Skip to content
worldsalaries .com

Average Computer Programmer Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A computer programmer in United Kingdom earns about 70,600 GBP a year. That's 1% roughly in line with the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 38,100 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 108,200 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a computer programmer make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
70,600 GBP
5,883 GBP per month
Lowest reported
38,100 GBP
3,175 GBP per month
Highest reported
108,200 GBP
9,016 GBP per month

A typical computer programmer working in United Kingdom brings home around 5,883 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 38,100 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 108,200 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior computer programmer working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the computer programmer salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How computer programmer pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all computer programmers in United Kingdom earn less than 68,500 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 47,400 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 87,700 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of computer programmers sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 38,100 GBP. The highest stretch to 108,200 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

38,100
Low
68,500
Median
108,200
High
47,400
25th
87,700
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Computer programmer pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a computer programmer in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical computer programmer salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    42,800 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +34% from previous
    57,200 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +26% from previous
    72,300 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +23% from previous
    89,200 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +12% from previous
    99,600 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +3% from previous
    102,700 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 0 - 2 Years to 2 - 5 Years, where pay rises by about 34%. That is the point at which a computer programmer typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Computer programmer pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving computer programmer pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average computer programmer salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    51,600 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +47% from previous
    75,900 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +45% from previous
    109,700 GBP

Computer programmer gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male computer programmers in United Kingdom earn an average of 72,700 GBP a year, while female computer programmers earn around 69,600 GBP. That works out to a 4% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Computer Programmer gender pay gap

4%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 72,700 GBP
Women 69,600 GBP

Pay raises for a computer programmer in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 12% every 17 months, which works out to roughly 8% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Computer programmer bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

55%

55% of computer programmers in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a computer programmer a moderate-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5% of base salary. The remaining 45% of computer programmers reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Computer programmer: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Computer programmer salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Computer programmer pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Bristol
  • Manchester
  • Leeds
  • Leicester
  • London
  • Birmingham
  • Sheffield
  • Liverpool
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion140,700 GBP134,100 GBP70,500-211,200 GBP
ScotlandRegion95,300 GBP91,600 GBP48,600-146,700 GBP
BristolCity83,800 GBP78,400 GBP42,300-127,700 GBP
ManchesterCity80,800 GBP71,400 GBP43,400-119,700 GBP
LeedsCity80,500 GBP80,500 GBP40,200-128,200 GBP
LeicesterCity80,400 GBP80,500 GBP40,000-127,700 GBP
LondonCity79,800 GBP86,100 GBP35,400-127,600 GBP
BirminghamCity79,000 GBP84,300 GBP37,100-128,200 GBP
SheffieldCity79,000 GBP77,000 GBP41,900-119,700 GBP
LiverpoolCity78,500 GBP80,500 GBP35,000-124,500 GBP
BelfastCity77,300 GBP72,400 GBP40,900-116,400 GBP
EdinburghCity77,300 GBP73,500 GBP36,800-114,300 GBP
GlasgowCity77,000 GBP77,000 GBP40,000-123,000 GBP
NewcastleCity76,900 GBP73,500 GBP39,800-115,600 GBP
CardiffCity76,800 GBP79,500 GBP35,300-121,800 GBP
BrightonCity76,600 GBP69,800 GBP39,000-114,300 GBP
PlymouthCity76,000 GBP78,100 GBP35,300-115,600 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity75,900 GBP75,500 GBP39,600-117,100 GBP
BradfordCity75,800 GBP69,400 GBP40,300-114,300 GBP
CoventryCity75,800 GBP80,900 GBP35,400-121,800 GBP
SomersetCity75,400 GBP79,800 GBP35,500-119,700 GBP
DerbyCity74,900 GBP80,000 GBP36,500-121,800 GBP
SwanseaCity74,700 GBP70,700 GBP39,000-114,300 GBP
PortsmouthCity74,200 GBP80,500 GBP33,800-119,700 GBP
NottinghamCity74,100 GBP69,800 GBP36,700-112,700 GBP
AberdeenCity73,300 GBP70,000 GBP40,300-114,900 GBP
PooleCity73,100 GBP74,700 GBP33,500-114,600 GBP
WolverhamptonCity73,100 GBP79,000 GBP33,000-115,600 GBP
SouthamptonCity72,300 GBP73,500 GBP36,700-114,900 GBP
YorkCity72,000 GBP68,900 GBP39,800-108,200 GBP
ArmaghCity71,100 GBP64,400 GBP36,800-107,300 GBP
NewportCity71,000 GBP74,900 GBP34,100-112,700 GBP
StirlingCity70,800 GBP74,500 GBP34,100-109,700 GBP
PeterboroughCity70,700 GBP71,200 GBP34,400-111,700 GBP
NorwichCity70,600 GBP68,500 GBP38,700-108,200 GBP
DerryCity69,800 GBP65,700 GBP34,700-107,300 GBP
WalesRegion68,900 GBP64,800 GBP36,400-105,200 GBP
OxfordCity68,200 GBP68,200 GBP33,000-109,000 GBP
HartlepoolCity67,800 GBP64,300 GBP33,000-100,700 GBP
GloucesterCity67,400 GBP61,500 GBP33,300-100,700 GBP
LisburnCity67,300 GBP67,300 GBP33,000-105,800 GBP
CambridgeCity67,000 GBP65,500 GBP35,100-99,700 GBP
LincolnCity66,400 GBP68,200 GBP31,700-105,800 GBP
DundeeCity66,400 GBP66,000 GBP35,300-103,600 GBP
DurhamCity66,100 GBP73,300 GBP30,200-109,000 GBP
ExeterCity65,800 GBP61,300 GBP35,500-97,900 GBP
TruroCity64,800 GBP64,800 GBP32,900-100,700 GBP
WinchesterCity64,300 GBP66,200 GBP30,800-99,700 GBP
ChesterCity64,200 GBP65,900 GBP33,200-103,600 GBP
WakefieldCity63,900 GBP65,500 GBP29,100-98,000 GBP
SalisburyCity63,900 GBP58,800 GBP35,500-97,600 GBP
InvernessCity63,800 GBP64,200 GBP32,200-99,700 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion63,700 GBP63,700 GBP29,600-96,000 GBP
KirkwallCity63,500 GBP65,400 GBP28,900-100,300 GBP
NewryCity63,200 GBP65,900 GBP31,800-100,700 GBP
RiponCity62,100 GBP54,100 GBP32,900-91,200 GBP
AbingdonCity62,100 GBP61,200 GBP27,400-94,500 GBP
CanterburyCity61,800 GBP61,800 GBP32,900-97,600 GBP
St DavidsCity61,500 GBP58,600 GBP34,000-93,600 GBP
BangorCity59,800 GBP64,100 GBP30,800-94,400 GBP
WellsCity58,700 GBP61,700 GBP29,300-95,300 GBP
StromnessCity58,200 GBP61,400 GBP27,100-93,800 GBP
StrontianCity58,200 GBP55,200 GBP30,200-90,000 GBP

Computer Programmer in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a computer programmer make per month in United Kingdom?

    A computer programmer in United Kingdom earns about 5,883 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 70,600 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a computer programmer in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level computer programmers in United Kingdom start near 38,100 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 108,200 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 47,400 and 87,700 GBP.

  • Is the median computer programmer salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 68,500 GBP, lower than the average of 70,600 GBP. Half of computer programmers in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for computer programmers in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a computer programmer in United Kingdom earn around 4% more than women on average (72,700 vs 69,600 GBP a year).

  • Do computer programmers in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 55% of computer programmers in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 3% to 5% of base salary.

  • Do computer programmers earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a computer programmer about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do computer programmers in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A computer programmer in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 12% every 17 months, equivalent to roughly 8% a year.