How much is the average Python developer salary? It’s a broad question and the answer varies on factors including:
- Level of expertise
- Kind of expertise – Python is used in multiple kinds of software development
- Years of experience
- Broader tech stack – what other programming languages and technologies does a Python developer bring to the table?
- Location
- Language skills eg. fluent English or German
If you are a Python developer who wants to benchmark your current salary against the current market rates in Germany (and West Europe more generally), East Europe or the USA, this blog is for you. Similarly, the data we’ve compiled will be a good starting point if you are an employer who needs to hire Python developers for an upcoming project or on a full-time basis.
The data points we cover offer a bird’s eye view of what you can roughly expect to pay or receive for Python development. All figures are inevitably abstracted and do not offer precise insight into remuneration levels for broader tech stacks that include Python. They are average ranges offered for advertised positions and reported salaries for developers where the headline programming language is Python.
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages and can be used in a huge variety of different kinds of software development. However, some of the most common applications of Python include:
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Data Science and Data Visualization
- Embedded Applications
- Scripting
- Web Development
- Game Development
- Desktop GUI
- Web Scraping Applications
- Audio and Video Applications
- CAD Applications
That also means the salary range for Python developers is one of the broadest. For example, the salary of a coder building advanced Machine Learning algorithms would be expected to be significantly higher than that of a developer who can code in Python but whose experience is in building web scraping applications.
You can also refer to our analysis of embedded software engineer salary ranges, and back end developer salary ranges, which often state expertise in Python as a requirement.
You should keep in mind that software developer salary inflation is particularly high at the moment. While this data is updated roughly bi-annually, upwards pressure on pay rates can mean things change quickly.
If you would like a more accurate estimate of the salary range you should expect for Python developers with a particular tech stack and field of experience please do get in touch. Our HR team will be happy to give you their insight based on up-to-date market dynamics.
Why might salary range data for Python developers vary between sources?
We use data published by the major jobs portals Glassdoor, Salary Expert, Zippia (USA) and Djinni (Ukraine) to provide insight into the expected salary range for software developers with expertise in particular headline programming language or technology.
These data sources base their data on anonymous survey responses submitted by professionals that are currently employed in roles that prioritise the same headline programming language or technology. Or salaries advertised with job listings for Python developers published on their platforms. Sometimes the ranges provided by both sources are quite close to each other and other times there is divergence.
Where discrepancies do occur it is often because the number of survey responses is not large enough to provide salary range data that reflects the wider market. However, having both ranges still gives you an indication of the full range of salaries on offer in Germany for coders with, in this case, knowledge of Python.
The salary ranges Glassdoor and SalaryExperts give for Python developers in Germany is, as you’ll see in the next section, an example of greater divergence. Much of that can be put down to the fact that Python is used in many different kinds of software development from the embedded systems used in IoT devices and industrial machinery to databases and web development. Not every Python developer has the knowledge and experience to use it to code every possible use of the language in different software environments.
Despite the disclaimer, we believe the data presented below still offers an insightful starting point for anyone who wants to build a picture of the salary ranges on offer for Python developers in different international markets. If you would like more accurate feedback on the cost of a Python developer with a specific tech stack and profile please get in touch. Our HR team will be happy to help.
What is the average Python developer salary in Germany?
We’ll start our international survey of salary ranges offered for Python developers in our domestic market of Germany. Based on the response of 30 Python developers surveyed, Glassdoor puts the average salary for Python developers in Germany at €55,614 a year or €4634.5 a month. At the bottom of the range, junior Python developers can start from €44,000 a year and experienced peers earn up to €71,000.
Salary Expert’s data (powered by its Salary Assessor Platform), however, paints a very different picture. It puts the entry level salary of a Python developer at a little over €83,000 a year, or around €6915 a month. At the higher end of the range, Salary Expert’s data suggests senior Python developers can earn as much as €103,502 per annum or €8625 a month.
Interestingly, at a city level, Salary Expert says the average annual salary for a Python developer in Berlin is €84,392 up to almost €105,000 but in Munich comes in at an average €82,000 up to €101,855 at the top end of the range.
Usually, software developer salaries in Munich are slightly higher than in Berlin due to the higher living expenses in the city and its general economic profile of more international, blue-chip and established companies compared to the capital, whose software development scene has a greater presence of start-ups.
Glassdoor’s data for Python developer salaries on the city level of Munich and Berlin is based on only single figures of survey responses so not statistically relevant enough to cover.
What is the average Python developer salary in East Europe?
East Europe is by far the most popular IT outsourcing location for organisations in West Europe. Lower salary rates, income tax and social security contributions (for both employer and employee) and general overhead costs like office space combine with geographical proximity which means time zones are aligned and travel convenient.
Several East European countries, like Poland, Bulgaria and Romania are also EU members which can be important for work involving personal data covered by GDPR regulations as well as easing cross-border accountancy.
When discussing software developer salaries for East Europe including those for Python experts, it is important to note that the dynamics have changed considerably throughout 2021. Historically, average developer and IT specialist salaries in East Europe (between professionals with the same tech stack and experience and geographical location the only major variable) were around 30%-50% of those in West Europe. The higher the level of seniority, the smaller the gap.
That is no longer the case and the change has happened quickly. A combination of a tight labour market, generally but with the IT sector among those most impacted, and the Covid-19 induced remote work trend meaning geographical location has become less important to employers, has narrowed the gap to more like 20% to 30% in salary cost savings. For highly skilled and experienced seniors, sometimes less.
But East Europe is not a single, homogenous market for software developers. Salary levels vary from country to country. So let’s take a closer look on a country-by-country level.
What is the average salary in Ukraine for developers with Python
K&C head of HR Natalia Korol says that between around February 2021 and October 2021, salary demands of software developers in Ukraine have increased notably – by up to 30%. Local Ukrainian jobs listings portal Djinni’s salary data for Python developers, based on over 1700 jobs listings, shows a wide range that suggests a majority of Python developers in Ukraine earn between $2500 (€2220) and $5000 (€4442) per month or $30,000 (€26,654.40) and $60,000 (€53,308.80) a year.
However, there are also a considerable number of positions for Python developers offering salaries of up to and over $7000 (€62193.60) a month or $84,000 a year.
What is the average Python developer salary in Poland?
Data from K&C’s internal recruitment department (good public sources from major jobs listings sites are unavailable) puts the average salary in Poland for developers with Python at currently around 10% lower than in Ukraine. That equates to an average range of between €2000 and €4000 for Python developers with a similar discount on salaries outside of that range to the up or downside.
What is the average Python developer salary in Belarus?
Data from K&C’s internal recruitment department (good public sources from major jobs listings sites are unavailable) puts the average Python developer salary in Belarus at currently around 20% lower than in Ukraine. That equates to an average monthly salary ranging between $2000 (€1775) and $4000 (€3550) or between $24,000 (€21,000) and $48,000 (€42,600) year.
What is the average Python developer salary in the USA?
SalaryExpert data indicates the median salary of a Python coder in the USA is $111,177 annually with average bonuses adding almost $5000 to that figure. That works out at an average hourly rate of $53.45. Junior Python developer positions start at around $77,000 for 1-3 years of experience while senior developers, qualified as having 8+ years of experience can earn up to $138,100.
Glassdoor data on Python developer salaries in the USA based on 665 survey responses show the average base pay in the USA at a slightly lower $96,890. Starting salaries for junior positions can go down to $65,000, lower than the $77,700 SalaryExpert’s data indicates. But Glassdoor’s numbers say Python developer salaries can reach $144,000, which is higher than the $138,100 at the top end of the SalaryExpert scale.
At a city level, Python developers in San Francisco, the location in the USA where software developer salaries are highest, make, says Glassdoor, an average of $104,400 up to $155,000 and starting at $70,000. However, the data is based on a relatively small sample size of just 35 survey responses.
Meanwhile Salary Expert puts the average remuneration for Python skills at a lofty $150,000 in San Francisco, rising to $186,000 at the top end. The portal’s data indicates the lowest-paid Python developers in the city still take home almost $105,000 a year.
In New York, SalaryExpert puts the average Python developer salary at almost $134,000 with the range between $93,500 and $166,350. Glassdoor data says an average of $101,974 and range between $64,000 and $163,000.
Most popular skills and qualifications for Python developers
Python software developer salary levels are of course, as mentioned, highly dependent on tech stack and experience. SalaryExpert data shows the most in-demand additional skills/tech stack requested by job listings headlined by Python as:
- Amazon EC2
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Apple OS X
- Big Data Analytics
- CSS
Indeed.com lists the most common qualifications and tech stack of Python developers as:
- CompTIA Linux+
- Certified Valuation Analyst
- ISTQB Certification
- RHCSA
- Certified Analytics Professional
- CAPM
- CEH
- CompTIA Security+
- Certified Authorization Professional
- GSLC
- Offensive Security Certified Professional
- Counselling Certification
Expected salary for Python developers by years experience
Indeed.com also offers data on expected Python developer salary growth by years of experience. The data, based on portal users who reported working as Python developers over the past 3 years shows average earning potential peaks at between 16 and 20 years of experience with salaries ranging between $100,000 and $110,000.
The portal also suggests Python developers should learn the following skills to maximise the salary they can command:
- Knowledge of Python web frameworks and event-driven programming in Python
- Basic understanding of front-end technologies
- High attention to detail
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
- Proficient understanding of code versioning tools
- Security background or basic 101 type understanding
- Good understanding of server-side templating languages
- Strong unit test and debugging skills
- Basic knowledge of front-end technologies, such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3
