What are the Best Paid Software Engineering Jobs?
Digital technology has been pushed into the spotlight since the pandemic started and we can now clearly see how working via digital platforms has become our new normal. Software Engineer is responsible for creating a service or a product for a business and they do it with their concise knowledge of programming languages such as Java, C# and C++. All of these languages build those important digital avenues that allow us to work better and faster.
The UK tech sector retained its number one spot in Europe in 2022 for business growth, attracting a record amount of investment, according to GOV.uk research. The UK’s expanding tech ecosystem welcomed 144 new unicorns (start-ups with a valuation of £1bn or more), 237 future corns (companies approaching £1bn valuations), along with 85,000 other start-ups and scale-ups. Opportunities abound for passionate, curious and ambitious Engineers across the Isles.
Understanding the best-paid software engineering jobs in the UK will help you choose which niche you want to work within, but also the right employers to work for.
To help you to enhance your understanding of the best-paid software engineering jobs out there right now, we have surveyed IT professionals across a range of sectors to learn more about their roles and the salaries/benefits that come with them in our Tech Salary Survey & Market Report 2023.
Top Software Engineering Jobs by Salary
In our recent survey, we had respondents from a range of software engineering positions, from Front End Developers to Application Developers.
We’ve got a list of the roles and their salaries in the software engineering group, but 84% of our participants wouldn’t take a salary cut to work remotely, showing just how important salary is.
The 2023 job market offers amazing potential for Software Engineers and some of the roles that you should look out for include:
| Role | Median Annual Salary | Median Contract Rate |
| Tester/QA Analyst | £42,867 | £418/day |
| Developer/Engineer | £44,593 | N/A |
| Application Developer | £55,000 | £380/day |
| Web Developer | £57,875 | £425/day |
| Front End Developer/Engineer | £59,186 | £516/day |
| Tester/QA Analyst (Senior) | £59,785 | £522/day |
| Senior Application Developer | £60,000 | £751/day |
| Software Engineer | £64,239 | £525/day |
| Developer/Engineer (Senior) | £65,055 | £500/day |
| Test Manager | £73,488 | £726/day |
| SDET | £77,360 | £680/day |
| Software Engineer (Senior) | £78,913 | £630/day |
| Front End Developer/Engineer (Senior) | £80,532 | £684/day |
| Lead Engineer | £92,854 | £705/day |
| Tech Lead | £97,105 | £842/day |
| Engineering Manager | £117,062 | £980/day |
If you are seeking a high annual salary then it’s clear to see that Lead Engineer, Tech Lead and Engineering Manager roles come out on top. These roles are senior positions so require extensive experience. However, they are the best-paid jobs for annual salary because of the intricacies and responsibilities of each role.
77% of those in Software Engineering who responded to our survey work in permanent roles and 81% were men. The overall satisfaction rate was 66% which was higher than the average across all IT sectors.
What’s Next for Software Engineers?
Finding the right Software Engineer position does depend on more than salary, of course. The full package with flexible or remote working counts for the Developers who responded to our Tech Salary Survey & Market Report 2023.
More people are learning to code online, as the availability of online learning resources grows and becomes more easily accessible. With nearly half of the Developers having undertaken an online course or certification, the options for earning a qualification are no longer limited to universities. As programming language trends change over time, Developers and Engineers have new opportunities for expanding their coding skill sets.
Our Tech Salary Survey & Market Report 2023 reflected that career progression and development were among the top three benefits of Software Engineers, so there is a lot of potential for movement.
If you are looking at improving your salary prospects, some of the things that you can consider include:
- Coding languages. Some Engineers choose certain coding languages to concentrate on more than others – they are not all the same. There are popular options such as Python, C# and Java, but you have the scope to become more specialist with Malbolge, for example.
- Communication skills. Developing your communication skills will help you to hit those higher salaries because virtual and face-to-face skills are essential when working on multiple projects. It’s especially important when you deal with multiple stakeholders, too.
- Look for opportunities. The tech world continues to develop at a rapid speed, and the languages that companies are using are evolving, too. Developing your skills is easier when you seek out those opportunities to learn.
Summary
If you are seeking new permanent or contract Software Engineer opportunities, you should consider connecting with one of our software engineering recruitment specialists. In our 30+ years in recruitment, we know the market better than most and we can help to match you with the best roles that suit your skills.
Download our full Tech Salary Survey & Market Report 2023 to learn more from the industry – it contains additional information about benefits, job satisfaction trends and more. Please get in touch if you’d like some extra support from our specialist team in the UK.
