Full Stack Developer Salary.
Across 30 U.S. cities.
$125,000
national median salary
$95,000 to $165,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$174,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$131,000
Boise, ID
Lowest Paying
$98,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026.
The average Full Stack Developer salary in the United States is $125,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $95,000 at the 25th percentile to $165,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $174,000, while Boise 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
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.