The number of senior staff at Transport for London (TfL) taking home more than £100,000 annually has tripled in just three years, according to newly released figures. Data for the 2024/25 financial year reveals that 548 employees now receive six-figure pay packets, a dramatic increase from the 151 recorded in 2021/22.
Departments Driving the Pay Surge
Information obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request shows the distribution of these high earners across TfL's leadership. Nearly half of the total, 270 staff members, work within the department overseen by Chief Operating Officer Claire Mann. Her remit includes the daily operation of the London Underground, Overground, trams, and buses, plus TfL's roads and infrastructure.
This represents a significant jump within Ms. Mann's directorate alone, where 125 workers earned £100k or more in the 2023/24 financial year. The second-largest cohort is in the team led by Chief Customer and Strategy Officer Alex Williams, with 81 individuals on six-figure salaries. They are followed by 60 staff working under the general counsel.
TfL's Explanation for the Salary Boom
In its FOI response, TfL attributed the substantial rise to several key factors. The transport body stated that a significant portion of the increase comes from colleagues below senior manager level in operational areas who have received annual pay rises.
The organisation also pointed to backdated pay increases from earlier financial years, the impact of higher inflation, and increased overtime payments for completing essential engineering and maintenance works.
"In a highly competitive market, in which comparator companies pay their top executives significantly more than TfL, it is essential that we continue to attract and retain staff across all disciplines of the organisation," TfL's statement concluded. "This includes ensuring that pay increases are achieved across all levels of colleagues."
Context and Efficiency Savings
The figures emerge against the backdrop of TfL's broader financial landscape. As of August 2025, the organisation employs 27,548 people and has an annual turnover of £9 billion.
TfL has also emphasised its ongoing drive for efficiency, noting that efforts since 2016 have resulted in annual savings of £1.5 billion. The rise in top-tier salaries will likely spark debate about public sector pay and value for money, even as TfL argues competitive remuneration is vital for running the capital's complex transport network.
