A career as a software engineer or software developer offers many varied opportunities to leverage your technical skills and work as part of an innovative software team. Software engineers may find work with large tech companies, software development businesses, tech hubs, and smaller organisations. You could find a job developing software for any business sector, from manufacturing to health insurance, finance, or gaming.
There are plenty of job titles within the software development field, such as software engineer, software developer, software architect, software implementation consultant, and machine learning engineer. Key responsibilities might include using computer systems to develop and test software, implementing new technologies, system analytics, software auditing, solving complex issues, and providing support and company training on technology.
To work in the software engineering profession, you may need an information systems, computer systems engineering, computer software, or computer science degree (mid-level software engineer or senior software engineer) or HND (for entry-level or junior software engineer positions).
So, if you are a student considering joining the ranks of software engineers, are working in software engineering and looking for career development, or are a senior software engineer seeking the most highly paid job, our career advice is invaluable. We share our average salary data and discuss how to earn more.
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How Much Software Engineers Get Paid - Software Engineer Salaries
- Average Software Engineer Salary FAQs
- All Software Engineer Salaries
Highlights And Key Takeaways:
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How much do Software Engineers make? The average Software Engineer salary, UK, is £58.343 per annum.
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Most Software Engineers have a starting base salary of around £31,500. Our salary data shows that experienced Software Engineers in the United Kingdom can earn a significantly higher salary compared to the average pay, and up to £95,000 per year.
HOW MUCH SOFTWARE ENGINEERS GET PAID - SOFTWARE ENGINEER SALARIES
Here are the software engineer salaries for the most popular software engineer jobs:
SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION CONSULTANT PAY
The average salary of a Software Implementation Consultant is £54,000 per year. A Software Implementation Consultant works with clients to help them implement software solutions that meet their business needs. They may provide training and support to help clients get the most out of their software.
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MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEER PAY
The average salary of a Machine Learning Engineer is £73,100 per year. A Machine Learning Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and deploying machine learning models that can learn from data and make predictions or decisions. They typically work with large datasets and use algorithms and statistical models to create intelligent systems.
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SCRUM MASTER PAY
The average salary of a Scrum Master is £27,600 per year. A Scrum Master is a facilitator who helps agile development teams stay on track and work together effectively. They ensure that team members are following the scrum process, remove any obstacles that may arise, and promote continuous improvement.
APPLICATION PACKER PAY
The average salary of an Application Packer is £55,600 per year. An Application Packer is responsible for packaging software applications into a format that can be easily installed and distributed. They may use tools like packaging software or scripts to automate the process.
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MOBILE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER PAY
The average salary of a Mobile Applications Developer is £56,000 per year. A Mobile Applications Developer creates mobile applications for smartphones and tablets. They use programming languages like Java, Swift, or Kotlin to create apps that can run on iOS or Android operating systems.
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INTERACTION DESIGNER PAY
The average salary of an Interaction Designer is £34,900 per year. An Interaction Designer is responsible for designing the interactions between users and digital systems. They create user interfaces and design interactions that are intuitive, engaging, and easy to use.
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TEST TECHNICIAN PAY
The average salary of a Test Technician is £31,800 per year. A Test Technician is responsible for testing and evaluating the functionality of electronic or mechanical systems. They may use test equipment to measure performance and diagnose problems, and they may also be responsible for repairing or replacing defective components.
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GAMES DESIGNER PAY
The average salary of a Games Designer is £51,100 per year. A Games Designer is responsible for designing the gameplay mechanics, levels, and user interfaces of video games. They work closely with other members of the development team to create engaging and challenging gaming experiences.
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MOBILE DEVELOPER PAY
The average salary of a Mobile Developer is £28,700 per year. A Mobile Developer creates mobile applications for smartphones and tablets, using programming languages like Swift, Java, or Kotlin to develop apps that can run on iOS or Android operating systems.
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GAME TESTER PAY
The average salary of a Game Tester is £33,300 per year. A Game Tester may have duties including testing video games to identify bugs, glitches, and other issues. They may also be responsible for providing feedback on gameplay mechanics and suggesting improvements.
WEB GRAPHIC DESIGNER PAY
The average salary of a Web Graphic Designer is £28,400 per year. A Web Graphic Designer is responsible for creating visually appealing graphics and layouts for websites. They may use software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to create logos, banners, and other visual elements.
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INTERACTIVE DESIGNER PAY
The average salary of an Interactive Designer is £35,300 per year. An Interactive Designer is responsible for designing interactive experiences for digital systems. They create user interfaces and design interactions that are engaging, intuitive, and easy to use.
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VIDEO GAME DESIGNER PAY
The average salary of a Video Game Designer is £44,900 per year. A Video Game Designer is responsible for designing the gameplay mechanics, levels, and user interfaces of video games. They work closely with other development team members to create challenging and engaging gaming experiences.
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ANDROID DEVELOPER PAY
The average salary of an Android Developer is £45,400 per year. An Android Developer creates mobile applications for smartphones and tablets that run on the Android operating system. They use programming languages like Java or Kotlin to make apps that can run on a wide range of devices.
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HOW MUCH DO SOFTWARE ENGINEER JOBS PAY?
The average software engineer salary is £55,800 per year. Entry-level software engineers have an average annual salary of £31,200, while senior software engineers, experienced software engineers, and those working in project management roles could earn £97,500 per annum or more. The average annual salary for a software developer is £63,300 (entry-level £27,300) and for a software tester £28,800 (entry-level £19,885).
Higher salaries and better benefits may be found in different regions and cities across the UK. For example, software engineers working in London have the highest salaries, averaging approximately £72,000 per year. Companies that pay above the software engineering average for the United Kingdom can also be found in Edinburgh (£63,684), Leeds (£60,264), Liverpool (£60,090), Reading (£60,074), and Cardiff (£55,910).
HOW TO EARN MORE AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER
We recommend following our information technology (IT) career advice to advance your career and earn more as a software engineering professional. Our career advice resources include free CV templates and guidance on how to ask for a pay rise and other benefits.
You may earn a higher software engineering or software development salary in the IT sector through:
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Age and experience: Software engineers earn more as they gain experience in their key responsibilities. National statistics show maximum knowledge and pay usually occurs in the age bracket of 40-49.
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Geographical location: Software engineering salaries vary by region in the United Kingdom. So, we suggest checking the average salary for software engineers and software developers in areas such as Inner and Outer London, and other major cities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
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Qualifications and technical skills: Your education and earning new skills, qualifications, certifications, and associations can help you secure a pay rise, an internal promotion, or high demand job with a new company. A computer systems or computer science bachelor’s or master’s degree will be appealing to most companies. You can further develop your skills and knowledge through training with organisations such as the Institution of Analysts and Programmers (IAP) or The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS). To earn more, you could take software-specific training and become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
If you seek one of the highest-paid jobs in the UK, begin your job search here.
AVERAGE SOFTWARE ENGINEER SALARY FAQS
Here we answer your questions on software engineer salaries and software developers’ pay.
HOW MUCH IS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER PAID IN UK?
The salary of a software engineer in the UK varies depending on several factors, such as location, experience, and company. According to our data, the average salary for a software engineer in the UK is £55,800 per year. However, this can range from £31,200 to £97,500 per year based on various factors.
DO SOFTWARE ENGINEERS MAKE GOOD MONEY UK?
Software engineers in the UK do make good money. According to the same data, the median salary for a software engineer in the UK is above the national average, and it is considered a well-paying profession. However, the salary can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned earlier.
HOW MUCH DO SOFTWARE JOBS PAY IN THE UK? / HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING?
Software jobs pay well in the UK, and the salaries can vary based on the specific job title, experience level, and location. According to our data, the average base pay for a software engineer in the UK is £55k per year. However, this can range from £31k to £97k per year based on the job title.
IS UK A GOOD PLACE FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERS?
The UK is indeed considered a great opportunity for software engineers. It boasts a dynamic tech industry known for innovation, diversity, and substantial investment in technology startups and established companies. With its vibrant cities offering many tech jobs, software engineers can find positions that match their skill set and career aspirations. The job market in the UK values expertise in various programming languages and the ability to define software requirements, develop software, and tackle software defects efficiently. The country's emphasis on technology and digital transformation across industries, coupled with other factors such as competitive salaries, career progression opportunities to higher levels, and a strong community of tech professionals, makes it an attractive destination for software engineers from around the globe.
WHAT DO SOFTWARE ENGINEERS DO?
Software engineers are critical in today's digital world; they apply engineering principles to the software development life cycle. Their job title encompasses a broad range of responsibilities, including but not limited to defining software requirements to ensure that applications function as intended, writing code in various programming languages, and developing software that meets the end-user's needs. They also play a significant part in identifying and fixing software defects, thereby enhancing the quality and performance of software. Software engineers often work closely with other team members, such as data scientists, designers, and project managers, to deliver comprehensive software solutions. This collaboration, along with other factors like project scope and technological challenges, makes their role both complex and rewarding, providing a great opportunity for those interested in making a significant impact in the tech industry.
WHAT DOES A DATA ENGINEER DO?
A data engineer plays a pivotal role in big data, focusing on preparing 'big data' for analytical or operational uses. Their primary responsibilities include building, managing, and optimising data pipelines to collect, clean, and organise data from various sources. This process enables businesses and organisations to define software requirements for data analytics, develop software that can handle large volumes of data, and, ultimately, make informed decisions based on accurate data analysis. Data engineers typically write code in programming languages suited for data manipulation and storage, such as Python, Scala, or SQL. They work closely with data scientists and analysts, providing the foundational data infrastructure for complex data analysis tasks. The job of a data engineer is crucial in ensuring that data is accessible, reliable, and of high quality, thereby supporting the higher levels of data analysis and interpretation that drive business insights and innovation.
ALL SOFTWARE ENGINEER SALARIES
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