The survey showed that in charities with income of more than £25 million, women leaders are paid an average of £105,000 a year in comparison to an average salary of £91,950 for men.

Although the same trend is repeated for charities with a £15-£25 million turnover - with women earning on average £78,817 compared to £76,650 for men - when looking at the sector as a whole, the situation is reversed. Overall, women chief executives earn an average of £44,242 while men receive £53,175.

Charity chief executive salaries are also increasing to become more inline with private sector organisations. In 2000, the average third sector chief executive salary for organisations with income more than £25 million was £78,000, compared with £93,000 within the equivalent sized private sector company. Today these salaries have risen to £94,000 and £110,000 respectively.

Gail Scott-Spicer, deputy chief executive of acevo, said: “It is striking that the senior women in the major charities now earn more than their male counterparts. It’s a world away from current practice in the commercial and public sectors. The competitive salaries we are now able to offer reflect the sector’s growing professionalism. It’s time to stop apologising for them.”