Great news for the UK Intellectual Property sector – Dawn Ellmore Employment Salary Survey 2019

Intellectual Property salaries are rising in 2019 – and the salary survey by Dawn Ellmore Employment highlights substantial increases for sought-after jobs. Trade Mark Attorneys, qualified Patent Attorneys and Intellectual Property Solicitors are among the top levels. There are also a number of increases worth mentioning for management and support staff in this sector. 

It’s always good to know that your chosen career offers healthy salaries and decent benefits. Dawn Ellmore Employment are specialists in patent, trade mark and legal recruitment and regularly take a pulse check of what trade mark and patent attorneys, among others, can expect to earn. 

“Every year, we survey the sector and compile a comprehensive salary guide, packed with information on pay ranges and benefits across the UK,” says Dawn Ellmore from Dawn Ellmore Employment. “In the 2019 survey, we cover salary ranges for Patent Attorneys, Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property Solicitors, as well as management, technical and support staff at all levels. It’s an indispensable guide for anyone looking for work in these industries or people looking to make their next career move.

“We’re pleased to announce that qualified Patent Attorneys with up to four years’ experience are earning up to £9,000 more in 2019 than in 2018. Those at Partner and Director level can expect a significant increase. Partner level Trade Mark Attorneys are also now on track to earn at least £3,500 more than last year. Qualified Trade Mark Attorneys with up to four years’ experience are looking at an increase of around £5,000.

“Another striking increase in the report is for Intellectual Property Managers with between 4 and 7 years’ experience. They could be earning as much as £7,000 more than the top level of the range in 2018.”

Key findings from Dawn Ellmore Employment Salary Guide 2019

Patent Attorney salaries for 2019 (2018 range for comparison): 

• Trainee Patent Attorney – £27,000 to £35,000 (£26,000 – £34,000).
• Technical Assistant without foundation exams – £30,000 to £40,000 (£29,000 – £34,000).
• Technical Assistant with foundation exams – £35,000 to £45,000 (£35,000 – £45,000).
• Technical Assistant at finals standard level – £40,000 to £53,000 (£40,000 – £52,000).
• Newly qualified CPA or EPA – £55,000 to £65,000 (£55,000 – £63,000).
• Qualified CPA or EPA with 1-4 years’ PQE – £60,000 to 93,000 (£63,000 – £84,000).
• Qualified CPA or EPA with 5+ years’ PQE – £85,000+ (£84,000+).
• Partner level / Director / Head of Patents – £98,000+ (£90,000+).

Salary ranges for Trade Mark Attorneys are as follows: 

• Trainee Trade Mark Attorney – £25,000 to £32,000 (£25,000 – £29,000).
• Part qualified Trade Mark Attorney – £32,000 to £43,000 (£29,000 – £38,000).
• Newly qualified Trade Mark Attorney – £44,000 to £57,000 (£42,000 – £55,000).
• Qualified Trade Mark Attorney with 1-4 years’ PQE – £52,000 to £78,000 (£55,000 – £73,000).
• Qualified Trade Mark Attorney with 5+ years’ PQE – £77,500+ (£75,000+).
• Partner level / Director / Head of Trade Marks – £93,500+ (£90,000+).

Intellectual Property Solicitor salary ranges: 

• Trainee Solicitor – £25,000 to £38,000 (£24,000 – £36,000).
• Newly qualified Solicitor – £40,000 to £65,000 (£38,000 – £62,000).
• Qualified Solicitor with 1-2 years’ PQE – £55,000 to £82,000 (£50,000 – £80,000).
• Qualified Solicitor with 3-5 years’ PQE – £73,000 to £95,000 (£70,000 – £90,000).
• Qualified Solicitor with 5+ years’ PQE – £70,000 to £115,000 (£90,000+).
• Partner level/Head of Department – £100,000+ (£100,000+).

Salary ranges for management and support staff: 

As these vary by region, as well as by level, they are split into salary ranges in London and regional, for the rest of the country. Below are the 2019 ranges at every level, for comparison with 2018 check the full report. 

• Records/Formalities Manager
  • London: £60,000 to £90,000.
  • Regional: £45,000 to £62,000.

• Patent/Trade Mark Paralegal
  • 1-3 years’ experience London: £25,000 to £40,000 / Regional: £20,000 to £25,000.
  • 3-5 years’ experience London: £38,000 to £48,000 / Regional: £25,000 to £35,000.
  • 5+years’ experience London: £40,000 to £54,000 / Regional: £30,000 to £50,000.

• Patent/Trade Mark Administrator
  • 1-3 years’ experience London: £23,000 to £34,000 / Regional: £23,000 to £30,000.
  • 3-5 years’ experience London: £35,000 to £42,000 / Regional: £27,000 to £37,000.
  • 5+ years’ London: £38,000 to £47,000 / Regional: £30,000 to £45,000.

The report also covers salary ranges for patent and trade mark secretarial staff, intellectual property litigation secretarial staff, office support staff, general HR staff. 

Technical support staff

“We recruit across the entire spectrum of positions within this sector,” explains Dawn Ellmore. 

“So, we dedicate half of the annual report to support and management staff, and technical support staff. The ranges for these positions are given twice, one with London weighting and one for other areas in the UK.

“Interestingly, we’re often seeing slightly higher increases in regional salary ranges for technical support positions. For example, Patent Analysts outside of London with between four to seven years’ experience can expect to earn up to £6,000 more at the top level of their range compared with 2018. While in London the increase is £1,000. Similarly, for Intellectual Property Managers at Head of Department level, regional salaries have increased by a minimum of £5,000 and London by a minimum of £2,500. There are increases across the board for most levels of technical support staff, many of between £1,000 and £2,000, which is also encouraging.”

Attractive company benefits listed in report 

Another attractive incentive is the typical company benefits available to employees working in this sector. Here are a few, with more listed in full in the report. 

• 23 to 28 days annual holiday (excluding bank holidays).
• Performance/profit related bonus.
• Health insurance.
• Dental plan.
• Childcare vouchers.
• Flexible working hours.

Overtime rates are as follows: 

• Over seven hours overtime – time and a half.
• Saturdays – double time.
• Sundays – double or triple time.
• From midnight – double or triple time.

Adds Dawn Ellmore: “Our annual report is just one way we keep our candidates abreast of salaries and benefits to expect in the sector. We hope that our salary report for 2019 offers plenty of insight and incentive, as well as food for thought for those people considering their first move into this industry”

For full details of all salary increases and benefits, see the complete report here. 

About Dawn Ellmore Employment

Dawn Ellmore Employment is a market leader in intellectual property and legal recruitment.