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Back End Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a Back End Developer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Back End Developer in the United States is $136,550 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $66.

However, a Back End Developer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,323
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $125,739 to $145,853
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $115,896
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Back End Developer Salaries

A Back End Developer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Back End Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Back End Developer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $68,102
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $88,790
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,718
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $135,866
  • Expert (over 8 years): $136,936
Levels Salary
Web Appli... Level Back End Developer$68,102
Web Appli... Level Back End Developer$88,790
Web Appli... Level Back End Developer$110,718
Back End ... Level Back End Developer$135,866
Web Appli... Level Back End Developer$136,936
View as Graph

How Do Back End Developer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Back End Developers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $151,188.
  • California: $150,615.
  • Massachusetts: $148,607.

Top Paying Cities for Back End Developers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $172,231
  • San Francisco: $170,345
  • Oakland: $166,755

What Skills Can Increase a Back End Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • C# (Mentioned in 3.3% Job Postings): C# is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language. C# encompasses static typing, strong typing, lexically scoped, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented, and component-oriented programming disciplines.
  • .NET (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): A managed execution environment with tools and libraries that assists developers to design, develop and deploy software applications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.31%
C# 3.3%
.NET 2.08%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Back End Developer's salary.

  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coaching $148,840
9%
Consulting $143,378
5%
Commitment $142,012
4%
Get Latest Data

Back End Developer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Back End Developer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Back End Developer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Back End Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Back End Developer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$170,688$82.025%
Biotechnology$163,860$79.020%
Software & Networking$163,860$79.020%
Healthcare$157,032$75.015%
Aerospace & Defense$150,205$72.010%

Back End Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Back End Developer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$125,739
Average $136,550/year
$145,853
$10,478
Average $11,379/month
$12,154
$2,418
Average $2,626/week
$2,805
$60
Average $66/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $145,853 $12,154 $2,805 $70
Average $136,550 $11,379 $2,626 $66
25th Percentile $125,739 $10,478 $2,418 $60

Most common benefits for Back End Developer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Back End Developer

Here are companies hiring for Back End Developer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Back End Developer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Back End Developer?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Back End Developer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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