Programmers and software development professionals: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time programmers and software development professionals in the UK earned a median £56,914 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 46% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 29th of 382 occupations on this measure.
Pay is widely spread: the 90th percentile (£102,860) is 3.1 times the 10th (£32,835).
Median full-time pay: women £47,566 a year, men £58,657 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 419,000 employee jobs, 95% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 33.6% (from £42,592), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 543,400 people in this line of work, 22% of them in London.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £32,835 | £632.40 | £16.87 | £30,752 | £603.70 | £16.66 |
| 20th percentile | £39,105 | £766.60 | £20.15 | £37,536 | £728.30 | £20.00 |
| 25th percentile | £42,289 | £825.20 | £21.87 | £41,141 | £789.60 | £21.67 |
| 30th percentile | £45,101 | £881.60 | £23.46 | £43,964 | £862.40 | £23.27 |
| 40th percentile | £51,000 | £992.80 | £26.46 | £49,410 | £958.20 | £26.31 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £56,914 | £1,105.10 | £29.58 | £55,587 | £1,082.00 | £29.29 |
| 60th percentile | £64,103 | £1,233.80 | £32.51 | £62,775 | £1,208.30 | £32.22 |
| 70th percentile | £71,126 | £1,375.60 | £36.93 | £70,401 | £1,351.40 | £36.59 |
| 75th percentile | £75,794 | £1,485.00 | £39.60 | £75,077 | £1,469.10 | £39.28 |
| 80th percentile | £82,503 | £1,594.50 | £42.49 | £81,474 | £1,571.10 | £42.21 |
| 90th percentile | £102,860 | £1,908.50 | £51.53 | £101,172 | £1,878.40 | £51.17 |
| Mean | £63,810 | £1,218.70 | £32.43 | £62,387 | £1,187.50 | £32.34 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £42,592 | £844.70 | £22.43 | £41,986 | £814.10 | 337 |
| 2022 revised | £45,277 | £881.60 | £23.68 | £44,128 | £862.40 | 368 |
| 2023 revised | £50,087 | £984.50 | £26.35 | £49,444 | £966.50 | 420 |
| 2024 revised | £54,615 | £1,063.40 | £28.31 | £53,363 | £1,041.90 | 398 |
| 2025 provisional | £56,914 | £1,105.10 | £29.58 | £55,587 | £1,082.00 | 419 |
Programmers and software development professionals by region
UK: 543,400 (± 28,600), April 2025 to March 2026.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| London | 120,400 | ± 17,900 |
| South East | 83,700 | ± 11,500 |
| North West | 54,600 | ± 8,900 |
| East of England | 48,900 | ± 9,500 |
| South West | 41,400 | ± 7,300 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 40,200 | ± 7,400 |
| Scotland | 39,400 | ± 7,200 |
| West Midlands | 37,800* | ± 8,100 |
| East Midlands | 28,900* | ± 7,100 |
| Wales | 17,900* | ± 3,800 |
| North East | 16,700* | ± 4,000 |
| Northern Ireland | 13,400* | ± 3,700 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What programmers and software development professionals do
Programmers and software development professionals design, develop, test, implement and maintain software systems on a range of platforms in order to meet the specifications and business objectives of the information system; they also design and develop specialist software e.g. for computer games. (ONS SOC 2020, 2134)
Also covers: analyst-programmer, database developer, games designer, interactive designer, mobile app developer, programmer, software engineer, website builder, AI developer, AI programmer, analyst (programming), analyst developer, android developer, application analyst, application consultant, application specialist, applications consultant and applications programmer (150 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Examines existing software and determines requirements for new/modified systems in the light of business needs
- Undertakes feasibility study to design software solutions
- Writes and codes individual programs according to specifications
- Develops user interfaces
- Tests and corrects software programs
- Writes code for specialist programming for computer games, (for example, artificial intelligence, 3D engine development)
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification, although entry with other academic qualifications and/or significant relevant experience is possible. There is a variety of vocational, professional and postgraduate qualifications available.
Related
Information technology professionals (median £56,348) · IT business analysts, architects and systems designers · Cyber security professionals · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026