Are you considering a career in software engineering in the UK, or looking to level up your current compensation? We have done a comprehensive analysis of 972 software engineering positions across the United Kingdom. This article details the computer software engineer salary and software engineer wage in the UK for 2025, and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data focusing on education, early career progression, geographical flexibility, and targeting leadership roles.
The median UK software engineer salary is £57,150 per year or £27.47 per hour. This figure gives insight into how much do software engineers make in the United Kingdom.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 972 publicly available software engineering salaries in UK. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analysed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis was updated in May 2025.
Factors Influencing Salary
Required Educational Level and Software Engineer Qualifications
Software engineering positions typically require specialisation in computer science, software engineering, or related technical disciplines. Over 70% of jobs require just a bachelor’s degree while only 5.44% require a PhD. This suggests that education alone is not a significant factor in determining software engineer salaries. It also reveals that a bachelor’s degree is not sufficient to get every software engineering job; some will require at minimum a Master’s and others even a Doctorate.
| Qualification | Mentions | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor Degree | 236 | 71.30% |
| Master Degree | 77 | 23.26% |
| PhD | 18 | 5.44% |
Required Years of Experience and Software Engineer Wage Progression
The graph above clearly shows that the UK software engineer wage increases consistently with experience. We also observe that the rate of increase is most significant between years 2-3, where the average software engineer salary UK jumps from approximately £42,000 to £62,000. This suggests that early career development has the most significant impact on compensation growth, after which other factors such as specialization, leadership abilities, and company size become more influential determinants of what is a software engineer salary in the United Kingdom.
Seniority Level and Total Pay
The table shows that there is a constant increase in software engineer salaries as seniority level increases. The progression from intern to engineering manager represents a 260% increase in software developer salary UK. This substantial differential highlights the value that experience and leadership capabilities bring to organisations in the technology sector, especially software engineering. The total pay, including base pay and additional pay, varies significantly across these job titles.
| Seniority Level | Average Hourly Salary(£) | Average Annual Salary(£) |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | £38.76 | £80,624 |
| Lead | £36.70 | £76,338 |
| Senior | £31.73 | £65,997 |
| Principal | £29.07 | £60,459 |
| Mid-Level | £25.66 | £53,369 |
| Entry-Level | £15.94 | £33,160 |
| Internship | £11.15 | £23,187 |
Cities with Highest Software Engineer Salary in UK
| Top UK Cities | Average Hourly Salary | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Eng Eng | £57.15 | £118,872 |
| Swindon | £50.37 | £104,775 |
| Belfast | £38.92 | £80,962 |
| London | £35.14 | £73,094 |
| Basingstoke Eng Eng | £34.34 | £71,438 |
| Cambridge | £34.34 | £71,438 |
| Cowes | £33.88 | £70,485 |
| Chester | £32.48 | £67,560 |
| Loughton | £32.06 | £66,675 |
| Newcastle Upon Tyne | £32.06 | £66,675 |
The data reveals that Portsmouth offers the highest software engineering salaries in the UK, offering a staggering £118,872 per year. Interestingly, several locations outside major metropolitan areas feature in our top 10, suggesting that specialised industrial clusters may drive higher compensation regardless of urban setting. The software engineer salary London, often considered a tech hub, averages £73,094 annually. For more detailed salary information by location, you can refer to levels.fyi UK data.
Top Paying Companies in UK
Here is a list of the top 10 paying tech companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for software engineers in UK:
- techrec
- Goliath Partners
- J.K. Barnes
- Vercel
- Affirm
- Line Up Aviation
- Monzo
- Ashby
- Openwork UK
- Automata
These organisations represent diverse sectors, financial institutions, and fintech startups, indicating that software engineering expertise is highly valued across multiple industries in the IT industry.
How to Maximize Your Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimise your software engineer salary UK:
- Invest in Advanced Education, especially in specialized fields like machine learning or cybersecurity
- Focus on rapid skill development in early career, as the most significant salary increases occur in the first three years
- Consider Location Strategically, with software engineer Portsmouth salary packages offering the highest compensation
- Pursue leadership opportunities, as progression to management positions offers the highest compensation potential
- Target Industry Leaders: Big tech companies consistently offer competitive packages
- Develop expertise in high-demand technologies such as cloud platforms, AI frameworks, and blockchain
To enhance your software engineer career and increase your earning potential, focus on developing these key skills:
- Programming languages: Java, Python, C++, JavaScript
- Cloud computing platforms: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
- DevOps tools: Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins
- Machine Learning and AI frameworks
- Data structures and algorithms
You can get more insights on software engineering salaries from Software engineering Salary insights for 2025
Future Trends in Software Engineering Salaries
The software engineering field continues to evolve with increasing focus on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain technologies. Engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium software engineering salaries in the United Kingdom as organisations compete for talent with specialised knowledge. The software engineer demand is expected to grow, potentially leading to higher average salaries and more attractive compensation packages.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential across the UK, with the average software engineer salary UK reaching £57,000 annually. While education and experience significantly influence salary levels, location and employer choice have an equally important impact on total compensation.
For software engineers looking to maximize their earning potential, a strategic approach to career development is essential. This includes continuously upgrading technical skills, obtaining relevant certifications, and gaining experience with in-demand technologies. Understanding salary trends and effectively negotiating salary can also play a crucial role in securing a competitive compensation package.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current median salary for software engineers in UK?
According to our recent data analysis of 972 software engineering positions across the United Kingdom, the median software developer salary UK is £57,150 per year or £27.47 per hour. This figure represents the benchmark for software engineering professionals as of May 2025, though actual pay can vary significantly based on factors such as education, experience level, location, and company size.
How does education level affect software engineers pay in UK?
Education has little impact on software engineering salaries in the United Kingdom. While some jobs require more than just a degree and others may even require a doctorate, the level of education does not significantly influence salary. However, a graduate software engineer salary might be lower compared to those with more experience.
Which UK cities offer the highest salaries for software engineers?
Portsmouth leads the list with an annual average of £118,872. Other top cities include Swindon, Belfast and London with average annual salaries of £104,775, £80,962 and £73,094 respectively. Basingstoke, Cambridge, Cowes Chester, Loughton and Newcastle are other cities with enticing compensation.
How does experience level affect software engineers salaries in UK?
Experience dramatically influences UK software engineer pay. Our data shows entry-level engineers earn approximately £40,000, while those with 3-8 years of experience see their compensation increase to £62,000-£82,000. The most significant salary jump occurs between years 2-3, representing a critical period for career development and salary negotiation.
What strategies can help maximize salary potential for software engineers in the UK job market?
To maximize your software engineering salaries in the United Kingdom, focus on developing expertise in high-demand technologies, seek positions with technology giants or financial institutions, consider locations with premium compensation like London, pursue leadership opportunities, and negotiate compensation packages that include equity and performance bonuses in addition to base salary. Stay informed about salary trends and be prepared to discuss your total pay expectations during job interviews.
