How much should you pay software developers? Why does it vary so wildly?
£100k-£250k range for software developers might seem extreme, but it reflects a growing divide across the market.
At the top end, we’re seeing a small number of AI-led companies distorting salaries sharply upwards.
Following our recent “2026 London Salary Benchmarking Report” built specifically for VC- and PE-backed scaleups and challenger brands, it’s a question that never really goes away.
And it depends now more than ever, based on sector, tech stack, remote vs. office, and funding stage.
Software developer ranges across the market
Page 7 from the report.
TOP-PAYING (1% OF ROLES) Up to £250k+
Tier-1 AI firms (Anthropic / OpenAi )
TOP-PAYING (10% OF ROLES) Up to £150k
Late-stage VC (AI, Fintech, Defence, Cyber)
PE-backed
Tier-1 US big tech
US Banks, HFT & Hedge Funds
MID-MARKET Up to £120k
UK and European tech firms
Financial Services
Sector platforms
LOWEST-PAYING Up to £100k
Startups
Tech stack, office and remote work
Most in-demand tech stack (in no order): Python, JavaScript, Typescript, Java, LLM, AWS, C#, Rust, Node.js, React js.,Django, Go, C++.
In office London roles still commands a premium v the rest of the UK v remote.
Remote work policies are creating location-based pay disparities, and candidates now compare jobs across the entire market (See different sectors), not just direct competitors.
Get the 2026 salary report
If you’d like access to the report and you’re hiring, salary benchmarking, or exploring new roles, reach out to Ellis Seder.