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Average Developer / Programmer Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A developer or programmer in United Kingdom earns about 68,900 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 30,600 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 109,700 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 developer or programmer make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
68,900 GBP
5,741 GBP per month
Lowest reported
30,600 GBP
2,550 GBP per month
Highest reported
109,700 GBP
9,141 GBP per month

A typical developer or programmer working in United Kingdom brings home around 5,741 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 30,600 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 109,700 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 developer or 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 developer or programmer salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How developer or 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 developers or programmers in United Kingdom earn less than 73,100 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 45,600 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 100,200 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of developers or programmers sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 30,600 GBP. The highest stretch to 109,700 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.

30,600
Low
73,100
Median
109,700
High
45,600
25th
100,200
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Developer or programmer pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a developer or 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 developer or programmer salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    36,000 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +30% from previous
    46,700 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +49% from previous
    69,600 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +23% from previous
    85,500 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +8% from previous
    92,200 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +9% from previous
    100,700 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 49%. That is the point at which a developer or 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.

Developer or programmer pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving developer or 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 developer or programmer salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    38,900 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +68% from previous
    65,500 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +64% from previous
    107,700 GBP

Developer or 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 developers or programmers in United Kingdom earn an average of 68,300 GBP a year, while female developers or programmers earn around 65,900 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.

Developer / Programmer gender pay gap

4%

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

Men 68,300 GBP
Women 65,900 GBP

Pay raises for a developer or 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

Developer or 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.

61%

61% of developers or programmers in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a developer or 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 2% to 7% of base salary. The remaining 39% of developers or 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

Developer or 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

Developer or programmer salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Developer or 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
  • Birmingham
  • Glasgow
  • London
  • Liverpool
  • Sheffield
  • Edinburgh
  • Cardiff
  • Somerset
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion127,600 GBP139,100 GBP58,400-204,900 GBP
ScotlandRegion103,600 GBP108,200 GBP47,800-164,100 GBP
BirminghamCity82,200 GBP87,600 GBP38,100-128,400 GBP
GlasgowCity81,000 GBP86,800 GBP35,600-130,500 GBP
LondonCity81,000 GBP86,800 GBP35,600-130,500 GBP
LiverpoolCity81,000 GBP86,800 GBP35,600-130,500 GBP
SheffieldCity80,200 GBP85,400 GBP35,600-123,800 GBP
EdinburghCity79,800 GBP86,100 GBP35,400-127,600 GBP
CardiffCity79,600 GBP83,800 GBP35,300-125,400 GBP
SomersetCity78,700 GBP86,600 GBP37,300-128,200 GBP
LeedsCity78,200 GBP84,800 GBP36,500-125,400 GBP
ManchesterCity78,100 GBP85,500 GBP36,000-125,400 GBP
NottinghamCity77,100 GBP83,700 GBP35,600-123,800 GBP
BradfordCity76,600 GBP81,400 GBP34,400-121,800 GBP
BelfastCity76,000 GBP81,000 GBP33,000-118,900 GBP
CoventryCity74,700 GBP83,700 GBP33,800-121,800 GBP
BristolCity74,300 GBP80,500 GBP34,400-121,800 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity73,800 GBP81,000 GBP35,100-118,900 GBP
PeterboroughCity73,700 GBP78,500 GBP32,900-114,900 GBP
ArmaghCity73,700 GBP78,200 GBP32,900-114,900 GBP
SouthamptonCity73,700 GBP78,500 GBP32,900-114,900 GBP
PlymouthCity73,500 GBP79,000 GBP34,000-114,300 GBP
BrightonCity73,500 GBP79,000 GBP34,000-114,300 GBP
LeicesterCity73,100 GBP79,000 GBP35,400-115,600 GBP
DundeeCity72,700 GBP79,600 GBP34,000-115,600 GBP
DerbyCity72,700 GBP79,800 GBP34,000-116,400 GBP
WolverhamptonCity72,700 GBP79,600 GBP33,000-115,600 GBP
NewcastleCity72,000 GBP80,200 GBP35,500-114,300 GBP
LincolnCity71,400 GBP79,600 GBP35,100-116,400 GBP
GloucesterCity71,200 GBP77,000 GBP31,700-111,700 GBP
NewportCity71,200 GBP77,000 GBP31,700-111,700 GBP
OxfordCity70,500 GBP78,900 GBP32,600-116,400 GBP
YorkCity70,000 GBP74,700 GBP32,600-112,700 GBP
ExeterCity69,800 GBP76,900 GBP32,200-114,900 GBP
CambridgeCity69,700 GBP75,900 GBP32,300-114,600 GBP
PortsmouthCity69,400 GBP75,000 GBP30,200-109,700 GBP
NewryCity68,500 GBP74,700 GBP30,700-112,700 GBP
SwanseaCity68,300 GBP77,400 GBP30,300-111,700 GBP
AberdeenCity68,200 GBP77,000 GBP31,700-111,700 GBP
HartlepoolCity67,900 GBP72,400 GBP30,300-107,700 GBP
DerryCity67,600 GBP71,800 GBP30,800-105,800 GBP
PooleCity67,500 GBP73,500 GBP29,400-107,700 GBP
ChesterCity66,100 GBP73,100 GBP31,400-107,300 GBP
BangorCity66,000 GBP69,200 GBP29,300-103,600 GBP
StirlingCity66,000 GBP68,800 GBP29,300-103,600 GBP
SalisburyCity65,900 GBP69,700 GBP28,900-105,800 GBP
AbingdonCity65,800 GBP71,600 GBP29,600-105,800 GBP
StromnessCity65,500 GBP68,400 GBP30,800-103,600 GBP
CanterburyCity65,400 GBP69,400 GBP28,900-105,200 GBP
NorwichCity65,100 GBP72,400 GBP28,900-105,200 GBP
WinchesterCity65,100 GBP72,400 GBP28,900-105,200 GBP
RiponCity64,900 GBP68,200 GBP29,200-102,700 GBP
WellsCity64,500 GBP69,800 GBP30,800-100,700 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion64,200 GBP69,700 GBP29,100-105,200 GBP
WakefieldCity63,900 GBP66,200 GBP28,900-101,100 GBP
LisburnCity63,900 GBP67,300 GBP27,700-98,300 GBP
WalesRegion63,500 GBP71,700 GBP30,800-102,700 GBP
TruroCity62,500 GBP65,800 GBP29,000-98,800 GBP
InvernessCity62,300 GBP69,400 GBP30,100-100,700 GBP
StrontianCity61,700 GBP68,900 GBP29,900-100,400 GBP
DurhamCity61,500 GBP65,700 GBP28,900-100,500 GBP
KirkwallCity60,700 GBP64,200 GBP26,500-94,800 GBP
St DavidsCity58,800 GBP63,200 GBP25,500-93,600 GBP

Developer / Programmer in United Kingdom: FAQs

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

    A developer or programmer in United Kingdom earns about 5,741 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 68,900 GBP.

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

    Entry-level developers or programmers in United Kingdom start near 30,600 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 109,700 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 45,600 and 100,200 GBP.

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

    The median is 73,100 GBP, higher than the average of 68,900 GBP. Half of developers or programmers in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

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

    Men working as a developer or programmer in United Kingdom earn around 4% more than women on average (68,300 vs 65,900 GBP a year).

  • Do developers or programmers in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 61% of developers or programmers in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary.

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

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

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

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