There are countless reasons why someone might pursue a career as a Python developer. For many, the idea of being able to contribute and be a part of some truly exciting projects is more than enough to get them to upskill and pursue a career in this area. It can also be extremely stimulating if you have a knack for problem-solving. While it might be frustrating at times to have your code return lines of errors, the eventual satisfaction of having it run successfully is a pursuit all can enjoy. No matter how many factors a student might consider in advance of opting to apply for and subsequently pursue a career in this role, the salary that you can earn as a Python developer here in the UK. Even in an entry-level role, you can expect to earn somewhere in the region of £27,722 - £42,710. As you progress your skills and begin working in a senior developer role, the average salary will increase to £63,146.
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In this article, we're going to take a look at how much you can expect to earn as a Python developer and how the salary stacks up against other programming roles so that you can make a more informed decision as to what the best next steps are for you.
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (Entry-level) | £27,722 - £42,710 | Average of £34,410 in London |
| Mid-level (3-5 years) | £41,005 (base) | Total compensation: £44,123 (including £3,118 in benefits) |
| Senior (Experienced) | £63,146 (base) | Total compensation: £68,088 (including £4,942 in benefits) |
| Overall Average | £72,500 | 4.31% increase from previous years |
Python Developer Salary Ranges in the UK
If you’re punching numbers trying to arrive at a number for how much you can expect to earn as a salary as a Python developer, there are several factors that you’ll first need to consider. You can expect salaries, even in the UK, to vary based on experience and expertise, along with the relative living cost of the area you will be working.
With that said, all of those sleepless nights preparing for exams at college and gaining online certificates for your programming are seemingly worth it, seeing as even the junior positions receive good pay. There are also plenty of companies using Python that you can find a financially rewarding role in.
Junior developers in London earn around £34,410 yearly. Your starting salary might range from £27,722 to £42,710, depending on your role and employer.
It’s definitely worth staying in the career and further developing your skills working on a variety of projects, as your experience will allow you to apply for more senior roles or help you leverage your competency in future salary negotiations. Python developers with 3-5 years of experience earn much more.
Let’s take mid-level developers, for example, who enjoy a total compensation of £44,123, with a £41,005 base salary plus £3,118 in benefits. So, without even making it to the top of the game you’ll still be able to have a very comfortable life for yourself. If you have worked your way up the ladder and taken on greater responsibilities in your previous roles, and spent a number of years working as a Python developer, then the average package that you can expect to receive is £68,088, including a £63,146 base salary and £4,942 in benefits. Experienced senior Python developers receive the best compensation packages. Their average total package is £68,088, including a £63,146 base salary and £4,942 in benefits.
Factors Influencing Salary
Now that you’ve seen how attractive the payslips that will be coming through your door on a monthly basis would be if you were to pursue a career in the profession, you’re likely quite motivated to get started and perhaps even chance your arm with a few job applications. Well, before you start your search, you should also take the time to inform yourself about the various factors that influence your earning potential. This will help you arrive at a more accurate figure for how much you are likely to learn. We’ve got you covered on this front; we’re now going to look at what affects your compensation package and career growth opportunities.
As mentioned, your experience is going to have the greatest weight when it comes to determining how much you are likely to take home each year. If you were to spend time mastering specific skills like advanced Python programming and popular frameworks, you would become more valuable in your role and would warrant a higher return for your time.
Where you work also makes a big difference in your Python developer pay.
If you live in a more expensive area where the cost of living is greater, such as in London, then you can expect the salaries for Python development roles to reflect this.
London City has the highest median salary at £77,500, with East London close behind.
Python has a reputation for being extremely flexible. Learn about the use cases of Python at work.
Then you’ve got Cambridge and Oxford's median salaries sitting at £62,500, while Manchester and Leeds offer around £57,500. You can see that it’s not just what you do, but where you do it is also an important decision you’ll have to make.
The industry in which you are applying your coding skills will also influence the amount you can earn. As you’ve heard, Python developers are in high demand across a range of different careers. Of course, the industry that’s most commonly associated with the skill would be in big tech companies, which tend to have the deepest pockets, offering around £60,000 and £80,000. You could also earn yourself a sizable salary as a developer working in the healthcare sector, insurance or web development, to name a few.
Your education is another aspect that could lead to you getting a higher salary than some of your colleagues. Having advanced certifications in Python or a master's degree in computer science are all things you can leverage to increase your earnings.
How Python Salaries Stack Up Against Other Programming Roles
You could certainly make a case that Python developers lead the pack for earning potential in the UK job market. Seeing as when you take experience out of the picture. The average take-home pay is about £72,500 - a 4.31% boost from previous years.
Computer programming as a whole is a lucrative industry, so with a number of candidate options available to you, how can you be sure that Python is the right language for you to pursue? In order to answer this question, we are going to pay particular attention to how the salaries stack up against other computer programming roles.
Then you’ve got competing languages that developers can opt to learn, such as Java, which, while still impressive, the lesser median salary of £70,000 is enough to incentivise you to choose the more lucrative path.
The other road that developers tend to go down would be learning C++, which has an even lower average take-home pay of £66,225.
The average salary is a great metric to base the pay scale on, but there are many jobs that use Python, all of which will have a different salary.
As Python continues to gain traction across most industries, C++ remains in high demand for specific industries like high-frequency trading and financial services, which often present some of the highest-paying programming jobs.
Benefits Beyond Salary: Career growth
While salary is going to be one of the primary metrics we use to gauge our career progress and value, it's not always the be-all and end-all of a career. Thankfully, as a Python developer, there’s plenty more to keep you interested in your work. For one, it's a very flexible skill that presents plenty of opportunities for remote and hybrid working.
So, if you fancy the idea of living abroad or spending more time with your loved ones at home, this is a career that can lead to a better work-life balance. It’s generally more results-based than other careers out there, meaning that you will likely be surveyed a lot less, provided you are on top of any tasks that have been assigned to you. What greater benefit is there than knowing that you’ll be able to have your workday fit around personal commitments without affecting your productivity? This works well for professionals who want to advance their careers or start their own ventures.
Python's flexibility makes it ideal for both mobile and desktop development—learn how to leverage it for your career. Photo from Christina Morillo.
This career also gives you the tools you need to be your own boss and offer your services as a freelancer. Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr give you more ways to build an independent career. You can pick projects that match your interests while you retain control of your schedule. Understanding what you'll do as a Python developer will help you plan your development.
Python Development: A Future-proof Career
Even with the sizable salaries that we’ve seen you can earn as a Python developer here in the UK, it’s important to ask questions about the security of the role you are pursuing. Thankfully for you, the time and effort you spend in your education or gaining experience as a Python developer couldn’t be better spent. While relatively new in existence in comparison to many other roles out there, it has seen rapid growth with no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
Python developers are very much at the forefront of any employer's mind for companies pioneering development in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science, which are all major buzzwords that are only just beginning. Another reassuring sign that you will note if you were to check job platform sites is that there are 831 new Python positions added on a daily basis.
It's quite hard to fathom, right? And what would express how lucrative of a pursuit it is better than its market value as a language, which should reach GBP 520.17 billion by 2029. Not only does this give you a sense of the opportunities that currently exist in the space, but it also suggests substantial opportunities for long-term growth.
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