–Cambridge golden triangle is estimated to account for roughly 58% of quantum computing roles, reflecting the clustering of university physics departments, national facilities and well-funded startups. Bristol, with its established photonics and quantum engineering base, is the most-cited fourth hub at around 11% of roles.

Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire is a particular focal point because it hosts the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). The practical implication for candidates is geographic: outside these clusters, dedicated quantum roles are sparse, and relocation to the South of England remains common for hardware-focused careers.

Which employers are hiring most for quantum roles?

A relatively small group of companies accounts for a large share of UK quantum vacancies. The most consistently active employers in 2026 include:

• Riverlane (Cambridge) — the UK's pure-play quantum error correction company, regularly listing QEC researchers, FPGA engineers and compiler engineers.

• Quantinuum — maintains significant UK research and development operations across quantum software, cryptography and application stacks.

• Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) — headquartered in Reading with hardware work around Oxford, expanding QEC and characterisation teams as it scales its superconducting "Coaxmon" architecture.

• PsiQuantum — photonic fault-tolerant hardware, with UK-linked activity and a focus on industrial applications such as pharmaceuticals and energy.

• ORCA Computing and Phasecraft — London-based players in photonic hardware and quantum algorithms respectively.

• Quantum Motion — silicon-based qubit work, part of the Oxford/London cluster.

Beyond pure-play firms, demand also comes from financial services, defence and consultancies building quantum-readiness teams — for example, the Financial Conduct Authority has advertised a hybrid quantum computing specialist role. This broadening of employer types is one of the clearer signals that quantum hiring is moving beyond research labs into commercial functions.

How does supply compare with demand?

Demand structurally outstrips supply. With an estimated UK quantum workforce of around 3,000 people across government, industry and academia, and a sector ambition to create 100,000-plus jobs over roughly two decades, the gap is large by design. The UK Quantum Skills Taskforce and the NQCC have both flagged a "scarcity of quantum talent" as a leading risk, and stakeholder feedback points to a potentially acute shortage of technicians, not only PhD physicists.

The talent pool is genuinely small and concentrated. Globally it is measured in thousands rather than tens of thousands, clustered around a handful of university departments and national labs. Employers report a recurring mismatch: applicants are often either underqualified people drawn by the "quantum" label, or highly academic researchers who are a poor fit for commercial product environments. The result is that well-targeted candidates with both quantum knowledge and engineering or software delivery experience are in a strong position.

To address this, the National Quantum Commercialisation Skills Centre — a £12 million UKRI-funded programme announced in March 2026 — and NQCC online courses (including a partnership with the University of Bristol) are aimed squarely at widening the pipeline beyond doctoral training centres.

What share of quantum jobs are remote or hybrid?

Work arrangement depends heavily on whether the role touches physical hardware. On the software side, an estimated 39% of quantum software positions are hybrid (typically two to three office days), and around 14% are fully remote — feasible partly because cloud simulators such as AWS Braket and Azure Quantum allow algorithm and applications work to happen anywhere.

Hardware is different. Roles involving cryogenics, fabrication, characterisation or lab integration remain largely on-site, because they require physical access to dilution refrigerators and test rigs. Candidates seeking remote-first careers should therefore concentrate on algorithms, applications, software engineering and quantum-readiness consulting rather than device engineering.

Who regulates and coordinates UK quantum?

Quantum computing has no single dedicated regulator in the way financial services or telecoms do. Coordination and public investment instead flow through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its National Quantum Technologies Programme, with the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) — a UKRI flagship based at Harwell — acting as the central body for capability, access and skills development. Strategy is set through the government's National Quantum Strategy and associated funding commitments. Candidates and employers tracking the sector should watch UKRI, the NQCC and GOV.UK quantum publications for the funding and procurement signals that most directly move hiring.

Where is it heading?

The near-term direction looks like continued, policy-backed growth from a small base. The combination of the £2.5 billion National Quantum Strategy, the March 2026 funding and procurement announcements, and a recognised skills shortage suggests vacancy volumes and salaries are more likely to rise than fall through 2026, though the market remains small and sensitive to individual funding events. Expect the fastest growth in error correction, software and commercialisation-facing roles as the sector shifts emphasis from pure research toward usable, fault-tolerant systems — but treat any single forecast with caution.

Frequently Asked Questions: Quantum Computing Jobs in the UK

How many quantum computing jobs are there in the UK right now?

There is no official figure. Narrow job-board searches showed roughly 86 to 91 dedicated quantum computing roles in mid-2026, while broader definitions that include sensing, photonics, cryptography and academic posts push the total into the low hundreds. Counts move sharply month to month because the market is small and funding-driven.

What is the average quantum computing salary in the UK?

It varies by role. Generalist aggregators cite averages from about £39,000 to £55,800, but specialist quantum software engineers sit nearer £85,000 and hardware engineers near £95,000. Senior and error-correction roles commonly reach £130,000 to £160,000-plus, with some niche positions advertised considerably higher.

Do you need a PhD to work in quantum computing?

Not always. Hardware and research roles usually require a PhD in physics or engineering, but software, applications and commercial positions increasingly accept a master's degree with strong programming skills in tools such as Qiskit, Cirq or Q#. The sector explicitly needs engineers, developers and technicians, not only doctoral physicists.

Which UK cities have the most quantum jobs?

Cambridge, Oxford and London — the "golden triangle" — together account for an estimated 58% of roles, with Bristol the leading additional hub at around 11%. Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire is a key node because it hosts the NQCC. Roles outside these clusters are comparatively rare.

Can quantum computing jobs be done remotely?

Software and algorithm roles can be. Around 39% of quantum software positions are reportedly hybrid and roughly 14% fully remote, helped by cloud quantum platforms. Hardware roles involving cryogenics or fabrication remain largely on-site because they need physical lab access.

Who are the biggest quantum computing employers in the UK?

Frequently active employers include Riverlane, Quantinuum, Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), PsiQuantum, ORCA Computing, Phasecraft and Quantum Motion. Demand is also growing among financial, defence and consulting organisations building quantum-readiness teams.

Is there a shortage of quantum talent in the UK?

Yes, by most accounts. The UK quantum workforce is estimated at around 3,000 people, and bodies including the NQCC and the UK Quantum Skills Taskforce have identified talent scarcity as a leading risk. New training programmes, including a £12 million commercialisation skills centre announced in March 2026, aim to widen the pipeline.

Summary: The UK Quantum Computing Job Market in 2026

The UK quantum computing labour market in 2026 is small but expanding quickly, with an estimated 90 to a few hundred live vacancies and reported posting growth near 71% year-on-year. Salaries are high and rising — from roughly £40,000 at entry level to £130,000–£160,000-plus for senior and error-correction specialists — and roles are heavily concentrated in the Cambridge–Oxford–London triangle plus Bristol. With a workforce of around 3,000 against an ambition for 100,000-plus jobs, demand clearly outpaces supply, sustained by the National Quantum Strategy and the NQCC's skills work. All figures here are indicative and should be checked against live data before making career or hiring decisions.

Ready to act on this data? Browse current openings, salary benchmarks and employer profiles at quantumcomputingjobs.co.uk — the UK's dedicated quantum computing jobs board, and part of the Future Tech Jobs network.