Journey Across the Stack: What’s a Full-stack Developer Worth in Today’s Market?
According to ZipRecruiter the average annual salary for a Full-Stack Web Developer in the United States stands at $117,880. While most of these developers earn between $80,000 and $128,000, representing the 25th to 75th percentile, the top 10% of earners in this role can expect to make up to $158,000 annually.
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Also, It is important to be aware of the current rates for the skill before you start to hire Fullstack developers for your project. This guide is aimed at both professionals in the field assessing their career prospects and employers who are considering salary structures. It offers a comprehensive look at the current salary trends for full-stack developers, a group at the forefront of versatile web development.
What’s the Average Full-Stack Developer Taking Home Annually?
When comparing salary estimates for full-stack developers across platforms, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, Talent.com, and Salary.com, a few patterns emerge. Glassdoor and Talent.com consistently provide higher estimates across all experience levels, with Talent.com offering the highest figures for each category. In contrast, Salary.com tends to provide the lowest or near-lowest estimates. ZipRecruiter’s data positions itself between these extremes, leaning towards the higher end for junior roles but aligning closer to Salary.com’s figures for senior positions.
What Really Shapes a Full-Stack Developer’s Annual Earnings?
- Experience
The number of years a developer has spent in the industry often directly correlates with their salary. As they acquire and refine their skills over time, they become more valuable to employers.
- Location
Depending on the region or country’s cost of living and tech demand, salaries can vary widely. Areas with a booming tech industry, like Silicon Valley, typically offer higher salaries than less tech-centric regions.
- Education and Certifications
While hands-on experience is vital, possessing a relevant degree or certifications can enhance a developer’s credibility and bargaining power during salary negotiations.
- Specializations and Skills
Mastery in specific technologies, frameworks, or tools that are in high demand can lead to higher compensation. For instance, expertise in emerging or niche technologies can command a premium salary.
- Company Size and Industry
Larger tech companies with substantial resources might offer higher salaries compared to startups. However, startups might compensate by offering equity or other benefits. Additionally, industries like finance or healthcare may offer competitive salaries due to their reliance on robust digital platforms.
Where in the World Do Fullstack Developers Earn the Most?
| Region | Average Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| North America | $84,000 to $135,000 |
| South America | $45,000 to $70,000 |
| Western Europe | $75,000 to $120,000 |
| Eastern Europe | $40,000 to $65,000 |
| Australia | $80,000 to $130,000 |
| Asia | $35,000 to $70,000 |
| Africa | $30,000 to $60,000 |
North America offers the highest salary range for developers, closely followed by Australia and Western Europe. South America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa present more modest figures, with Africa and Asia at the lower end of the global scale. These differences can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, technological advancements, and the demand for tech professionals in these regions.
Statistics from talent.com suggest that even in the United States, the salary obtained by a Full-stack developer varies according to the state. The highest salary is obtained by developers in Virginia followed by developers in California, New Mexico, West Virginia, Washington, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Hawaii, Hawaii, and Delaware coming in tenth place.
Further, talent.com details that in the United States, the average annual salary for a Full-stack developer is $116,952 per year. Entry-level positions start at $97,500 per year, while the most experienced workers can earn up to $150,000 per year.
How Salaries Stack Up Across Leading Technologies
| Technology | Average Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Full-stack wordpress developer | $96,968 |
| Full-stack JavaScript developer | $106,591 |
| Full-stack PHP developer | $72,271 |
| Full-stack Ruby developer | $95,870 |
| Full-stack Python developer | $92,691 |
| Full-stack Java developer | $91,227 |
| Full-stack Ruby on Rails developer | $86,711 |
When evaluating annual salaries for full-stack developers based on programming languages, JavaScript developers emerge as the highest earners. On the other end of the spectrum, PHP developers tend to have the lowest average salary. Those specializing in WordPress, Ruby, Python, Java, and Ruby on Rails find their compensation in the middle range, with WordPress and Ruby developers leaning towards the higher end and Ruby on Rails developers leaning towards the lower end of this middle bracket.
How Full-stack Developer Salaries Vary Across Top Industries
| Industry | Average Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accounting/Legal | $100,873 |
| Banking/Finance | $119,846 |
| Information Technology | $95,928 |
| Insurance | $102,535 |
| Telecommunication | $85,478 |
| Transport & Logistics | $86,723 |
| Entertainment | $82,159 |
When analyzing the average salaries of full-stack developers across various industries, those in the Banking/Finance sector come out on top, indicating a higher valuation of tech skills in this domain. On the contrary, developers in the Entertainment industry appear to earn the least.
Industries like Accounting/Legal and Insurance offer competitive compensation, positioning themselves in the upper-midrange. Meanwhile, the Information Technology sector surprisingly sits in the mid-range, with Telecommunication, Transport and logistics, and Entertainment trailing closer to the lower end of the spectrum.
According to Glassdoor in the United States, a Full Stack Developer can expect an average total annual compensation of approximately $97,363. This amount includes a median base salary of around $90,915 per year. These figures represent the median values of the salary data. Furthermore, Full Stack Developers may also receive additional compensation, estimated at $6,447 annually. This extra pay could come from various sources such as cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing.
Conclusion
This blog post offers a thorough overview of the compensation landscape for professionals skilled in both frontend and backend development. It highlights the role of experience, technical expertise, geographical location, and market trends in shaping annual salaries. This guide is an essential resource for full-stack developers looking to gauge their market value and for businesses seeking to hire and compensate these versatile professionals appropriately. Overall, it reflects the high demand and diverse skill set of fullstack developers in the tech industry, providing key insights into the current salary trends and financial prospects within this dynamic field.
You can check out our Full-stack developer Hourly Rate Guide to learn about the hourly rates you can earn in the US and across the world. We bring you a complete Full-Stack Developer Hiring Guide, along with the Full-stack Developer Job Description and Full-stack Interview Questions guide which will help you in the process of hiring a Fullstack developer in 2023.
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