Programmers and software development professionals salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£55,587
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 96.3% of Programmers work full-time
- 6% are self-employed
- 97.7% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Programmers and software development professionals pay in the UK
The typical programmers and software development professionals in the UK earns a median salary of £55,587 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of programmers and software development professionals earnings fall between £41,141 and £75,077 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £62,387. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical programmers and software development professionals actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: programmers and software development professionals pay ranges from £45,942 in Wales up to £74,284 in London, a difference of £28,342 (62%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see programmers and software development professionals pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for programmers and software development professionals at £74,284 — 34% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £45,942.
UK median £55,587
| Region | Median payUK median £55,587 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £74,284 | £74,284 | £79,081 | +34% |
| East of England | £60,203 | £60,203 | £68,286 | +8% |
| North East | £54,279 | £54,279 | £55,043 | -2% |
| South East | £52,671 | £52,671 | £58,190 | -5% |
| South West | £51,631 | £51,631 | £55,065 | -7% |
| North West | £49,505 | £49,505 | £56,816 | -11% |
| East Midlands | £48,744 | £48,744 | £51,219 | -12% |
| West Midlands | £47,744 | £47,744 | £52,108 | -14% |
| Scotland | £47,301 | £47,301 | £55,359 | -15% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £46,594 | £46,594 | £50,833 | -16% |
| Wales | £45,942 | £45,942 | £48,379 | -17% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £74,284 | £74,284Mean £79,081 | +34% |
| East of England £60,203 | £60,203Mean £68,286 | +8% |
| North East £54,279 | £54,279Mean £55,043 | -2% |
| South East £52,671 | £52,671Mean £58,190 | -5% |
| South West £51,631 | £51,631Mean £55,065 | -7% |
| North West £49,505 | £49,505Mean £56,816 | -11% |
| East Midlands £48,744 | £48,744Mean £51,219 | -12% |
| West Midlands £47,744 | £47,744Mean £52,108 | -14% |
| Scotland £47,301 | £47,301Mean £55,359 | -15% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £46,594 | £46,594Mean £50,833 | -16% |
| Wales £45,942 | £45,942Mean £48,379 | -17% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£55,587); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local programmers and software development professionals pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow programmers and software development professionals pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for programmers and software development professionals by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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