The gender pay gap league: scientific research and development, 2025/26

71 scientific research and development employers reported for 2025/26. The median employer's gap: women's median hourly pay 8.3% lower than men's.

These are the employers' own figures, reported under the gender pay gap regulations (250+ employees must report). The gap compares MEDIAN hourly pay of men and women across the whole workforce — it is not a like-for-like pay comparison for the same job.

A positive gap means women's median pay is lower; a negative gap means men's is. "Closest to parity" ranks by distance from zero in either direction. National and sector medians are on the pay gap statistics page.

← All sectors

Closest to parity top 50

1. OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED

parity 250 to 499 employees
2. PRODUCT PERCEPTIONS LIMITED

parity 250 to 499 employees
3. CAWOOD SCIENTIFIC LIMITED

women paid 0.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
4. THATCHAM RESEARCH

women paid 0.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
5. NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE

women paid 0.13% less than men 500 to 999 employees
6. PPD GLOBAL LTD

women paid 0.6% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
7. COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED

women paid 1.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
8. NOTTS PHARMA UK LTD

men paid 1.57% less than women Less than 250 employees
9. READING SCIENTIFIC SERVICES LIMITED

women paid 1.63% less than men 250 to 499 employees
10. CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES EDINBURGH LIMITED

women paid 2.06% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
11. MARWELL WILDLIFE

women paid 2.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
12. THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER

women paid 2.5% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
13. WAYVE TECHNOLOGIES LTD

women paid 3.26% less than men 250 to 499 employees
14. TOKAMAK ENERGY LTD

women paid 3.9% less than men 250 to 499 employees
15. BEATSON INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH

women paid 4.26% less than men 250 to 499 employees
16. MSD ANIMAL HEALTH UK LIMITED

women paid 4.7% less than men 250 to 499 employees
17. LABCORP EARLY DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES LIMITED

women paid 4.9% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
18. NESTA

women paid 5% less than men 250 to 499 employees
19. PFIZER R&D UK LIMITED

women paid 5.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
20. BIRMINGHAM NEWMAN UNIVERSITY

women paid 5.5% less than men 250 to 499 employees
21. LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE

women paid 5.6% less than men 500 to 999 employees
22. NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH

men paid 5.6% less than women 500 to 999 employees
23. CAMPDEN BRI (CHIPPING CAMPDEN) LIMITED

women paid 5.66% less than men 250 to 499 employees
24. IQVIA LABORATORIES DISCOVERY UK LTD

women paid 5.95% less than men 500 to 999 employees
25. HAMMERSMITH MEDICINES RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 6.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
26. ROSLIN CELL THERAPIES LIMITED

women paid 6.2% less than men 250 to 499 employees
27. FERA SCIENCE LIMITED

women paid 6.23% less than men 500 to 999 employees
28. ICON CLINICAL RESEARCH (U.K.) LIMITED

women paid 6.4% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
29. JOHN INNES CENTRE

women paid 6.85% less than men 250 to 499 employees
30. THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE

women paid 7% less than men 250 to 499 employees
31. UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED

women paid 7% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
32. JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS RESEARCH UK LIMITED

women paid 7.6% less than men 250 to 499 employees
33. SYGNATURE DISCOVERY LIMITED

women paid 8.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
34. GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 8.18% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
35. BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT LIMITED

women paid 8.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
36. MTC OPERATIONS LIMITED

women paid 8.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
37. THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE

women paid 8.7% less than men 500 to 999 employees
38. CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED

women paid 8.97% less than men 500 to 999 employees
39. CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

women paid 9% less than men 250 to 499 employees
40. ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LIMITED

women paid 9.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
41. REGENERON UK LIMITED

women paid 9.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
42. VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS (EUROPE) LIMITED

women paid 9.4% less than men 500 to 999 employees
43. THE BINDING SITE GROUP LIMITED

women paid 9.6% less than men 500 to 999 employees
44. THE BABRAHAM INSTITUTE

women paid 9.73% less than men 250 to 499 employees
45. AMGEN LIMITED

women paid 9.98% less than men 500 to 999 employees
46. ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 10.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
47. DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE LIMITED

women paid 10.44% less than men 500 to 999 employees
48. NCC OPERATIONS LIMITED

women paid 11.56% less than men 250 to 499 employees
49. HORIBA MIRA LIMITED

women paid 12% less than men 500 to 999 employees
50. QIAGEN MANCHESTER LIMITED

women paid 12% less than men Less than 250 employees

Largest gaps — women paid less top 50

1. TTP PLC

women paid 39.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
2. MERCEDES AMG HIGH PERFORMANCE POWERTRAINS LIMITED

women paid 37.9% less than men 500 to 999 employees
3. HR WALLINGFORD LIMITED

women paid 22.7% less than men 250 to 499 employees
4. CAMBRIDGE CONSULTANTS LIMITED

women paid 22.56% less than men 500 to 999 employees
5. PAREXEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

women paid 21.11% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
6. OXFORD NANOPORE TECHNOLOGIES PLC

women paid 20.62% less than men 500 to 999 employees
7. SEPURA LIMITED

women paid 20.59% less than men 250 to 499 employees
8. UK BIOBANK LIMITED

women paid 19.9% less than men 250 to 499 employees
9. IMMUNOCORE LIMITED

women paid 19.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
10. UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

women paid 18.9% less than men 500 to 999 employees
11. VERTICAL AEROSPACE GROUP LTD

women paid 17.32% less than men 250 to 499 employees
12. CELLTECH R&D LIMITED

women paid 16.2% less than men 500 to 999 employees
13. NESTEC YORK LTD.

women paid 16% less than men Less than 250 employees
14. LIFEARC

women paid 15.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
15. PHARMARON UK LIMITED

women paid 15.39% less than men 500 to 999 employees
16. SRUC

women paid 14.7% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
17. FORTREA DEVELOPMENT LIMITED

women paid 14.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
18. GENOMICS ENGLAND LIMITED

women paid 14% less than men 500 to 999 employees
19. EVOTEC (UK) LIMITED

women paid 12.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
20. CERES POWER LIMITED

women paid 12.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
21. QUOTIENT SCIENCES LIMITED

women paid 12.2% less than men 500 to 999 employees
22. QIAGEN MANCHESTER LIMITED

women paid 12% less than men Less than 250 employees
23. HORIBA MIRA LIMITED

women paid 12% less than men 500 to 999 employees
24. NCC OPERATIONS LIMITED

women paid 11.56% less than men 250 to 499 employees
25. DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE LIMITED

women paid 10.44% less than men 500 to 999 employees
26. ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 10.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
27. AMGEN LIMITED

women paid 9.98% less than men 500 to 999 employees
28. THE BABRAHAM INSTITUTE

women paid 9.73% less than men 250 to 499 employees
29. THE BINDING SITE GROUP LIMITED

women paid 9.6% less than men 500 to 999 employees
30. REGENERON UK LIMITED

women paid 9.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
31. VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS (EUROPE) LIMITED

women paid 9.4% less than men 500 to 999 employees
32. ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LIMITED

women paid 9.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
33. CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

women paid 9% less than men 250 to 499 employees
34. CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED

women paid 8.97% less than men 500 to 999 employees
35. THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE

women paid 8.7% less than men 500 to 999 employees
36. MTC OPERATIONS LIMITED

women paid 8.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
37. BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT LIMITED

women paid 8.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
38. GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 8.18% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
39. SYGNATURE DISCOVERY LIMITED

women paid 8.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
40. JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS RESEARCH UK LIMITED

women paid 7.6% less than men 250 to 499 employees
41. UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED

women paid 7% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
42. THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE

women paid 7% less than men 250 to 499 employees
43. JOHN INNES CENTRE

women paid 6.85% less than men 250 to 499 employees
44. ICON CLINICAL RESEARCH (U.K.) LIMITED

women paid 6.4% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
45. FERA SCIENCE LIMITED

women paid 6.23% less than men 500 to 999 employees
46. ROSLIN CELL THERAPIES LIMITED

women paid 6.2% less than men 250 to 499 employees
47. HAMMERSMITH MEDICINES RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 6.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
48. IQVIA LABORATORIES DISCOVERY UK LTD

women paid 5.95% less than men 500 to 999 employees
49. CAMPDEN BRI (CHIPPING CAMPDEN) LIMITED

women paid 5.66% less than men 250 to 499 employees
50. LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE

women paid 5.6% less than men 500 to 999 employees

Largest gaps — men paid less top 50

The direction rarely published: employers where the median man's hourly pay is below the median woman's.

1. NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH

men paid 5.6% less than women 500 to 999 employees
2. NOTTS PHARMA UK LTD

men paid 1.57% less than women Less than 250 employees
3. OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED

parity 250 to 499 employees
4. PRODUCT PERCEPTIONS LIMITED

parity 250 to 499 employees
5. THATCHAM RESEARCH

women paid 0.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
6. CAWOOD SCIENTIFIC LIMITED

women paid 0.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
7. NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE

women paid 0.13% less than men 500 to 999 employees
8. PPD GLOBAL LTD

women paid 0.6% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
9. COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED

women paid 1.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
10. READING SCIENTIFIC SERVICES LIMITED

women paid 1.63% less than men 250 to 499 employees
11. CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES EDINBURGH LIMITED

women paid 2.06% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
12. MARWELL WILDLIFE

women paid 2.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
13. THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER

women paid 2.5% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
14. WAYVE TECHNOLOGIES LTD

women paid 3.26% less than men 250 to 499 employees
15. TOKAMAK ENERGY LTD

women paid 3.9% less than men 250 to 499 employees
16. BEATSON INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH

women paid 4.26% less than men 250 to 499 employees
17. MSD ANIMAL HEALTH UK LIMITED

women paid 4.7% less than men 250 to 499 employees
18. LABCORP EARLY DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES LIMITED

women paid 4.9% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
19. NESTA

women paid 5% less than men 250 to 499 employees
20. PFIZER R&D UK LIMITED

women paid 5.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
21. BIRMINGHAM NEWMAN UNIVERSITY

women paid 5.5% less than men 250 to 499 employees
22. LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE

women paid 5.6% less than men 500 to 999 employees
23. CAMPDEN BRI (CHIPPING CAMPDEN) LIMITED

women paid 5.66% less than men 250 to 499 employees
24. IQVIA LABORATORIES DISCOVERY UK LTD

women paid 5.95% less than men 500 to 999 employees
25. HAMMERSMITH MEDICINES RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 6.1% less than men 250 to 499 employees
26. ROSLIN CELL THERAPIES LIMITED

women paid 6.2% less than men 250 to 499 employees
27. FERA SCIENCE LIMITED

women paid 6.23% less than men 500 to 999 employees
28. ICON CLINICAL RESEARCH (U.K.) LIMITED

women paid 6.4% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
29. JOHN INNES CENTRE

women paid 6.85% less than men 250 to 499 employees
30. UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED

women paid 7% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
31. THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE

women paid 7% less than men 250 to 499 employees
32. JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS RESEARCH UK LIMITED

women paid 7.6% less than men 250 to 499 employees
33. SYGNATURE DISCOVERY LIMITED

women paid 8.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
34. GENOME RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 8.18% less than men 1000 to 4999 employees
35. MTC OPERATIONS LIMITED

women paid 8.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
36. BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT LIMITED

women paid 8.3% less than men 500 to 999 employees
37. THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE

women paid 8.7% less than men 500 to 999 employees
38. CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED

women paid 8.97% less than men 500 to 999 employees
39. CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

women paid 9% less than men 250 to 499 employees
40. ILLUMINA CAMBRIDGE LIMITED

women paid 9.1% less than men 500 to 999 employees
41. VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS (EUROPE) LIMITED

women paid 9.4% less than men 500 to 999 employees
42. REGENERON UK LIMITED

women paid 9.4% less than men 250 to 499 employees
43. THE BINDING SITE GROUP LIMITED

women paid 9.6% less than men 500 to 999 employees
44. THE BABRAHAM INSTITUTE

women paid 9.73% less than men 250 to 499 employees
45. AMGEN LIMITED

women paid 9.98% less than men 500 to 999 employees
46. ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH LIMITED

women paid 10.3% less than men 250 to 499 employees
47. DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE LIMITED

women paid 10.44% less than men 500 to 999 employees
48. NCC OPERATIONS LIMITED

women paid 11.56% less than men 250 to 499 employees
49. HORIBA MIRA LIMITED

women paid 12% less than men 500 to 999 employees
50. QIAGEN MANCHESTER LIMITED

women paid 12% less than men Less than 250 employees

Source: employers' statutory reports via gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.