Chief executives and finance directors of listed high street retailers are paid far more than bosses of other types of businesses, according to research by BDO Stoy Hayward.

The research was split into three pay brackets: upper quartile, median and lower quartile. In the upper quartile bracket, retail chief executives are paid an average of£503,500, compared with an average of£320,000 across all sectors.

In the median bracket, retail bosses are paid an average of£332,000, 30 per cent up on the all-sector average. Those in the lower quartile are paid an average of£261,000, 37 per cent higher than the average.

The earnings of finance directors in the upper quartile average£353,000, compared with a£210,000 all-sector average.

BDO Stoy Hayward head of retail Rupert Eastell said: “Chief executive base pay in retail is higher than that of other sectors possibly as a result of the high-profile nature of the industry. Also, with the injection of private equity investment into many retail businesses, listed retailers have had to respond accordingly.”