CEOs earn 183 times more than average workers

The average FTSE 100 CEO?s pay climbed to ?4.964 million in 2014 – a staggering 183 times more than the average-earning worker in the UK, according to research by the think tank the High Pay Centre.

The study also found that the 10 highest-paid CEOs were paid more than ?156 million between them. Despite this, only a quarter of FTSE 100 companies are Living Wage accredited.

The figures actually represent a slight increase on average CEO pay from ?4.923 million in 2013, and a more significant rise from the ?4.129 million average in 2010.

The study also found:

* The top 10 highest-paid CEOs alone were paid over ?156 million between them.

* Despite average CEO pay of nearly ?5 million, only a quarter of FTSE 100 organisations are living wage accredited.

* The average vote from business shareholders against pay awards across the FTSE 100 was just 6.4%.

The research findings come as it was announced public employers in the US will have to disclose the difference in pay between the chief executive officer and the median pay received by other employees from January 2017 onwards.

Deborah Hargreaves, director of The High Pay Centre, said: “Pay packages of this size go far beyond what is sensible or necessary to reward and inspire top executives. It?s more likely that corporate governance structures in the UK are riddled with glaring weaknesses and conflicts of interest.”