Full Stack Developer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$133,000
national median salary
$103,000 to $169,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $135,980 for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) across the United States, based on 1,687,890 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$82,460
25th percentile
$105,210
Median
$135,980
75th percentile
$171,980
90th percentile
$214,670
Workers surveyed
1,687,890
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$133,080
May 2025 release
$135,980
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) rather than Full Stack Developerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-1252Highest Paying
$185,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$139,000
Manchester, NH
Lowest Paying
$104,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 15-1252. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Full Stack Developer salary in the United States at $133,000 in 2026, within a range of $103,000 to $169,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $185,000, while Manchester offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Breadth of stack knowledge, from database design through API development to frontend polish, determines your value.
Full Stack Developer salary by city.
Skills that increase Full Stack Developer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Full Stack Developers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,630 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$14,630 per year
≈ +$13,300 per year
≈ +$10,640 per year
≈ +$10,640 per year
≈ +$9,310 per year
≈ +$7,980 per year
≈ +$6,650 per year
≈ +$6,650 per year
What you should know.
Breadth of stack knowledge, from database design through API development to frontend polish, determines your value. Full stack developers who can own entire features end to end earn more than those who only dabble across layers. Cloud deployment experience (AWS, GCP) and containerization skills further increase compensation.
Junior full stack developers start at $70,000 to $95,000, reaching mid level at $105,000 to $140,000 in two to three years. Senior full stack developers earn $140,000 to $185,000. Staff engineers and tech leads at top companies can exceed $250,000 in total compensation including equity grants.
Equity at startups and tech companies adds $15,000 to $80,000 annually. Bonuses of 5 to 15% are common. Signing bonuses of $10,000 to $35,000 are typical at competitive firms. Benefits often include learning stipends, home office budgets, and flexible PTO policies.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Full Stack Developers typically earn $120,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you a Full Stack Developer?
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Common questions about Full Stack Developer pay.
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