Salary AI Book a Demo

Staff Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a Staff Developer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Staff Developer in the United States is $53,978 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $66,204
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,952 to $60,378
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,466
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Staff Developer Salaries

A Staff 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Staff Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Staff 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): $51,504
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $51,686
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,978
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $56,613
  • Expert (over 8 years): $56,801
Levels Salary
Entry Level Staff Developer$51,504
Intermediate Level Staff Developer$51,686
Senior Level Staff Developer$53,978
Specialist Level Staff Developer$56,613
Expert Level Staff Developer$56,801
View as Graph

How Do Staff 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 Staff Developers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $59,764.
  • California: $59,537.
  • Massachusetts: $58,744.

Top Paying Cities for Staff 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: $68,082
  • San Francisco: $67,337
  • Oakland: $65,917

What Skills Can Increase a Staff Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 4.79% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Business Strategy (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Developing and implementing plans to assess the actions and goals of a business.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 4.79%
Business Strategy 1.81%
First Aid 1.49%
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 Staff Developer's salary.

  • UI: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
UI $62,074
15%
Analysis $59,375
10%
Leadership $57,216
6%
Get Latest Data

Staff Developer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Staff Developer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't., offers compensation 15% above the average. Conversely, Staff Developer positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Staff Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Staff Developer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't.$62,074$30.015%

How Education impacts a Staff Developer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Staff Developers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Staff Developer with a Associate's Degree is between $46,979 and $50,104).

Staff Developer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Staff Developer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 9.5%
Associates 8.6%
Bachelors 59.0%
Masters 21.4%
Doctorate 1.0%
View as Graph

Staff Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Staff 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 October 01, 2026
$47,952
Average $53,978/year
$60,378
$3,996
Average $4,498/month
$5,031
$922
Average $1,038/week
$1,161
$23
Average $26/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $60,378 $5,031 $1,161 $29
Average $53,978 $4,498 $1,038 $26
25th Percentile $47,952 $3,996 $922 $23

Most common benefits for Staff Developer

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

Common company salaries for Staff Developer

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

Find Your Next Staff Developer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Staff Developer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Staff Developer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Staff Developer?

The Edu., Gov't. industry offers the highest average compensation for Staff Developer roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst