Average rates for a new travel job rose 2.91% in April compared with the previous month, setting a new record of £28,382, according to C&M’s latest Travel Salary Index. The figure beats the previous high set last June and is only the second time the £28,000 barrier has been broken.

The overall rise was recorded despite a 1.5% monthly fall in salaries in the north of the UK where wages slipped back to £23,656. However, an 8% jump in the south saw salaries reach £28,777 – their highest level since June 2018 and 4% higher than last April. Year on year, the increase is in excess of 5%.

C&M director Barbara Kolosinska said: "It really was a month of two halves. In terms of salaries, everything was very positive, with wages for new travel jobs reaching a record high, while we also had a massive 8% jump in pay in the south.

“However, at the same time we continued to see a candidate shortage with many of the best travel professionals choosing to remain in their current roles rather than seek out any new opportunities.

“This has clearly resulted in a huge demand for quality candidates and, as our salary results show, companies are increasingly willing to improve their wages and benefits packages in an effort to attract the best applicants.”