Software Developer Salary Guide (2025)

Software developers create the programs you use every day. Whether playing the latest video game release, listening to music, or texting, you’re doing so because a software developer played a role in its design. 

Software development continues evolving and thriving in the United Kingdom. Data suggests that the market will increase to a total of £45.8 billion by 2025, which suggests promising demand for those with the skills and desire to work in the field [1]. Additionally, if you’re interested in a career as a software developer, you can enjoy robust earning power. 

Explore how much you can expect to make and how factors like experience and job title influence your salary with this software developer salary guide. 

What is a software developer?

A software developer designs and builds software applications. Software developers maintain and update existing code to ensure products work correctly and efficiently. Often, software developers work on a team with product managers, product designers, and other programmers. Job duties for software developers vary depending on the business requirements of the organisation they work for.

Median software developer salary

As previously mentioned, software developers in the UK earn a median yearly salary of £40,708, with the potential for a median additional pay of £3,033 per year. Additional compensation may include commissions, bonuses, or profit sharing. These figures total a potential yearly wage of £43,740 [2]. 

Factors that can influence salary

Software development is vast, and factors such as experience and job title can affect your salary. Software development includes many specialisations, such as fintech (tech companies in the finance industry), blockchain, and mobile app development. Aside from specialised skills and expertise, numerous other factors can also affect your yearly salary as a developer. 

Level of experience

Typically, the more real-world experience you have as a developer, the higher your salary range will be. For example, as an entry-level software developer, you could make a median annual salary of £39,990 [3]. However, as a senior software developer, your median average salary could be more like £55,639 [4]. 

Job title

Software engineer jobs vary significantly in title, responsibilities, and core compensation. Often, people use software developers and software engineers as interchangeable titles. However, these roles are different. The following list outlines a few more job titles in this industry with their respective median annual salaries according to Glassdoor’s December 2024 data. 

• Game developer: £35,751 [5]

• Application developer: £39,228 median salary per year [6]

• Back-end developer:£50,116 median salary per year [7]

• Front-end developer:£41,299 median salary per year [8]

• Full-stack developer:£45,619 median salary per year [9]

Location

As you can see below, the city you live in can also affect your salary. When planning your future as a software developer and choosing where to live, consider the cost of living. Take a look at the following cities and the average salaries for software developers in each one:

• London: £40,668 [10]

• Manchester: £33,652 [11]

• Leeds: £32,584 [12]

• Belfast: £28,459 [13]

• Glasgow: £31,613 [14]

Demand for developers

The research company IBISWorld states that the software development market in the UK will continue to grow from 2024 to 2029, which suggests that the UK economy will need new software developers. Additionally, for the previous five years, the revenue for this industry has increased at a CAGR of 3.5 percent, with trends like the demand for custom and cloud-based software driving revenue increases [1]. Given the steady gains the industry continues making in the UK, you can expect the demand for software developers to follow this upward trend. 

The increasing number of software products will present new opportunities for a software developer. Consumer electronics and other products, like cell phones and appliances, are frequently integrated with computer systems. Also, you might notice more investment in security software to protect computer networks and electronic infrastructure due to concerns over cybersecurity threats.

How to increase your software developer salary

Continued professional development (CPD) is an effective way to secure a higher salary range potentially. For example, consider supplementing your CV with Professional Certificates from industry leaders in the tech space. Meta offers several programmes that grant credentials upon completion, such as the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate.

You can also learn fundamental technical skills with Google by enrolling in or earning qualifications like the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. Learning in-demand programming languages can also set you apart from other applicants.

In-demand programming languages

Programming languages such as Python and Java are the backbone of software development. As a developer, you might only need to use one or two languages, but the more you master, the more competitive you’ll be in the job market. Take a look at some common and sought-after languages.

Python

Python is an excellent language for beginners. Often used for backend web development, Python is one of the few programming languages with simple, easy-to-understand syntax rules, making it far easier to read than many other programming languages.

Java

Java is a cross-platform program used to create interactive applications and browsers. It differs from JavaScript, which can be used to make web pages interactive. Java can be a complicated language, but those with the skills often enjoy high salaries. 

SQL

Structured query language (SQL) is used primarily for databases such as Microsoft Excel. Many businesses and organisations use databases to organise large quantities of data, so it’s an excellent skill.

C and C++

C was one of the first programming languages created and remains a foundation for present-day languages. C is now more commonly used in hardware devices such as medical equipment and operating systems like Linux and Windows. C++ software developers often pick up other programming languages that rely on C’s core concepts quickly.

JavaScript

Interactive websites are exploding in popularity, and JavaScript is the programming language you’ll typically turn to to give users that immersive, interactive experience. Unlike some programming languages, JavaScript will likely remain relevant far into the future as developers continue to explore exciting new applications and a wide array of enterprises around the globe use the language.

Build software development skills on Coursera

Online courses offer an excellent starting point in software development. You can choose from various topics to build relevant skills and expand your knowledge and abilities as a software developer. 

If you're in the job market, consider enrolling in Mastering the Software Engineering Interview from the University of California San Diego, offered on Coursera. Or, explore options for expanding your skill set with options like IBM's Full-Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate, also available on Coursera.