Developer Salaries in 2026: How Much Do Developers Really Earn? (By Country & Role)
Comprehensive guide to developer salaries in 2026. Compare software engineer compensation by country, role, experience level, and tech stack with real data.
Developer Salaries in 2026: The Complete Guide
How much should you be earning as a developer in 2026? Whether you're negotiating a raise, considering a job change, or just curious how you compare, this comprehensive guide breaks down developer compensation worldwide.
We've analyzed data from Stack Overflow, Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, LinkedIn, and proprietary sources to bring you the most accurate picture of developer salaries in 2026.
Executive Summary
Key Findings for 2026
- US developers earn $120K-180K on average (senior: $180K-350K+)
- Remote salaries have stabilized at 70-90% of US rates regardless of location
- AI/ML engineers command 30-50% premiums over general software engineers
- The gap is closing: European salaries grew 15% while US grew 5%
- Total comp matters: Stock and bonuses can add 20-100% to base salary
Developer Salaries by Country
United States
The US remains the highest-paying market for developers, though growth has slowed.
| Role | Junior (0-2 yrs) | Mid (3-5 yrs) | Senior (6+ yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $85K-120K | $130K-180K | $180K-280K |
| Frontend Developer | $75K-110K | $120K-160K | $160K-220K |
| Backend Developer | $85K-125K | $135K-185K | $185K-260K |
| Full Stack | $80K-115K | $125K-175K | $170K-250K |
| DevOps/SRE | $95K-130K | $145K-200K | $200K-300K |
| AI/ML Engineer | $110K-160K | $170K-250K | $250K-400K |
| Mobile Developer | $80K-120K | $130K-180K | $180K-260K |
Top paying cities:
- San Francisco/Bay Area (+30-40% above average)
- Seattle (+20-30%)
- New York (+15-25%)
- Austin (+10-15%)
- Boston (+10-15%)
Note: These figures include base salary only. Total compensation at FAANG companies can be 2-3x base.
United Kingdom
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | £35K-50K | £55K-80K | £80K-130K |
| Frontend Developer | £32K-45K | £50K-70K | £70K-110K |
| Backend Developer | £38K-52K | £58K-85K | £85K-140K |
| DevOps/SRE | £42K-58K | £65K-95K | £95K-150K |
| AI/ML Engineer | £50K-70K | £80K-120K | £120K-200K |
London premium: +20-35% above national average
Germany
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | €45K-60K | €65K-85K | €85K-120K |
| Frontend Developer | €42K-55K | €58K-78K | €78K-105K |
| Backend Developer | €48K-62K | €68K-90K | €90K-130K |
| DevOps/SRE | €52K-68K | €75K-100K | €100K-140K |
| AI/ML Engineer | €60K-80K | €90K-130K | €130K-180K |
Top cities: Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg
France
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | €38K-50K | €52K-72K | €72K-100K |
| Frontend Developer | €35K-45K | €48K-65K | €65K-90K |
| Backend Developer | €40K-52K | €55K-75K | €75K-110K |
| DevOps/SRE | €45K-58K | €62K-85K | €85K-120K |
| AI/ML Engineer | €50K-70K | €75K-110K | €110K-160K |
Paris premium: +15-25% above national average
Netherlands
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | €42K-55K | €60K-80K | €80K-115K |
| Backend Developer | €45K-58K | €65K-88K | €88K-125K |
| DevOps/SRE | €50K-65K | €72K-98K | €98K-140K |
Note: Amsterdam tech scene offers competitive salaries with lower taxes than neighbors.
Canada
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | C$65K-90K | C$95K-130K | C$130K-180K |
| Frontend Developer | C$58K-82K | C$85K-120K | C$120K-165K |
| Backend Developer | C$68K-95K | C$100K-140K | C$140K-195K |
| AI/ML Engineer | C$80K-115K | C$125K-180K | C$180K-260K |
Top cities: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal
Australia
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | A$70K-95K | A$100K-140K | A$140K-200K |
| Frontend Developer | A$65K-88K | A$92K-125K | A$125K-175K |
| Backend Developer | A$72K-98K | A$105K-145K | A$145K-210K |
| DevOps/SRE | A$80K-110K | A$120K-165K | A$165K-240K |
Sydney/Melbourne premium: +15-20%
Remote (Location-Independent)
| Role | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $60K-90K | $95K-140K | $140K-220K |
| Frontend Developer | $55K-85K | $88K-130K | $130K-190K |
| Backend Developer | $62K-95K | $100K-150K | $150K-230K |
| DevOps/SRE | $70K-105K | $115K-170K | $170K-260K |
Note: Remote salaries increasingly peg to role, not location. Many US companies now offer 70-90% of US rates for remote workers anywhere.
Salaries by Tech Stack
Highest Paying Languages/Frameworks (2026)
| Technology | Avg Salary (US) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Rust | $185K | +8% |
| Go | $175K | +5% |
| Kotlin | $168K | +7% |
| Scala | $165K | +3% |
| TypeScript | $155K | +6% |
| Python (ML) | $175K | +10% |
| Swift | $160K | +4% |
| Solidity | $170K | -5% |
Most In-Demand Skills (Premium %)
| Skill | Salary Premium |
|---|---|
| AI/ML Engineering | +30-50% |
| Cloud Architecture (AWS/GCP/Azure) | +20-30% |
| Kubernetes/Platform Engineering | +20-25% |
| Security Engineering | +25-35% |
| Data Engineering | +15-25% |
| Blockchain/Web3 | +10-20% |
Framework-Specific (Frontend)
| Framework | Avg Salary (US) |
|---|---|
| React | $145K |
| Vue | $138K |
| Angular | $140K |
| Svelte | $150K |
| Next.js | $152K |
FAANG & Big Tech Compensation
Big tech companies pay significantly above market through total compensation packages.
Google (L3-L7)
| Level | Base | Stock | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3 (Junior) | $140K | $40K | $15K | ~$195K |
| L4 (Mid) | $175K | $80K | $25K | ~$280K |
| L5 (Senior) | $210K | $150K | $40K | ~$400K |
| L6 (Staff) | $260K | $250K | $60K | ~$570K |
| L7 (Principal) | $320K | $400K | $100K | ~$820K |
Meta (E3-E7)
| Level | Base | Stock | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E3 (Junior) | $130K | $40K | $15K | ~$185K |
| E4 (Mid) | $165K | $90K | $25K | ~$280K |
| E5 (Senior) | $200K | $180K | $45K | ~$425K |
| E6 (Staff) | $250K | $300K | $70K | ~$620K |
Apple, Amazon, Microsoft
Similar ranges to Google/Meta, with Amazon historically offering more stock (lower base) and Apple offering more cash (lower stock).
Startup Compensation
Early-stage startups typically offer:
- Base: 70-90% of big tech
- Equity: 0.1-1% (early) to 0.01-0.1% (later stage)
- Upside: Potentially massive if successful
How to Maximize Your Developer Income
1. Negotiate Effectively
Before the offer:
- Research market rates (Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, Blind)
- Know your BATNA (Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement)
- Practice your pitch
During negotiation:
- Never accept the first offer
- Negotiate base, stock, signing bonus, and perks separately
- Use competing offers as leverage
- Ask for specific numbers, not ranges
Data point: Developers who negotiate earn 10-20% more on average.
2. Level Up Your Skills
Highest-ROI skills to learn:
- AI/ML fundamentals (even for non-ML roles)
- Cloud architecture certification
- System design for senior roles
- Leadership/management for career progression
3. Consider Remote Work
Remote work can dramatically increase effective income:
- Bay Area salary while living in Austin = 40%+ more purchasing power
- US company salary while living in Europe/LATAM = even more
4. Build Side Income Streams
Developers have unique opportunities for additional income:
| Income Stream | Effort | Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancing | High | $50-200/hr |
| SaaS products | High | $0-$1M+/yr |
| Course creation | Medium | $5K-500K |
| Technical writing | Low | $200-1000/article |
| Passive income (Idlen) | Very Low | $50-500/month |
Pro tip: Tools like Idlen let you earn passive income during your normal coding workflow—no extra effort required. Your idle time (waiting for builds, tests, or AI responses) generates revenue automatically.
5. Optimize for Total Compensation
Don't focus only on base salary:
- Stock options: Can be worth more than salary at successful companies
- Bonuses: Often 10-20% of base
- Benefits: Health insurance, 401k match, education budget
- Perks: Remote work, flexible hours, equipment budget
The Remote Work Premium
How Remote Has Changed Salaries
Before 2020: Location-based pay was standard 2020-2023: Chaos—some companies kept location pay, others went global rates 2024-2026: New equilibrium emerging
Current Remote Pay Models
- Global rates: Same pay regardless of location (rare)
- Regional rates: Tiers based on cost of living zones
- Hybrid: Base rate + location adjustment
- Market rates: Pay what's competitive locally
Best Remote-Friendly Companies (2026)
Companies known for competitive remote compensation:
- GitLab (transparent pay bands)
- Automattic (global rates)
- Zapier (above-market remote pay)
- Buffer (transparent salaries)
- Deel (location-based but generous)
Salary Trends to Watch
Rising
- AI/ML engineers: Demand far exceeds supply
- Platform engineers: Kubernetes/infra expertise
- Security engineers: Every company needs them
- Developer experience: Internal tooling specialists
Stable
- Full-stack developers: Always in demand
- Mobile developers: iOS and Android
- DevOps/SRE: Essential but mature market
Declining (Relatively)
- PHP developers: Legacy, though Laravel is strong
- Junior roles: AI tools reducing entry-level demand
- Basic WordPress/Drupal: Commoditized
Regional Cost of Living Comparison
Salary means nothing without context. Here's purchasing power-adjusted comparison:
| Location | Avg Dev Salary | Cost of Living Index | Adjusted Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $180K | 180 | 100 (baseline) |
| Austin | $145K | 105 | 138 |
| London | £85K (~$108K) | 140 | 77 |
| Berlin | €75K (~$82K) | 95 | 86 |
| Amsterdam | €80K (~$87K) | 110 | 79 |
| Lisbon | €45K (~$49K) | 65 | 75 |
| Remote (from Portugal) | $120K | 65 | 185 |
Key insight: Remote work from low-cost-of-living areas offers the best lifestyle arbitrage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average developer salary in 2026?
The average developer salary in 2026 varies significantly by location. In the US, it's $120,000-180,000. In Western Europe, €50,000-90,000. Remote positions often pay $80,000-150,000 regardless of location.
Which programming language pays the most in 2026?
Rust, Go, and Kotlin developers command the highest salaries, often 20-30% above average. AI/ML specialists with Python earn premium rates. Web developers (JavaScript/TypeScript) have the most opportunities but average pay.
How can developers increase their income?
Developers can increase income through:
- Specializing in high-demand skills (AI, cloud, security)
- Negotiating effectively (10-20% boost on average)
- Remote work for higher-paying markets
- Freelancing or consulting
- Side projects and products
- Passive income streams like Idlen
Should I negotiate my developer salary?
Absolutely. Data shows developers who negotiate earn 10-20% more. The worst that can happen is they say no.
Is remote work worth a pay cut?
It depends. A 10-20% pay cut for remote work often results in higher purchasing power and quality of life if you relocate to a lower cost area. Calculate your effective hourly rate including commute time.
How much do FAANG engineers make?
At senior levels (5+ years), FAANG total compensation typically ranges from $350K-600K+, including base salary, stock, and bonuses. See the detailed breakdown in our FAANG section above.
Conclusion
Developer salaries in 2026 remain strong, with particular premiums for AI/ML, cloud, and security expertise. The biggest trend is the continued normalization of remote work, enabling developers to optimize for both compensation and lifestyle.
Key takeaways:
- Negotiate—you're likely underpaid if you haven't
- Skills in AI/cloud/security command premiums
- Remote work offers lifestyle arbitrage opportunities
- Total compensation matters more than base salary
- Side income streams can meaningfully boost earnings
Whatever your situation, understanding market rates is the first step to maximizing your value as a developer.
