Deerfoot is an IT recruitment agency placing permanent and contract technology staff across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and the North West since 1997.
One consultant runs your role from brief to offer, so the person you brief is the person who speaks to every candidate.
The Manchester technology market
Manchester is one of the UK's largest technology job markets outside London, and hiring here rewards knowing where you stand in it.
Finance leads it, cited in 12% of Manchester's permanent technology vacancies in the six months to September 2026, according to IT Jobs Watch. Alongside banks, insurers and fintechs, the city has MediaCityUK in Salford, a large e-commerce and retail sector, and a growing cyber and security cluster around GCHQ's Manchester office, with security clearance now featuring in 6% of Manchester vacancies.
The practical consequence for employers: salaries sit well below London, with a software engineer median of £75,000 against £100,000 in the capital, but demand for cloud skills is climbing fast. Cloud engineer vacancies rose from 28 to 224 on the same period last year and the median salary rose 40%, while AI featured in almost one in ten permanent tech vacancies. Strong candidates are usually weighing several approaches at once, and good people are more often approached than found applying.
4.4%
of Manchester permanent tech vacancies asked for SC clearance in the six months to September 2026, more than double the 2.0% a year earlier
94%
of our permanent placements still in post twelve months later, in our most recent audited period
489
Software Engineer vacancies advertised in Manchester in the six months to September 2026, Greater Manchester's most in-demand technology role
The roles we fill in Manchester
Our Manchester work centres on the skills the city is hiring for most:
Recent placements in the North of England include infrastructure, Linux engineering and technical support roles for a global technology consultancy and an international manufacturing group.
We also recruit across business analysis, project management and artificial intelligence.
How we work
Our process is documented, externally audited and the same every time. See how we recruit.
INDEPENDENTLY ACCREDITED SINCE 1997
Manchester is not a cheaper London.
Salaries are lower, but the best candidates still field several approaches, and we have been recruiting technology people since 1997.
What Manchester employers are paying
Cloud Engineer pay in Manchester rose by 40% on last year, and architects now command a clear premium, but most roles still sit well below London rates. These medians come from advertised vacancies across Greater Manchester, not our own placements.
Manchester IT salaries and day rates
The six most-advertised technology job titles in Manchester, medians from advertised vacancies, six months to September 2026
- Software Engineer
£75,000
Contract: £550/day (49 rates)
Salary unchanged · 397 salaries - Cloud Engineer
£75,000
Contract: £533/day (33 rates)
Salary up 40.2% · 187 salaries - Solutions Architect
£90,000
Contract: £650/day (42 rates)
Salary up 10.8% · 119 salaries - Data Engineer
£65,000
Contract: £530/day (39 rates)
Salary unchanged · 128 salaries - IT Manager
£45,000
Contract: £550/day (15 rates)
Salary down 21.7% · 121 salaries - Infrastructure Engineer
£55,000
Contract: £515/day (21 rates)
Salary unchanged · 115 salaries
Source: IT Jobs Watch, Manchester medians from advertised vacancies. Day rates shown only where at least 10 contract rates were advertised. Updated quarterly.
Who you will be dealing with
Peter Hirst · Associate Director · LinkedIn
Peter has been with Deerfoot for more than 22 years and is one of our Associate Directors, working with employers across Manchester and the North West.
At home, twin boys keep him very busy. When he gets the chance, you will find him on the golf course, watching football or out walking his two dogs.
To talk to Peter, call us on 0161 511 8511 and ask for him, or email hello@deerfoot.co.uk and it will reach him.
Common questions about hiring in Manchester
Do you have an office in Manchester?
No. Deerfoot has been remote-first for years, so there is no Manchester branch to visit. Most clients ask for a video call or Teams meeting, but our team is happy to come to you, whether you are in the city centre, at MediaCityUK or elsewhere in the region.
How much does it cost to use a Manchester IT recruiter?
Fees are a percentage of first-year salary, depending on the difficulty of the role, and we confirm the number in writing before you commit. Our standard permanent terms include a six-month, 100% refund if the hire does not work out, and we make one fee-free placement each month for a registered charity or non-profit.
How long does it take to hire in Manchester?
Most mid-level Manchester roles reach a shortlist within seven to ten days and an offer within four to six weeks. Cloud and DevOps roles need the quickest process, because the best candidates rarely stay available for long.
Can you recruit cloud and DevOps engineers in Manchester?
Yes. Cloud engineering is the fastest-growing area of demand in Manchester, with vacancies up from 28 to 224 on last year, so we source actively rather than waiting for applications, and advise on what it takes to compete on salary.
Can you provide contractors in Manchester?
Yes. As an FCSA Recruiter Partner we engage contractors compliantly, with the IR35 position settled before they start.
Which areas around Manchester do you cover?
Manchester city centre and Salford, across Greater Manchester and out to Cheshire, Lancashire and the wider North West. In practice we recruit UK-wide, including IT recruitment in London, Bristol, the Thames Valley, Surrey and across Hampshire and the South Coast. Across the Pennines and the East Midlands we also cover Leeds and Nottingham.
What salary should I offer in Manchester?
The medians on this page are a starting point, but Manchester pay has moved quickly in some areas, cloud especially. Ask us for a free benchmark and we will compare advertised and placed salaries for your exact role.
Why should a Manchester employer care that we are a B Corp™?
Because it is independently checked rather than self-declared. B Lab verifies how we treat staff, candidates and the environment, and if you are a B Corp or working towards it, a certified supplier counts in your own assessment. In practice it shows up as a fee-free placement each month for registered charities, Living Wage Employer status and carbon offsetting on every placement.
Talk to us about a Manchester role
Brief us online or ring the Manchester number, and you will speak to the recruiter who will run the search.
