Working out what a marketing assistant actually costs is rarely as simple as looking up a salary. Once you factor in taxes, pension, equipment, and everything else that comes with bringing someone on, it usually adds up to more than most UK business owners expect.
As a solo founder, a small business or enterprise, an agency, or a startup thinking of hiring a marketing assistant, this is the only guide you’ll need to understand the cost to hire a marketing assistant in UK 2026 and make an effective decision.
In this article, we cover the base cost of hiring a marketing assistant by experience level, the additional costs most businesses overlook, the total cost of employment, the factors that affect what you pay, and the hiring options available if the numbers do not fit your budget.
What is the Base Cost of Hiring a Marketing Assistant in the UK (2026)?
Currently, the minimum wage in the UK is £12.21 for anyone 21 years old and over according to GOV.UK, but on the 1st of April, 2026, it becomes £12.71. This article is written to reflect the new minimum wage.
When it comes to hiring a digital marketing assistant, the base pay can be determined by how many years of experience your assistant has.
In this table, you can see the base cost of hiring a marketing assistant with 0 - 5+ years of experience.
| Experience level | Years of experience | Hourly | Monthly (approx.) | Yearly (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0 – 3 years | £12.71 – £14.50 | £2,200 – £2,510 | £26,400 – £30,120 |
| Mid-level | 3 – 5 years | £14.50 – £16.50 | £2,510 – £2,860 | £30,120 – £34,320 |
| Senior-level | 5+ years | £16.50 – £19.00 | £2,860 – £3,290 | £34,320 – £39,520 |
For broader context, platforms like Jooble and Indeed show that the average salary for marketing assistants in the UK typically ranges between £24,420 – £32,496 depending on experience and location, but these do not factor in the new minimum wage or the demand for raises that may come with other salaries above minimum wage.
What are the Additional Costs of Hiring a Marketing Assistant?
Aside from the base pay, there are other costs that factor into hiring a full-time digital marketing assistant:
- Employer National Insurance
Employers are required to pay National Insurance contributions, which is currently 15% on earnings above a certain threshold. - Auto Enrolment Pension
Under the UK’s auto-enrolment scheme, every eligible employee must be enrolled into a workplace pension, and as an employer, you’re required to contribute at least 3%. - Paid Leave & Public Holidays
UK full time employees are entitled to 28 days paid leave (including bank holidays). This means you pay your employees on these days where there’s no active output. - Equipment and Software
Marketing tools like email platforms, scheduling tools, CRM systems (which come with subscription costs or increased usage tiers as you grow) if you don’t already have them, can add to the cost. - Onboarding and Training
Even if your assistant is experienced, they still need to learn your business, your systems, your tone, your audience, and how you like things done. Between the time you or them spend on this and any initial setup, this can easily range from £500 to £2,000 or more, depending on how structured your business already is. - Recruitment or Job Board Fees
Due to the wider reach of talent you get via recruiters and job boards, business owners prefer to utilize them. And this can easily cost you £1,000 to £3,000 depending on the seniority role before your new hire resumes.
Here is what these additional costs typically add up to for a full time marketing assistant:
| Additional Costs | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Employer National Insurance | £3,200 – £5,200 |
| Auto Enrolment Pension | £800 – £1,200 |
| Paid Holiday Cover (28 days) | £2,400 – £3,500 |
| Equipment and Software | £800 – £1,500 |
| Onboarding and Training | £500 – £2,000 |
| Recruitment or Job Board Fees | £1,000 – £3,000 |
| Total Additional Costs | £8,700 – £16,400 |
What is the Total Cost?
Having covered the base pay and additional costs, the estimated total cost to hire a marketing assistant in UK 2026 typically looks like this:
| Experience Level | Base Annual Salary | Total Additional Costs | Total Monthly Cost | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 3 years | £26,400 – £30,200 | £8,700 – £12,800 | £2,920 – £3,550 | £35,100 – £42,920 |
| 3 – 5 years | £30,120 – £34,320 | £9,600 – £14,400 | £3,310 – £4,060 | £39,720 – £48,720 |
| 5+ years | £34,320 – £39,520 | £11,400 – £16,400 | £3,810 – £4,660 | £45,720 – £55,920 |
Key Factors That Affect the Cost of Hiring a Marketing Assistant
There are factors that affect the cost of hiring a marketing assistant, like:
- Experience level
Marketing assistants with more experience can handle strategy, analytics, and campaign execution, not just basic tasks, so they cost more. - Industry
Highly competitive industries like SaaS, finance, or e-commerce often pay more for marketing talent. - Location
Assistants in cities like London typically earn more than those in smaller towns due to cost of living differences and offshore marketing assistants cost a fraction of what it takes to hire local talent.
Affordable Ways to Hire Marketing Support In UK
There are a growing number of businesses in the UK that need to hire, but don’t have the budget for hiring local talent full-time. If you are one of them, these are some alternative ways to get marketing support:
- Hire Part-Time
You can hire part-time and pay only for the hours you need instead of a full salary if your marketing needs aren’t enough to warrant a full-time hire, or if your budget isn’t big enough for a full-time hire. - Hire Interns
If there’s an experienced person on your team, you can hire interns (fresh graduates, students, or entry level talents) and have them trained and supervised. The first few months may be rough, but it pays off in the long-term. - Hire Freelancers
With freelancers, you can hire flexible, project-based support without long-term commitment. - Hire Offshore
This is where many businesses are saving the most right now. You can partner with Arwana to hire experienced and dedicated remote marketing assistants based overseas, at a fraction of the cost of hiring locally, with no recruitment fees and no long-term contracts.
Conclusion
The cost of hiring a marketing assistant in the UK in 2026 goes well beyond the advertised salary. Once you factor in the full cost of employment, most businesses are looking at somewhere between £35,000 and £56,000 a year depending on experience level.
That gap between the advertised salary and what you actually pay is why more UK businesses are looking at remote hiring as a practical alternative. A dedicated remote marketing assistant gives you the same support without the additional employment costs covered in this article.
If that sounds like the right fit for your business, Arwana connects UK businesses with dedicated remote marketing assistants from £699 a month.
