Programmers and software development professionals salary in Scotland
Full-time average annual pay in Scotland
£47,301
Based on ~21,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£47,301
Mean
£55,359
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £47,301 |
| Mean | £55,359 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of programmers and software development professionals earn £41,141–£75,077. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£54,700
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 Scotland
The typical programmers and software development professionals in Scotland earns a median salary of £47,301 in 2025/26, based on around 21,000 employees — 14.9% (£8,286) below the UK-wide median of £55,587. 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.
Across the UK, Scotland ranks 9th of 11 regions for programmers and software development professionals pay. Regional medians run from £45,942 in Wales up to £74,284 in London, a spread of £28,342 (62%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £55,359. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical programmers and software development professionals in Scotland actually earns.
To see what £47,301 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments and Scottish Income Tax rates.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £3,942 | £47,301 |
| Income tax | £657 | £7,880 |
| National Insurance | £232 | £2,778 |
| Student loan (Plan 4 (Scotland)) | £109 | £1,310 |
| Total deductions | £997 | £11,969 |
| Take-home pay | £2,944 | £35,332 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Programmers and software development professionals 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How programmers and software development professionals pay in Scotland has changed over time
Median annual pay for programmers and software development professionals in Scotland by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
Scotland median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Information Technology Professionals
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →
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