Programmers and software development professionals roles in the UK earn a median of £54,500 per year, equivalent to £28.58 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 5.3% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £48,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber to £75,500 in London. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £56,914/yr (4% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£54,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£28.58
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+5.3%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£42,500 – £71,500
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Programmers and software development professionals across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| London | £75,500 |
| East | £61,000 |
| North East | £56,500 |
| South West | £53,500 |
| South East | £53,000 |
| North West | £50,500 |
| East Midlands | £49,500 |
| West Midlands | £49,000 |
| Scotland | £49,000 |
| Wales | £48,500 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £48,000 |
| UK | £54,500 |
Annual pay grew by +5.3% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Programmers and software development professionals.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Programmers and software development professionals in the UK is £54,500 per year (about £28.58 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Programmers and software development professionals earn between £42,500 and £71,500 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Programmers and software development professionals pay rose by 5.3% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Programmers and software development professionals is in London, at £75,500 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Programmers and software development professionals roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
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.
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.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.