Full-Stack Developer Salary: Your 2025 Guide

The average annual base salary for a full-stack developer in the US is $91,488 as of December 2024 [1]. However, full-stack software developer salaries vary based on experience, job title, location, and experience. Learn more about how much you can make as a full-stack developer.

Afterward, if you're interested in exploring a career as a full-stack developer, consider enrolling in the Microsoft Full-Stack Developer Professional Certificate, which is ideal for aspiring developers eager to build complete web applications.

How much does a full-stack developer make?

Full-stack developers work across the development process—on both the front end and the back end. Because of their expertise, they tend to earn high salaries.

According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a full-stack developer in the US is $91,488 [1]. However, this role may earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses and profit sharing. Explore salary ranges by location, job title, and experience.

What is the average full-stack developer salary by location? 

Larger cities often require a higher cost of living, so full-stack developers in these areas typically get paid more. The highest-paying cities, along with the average annual salary, are as follows [2]:

• Durham, NC: $163,489

• San Francisco, CA: $157,013

• Los Angeles, CA: $137,791

• Austin, TX: $133,232

• Irving, TX: $130,846

• Boulder, CO: $127,251

• McLean, VA: $126,434

• Denver, CO: $126,053 

• Princeton, NJ: $112,523

Is a full-stack developer a good career? 

If you are considering a career in software development, learning to become a full-stack developer might be a good career move. One reason is that you will have a versatile set of skills, helping you qualify for a wider range of jobs and projects. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers make an average salary of $132,270, more than double the average across all occupations of $48,060 [3]. The agency also reports this category of the labor market will grow by 17 percent through 2033 [4]. 

Senior vs entry-level full-stack developer salary

A full-stack developer’s salary in the US may depend on the amount of professional experience, and as you gain more, you’ll likely get promoted, which leads to higher earnings. Explore the average salary range of full-stack developers by years of experience [5]:

• Full-stack developer (0–2 years of experience): $117,000–$194,000

• Mid-level full-stack developer (2–4 years of experience): $142,000–$223,000

• Senior full-stack engineer (4–8 years of experience): $154,000–$243,000

• Principle full-stack engineer (8+ years of experience): $198,000–$305,000

• Vice president of engineering (8+ years of experience): $246,000–$419,000

How to increase your full-stack developer salary

You can increase your full-stack developer salary by making steps to improve your skills like learning another programming language or improving your technical and workplace skills.

Learn another programming language.

Your knowledge about a website's front and back ends will make you a more valuable employee and likely grant you a more lucrative full-stack developer career. Knowing more than one programming language can be beneficial. A few programming languages that full-stack developers can benefit from learning include:

• JavaScript

• SQL

• CSS/HTML

• C#

• Python

• React

Expand your technical skill set.

Build your technical skill set by earning a full-stack certification or certificate, which verifies the knowledge you've gained and the skills you've developed as a result. Explore essential programming environments, frameworks, and platforms for full-stack developers:

• Node.js

• Django

• Containers

• GitHub

• Kubernetes

You can familiarize yourself with all of the above by enrolling in a full-stack development online program, like the IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate. Over 15 courses, you'll learn how to build, deploy, test, run, and manage full-stack cloud-native applications.

Enhance your workplace skills.

In addition to technical capabilities, full-stack developers must possess interpersonal skills. They often work on teams with other developers and collaborate with clients and shareholders. A few non-technical skills (also known as soft skills) for full-stack developers to master are:

• Creativity

• Problem-solving

• Written and verbal communication skills

• Working knowledge of software development methodologies like DevOps, CI/CD (continuous integration, continuous delivery), and Agile.

You likely already possess some of the skills mentioned above. To increase your understanding of these essential development concepts, consider enrolling in an online course. For example, you can learn DevOps, Agile, Scrum, CI/CD, and Cloud Native through IBM's DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate:

What does a full-stack developer do? 

Full-stack developers create and maintain websites' front and back ends. They often work on a team with dedicated UI and UX designers and other web developers. Some duties of a full-stack developer may include:

• Developing web applications, websites, or computer programs

• Creating executable code for the functionality of web design elements

• Coding server-side elements

• Testing and maintaining web-based projects

• Overseeing projects to stay within budget and optimize speed, functionality, and reliability

• Collaborating with designers, web developers, and clients

• Stay current with technological trends within the industry

How do I qualify to become a full-stack developer?

A full-stack developer is a computer programmer with experience in all areas of web development. These professionals have mastered client software for developing the front end and server software for the functionality of the back end. They also have a working knowledge of popular stacks, a combination of computer programming tools for specific functions and parameters. These include:

• LAMP stack

• LEMP stack

• MEAN stack

• Django stack

• Ruby on Rails

You'll be on your way to a successful full-stack developer career by learning each stack level and how they function interdependently. While many full-stack developers hold a bachelor’s degree in computer programming or a related field, many learn through online courses. 

Explore full-stack development on Coursera

As a full-stack developer, you will have the skills to work on teams that develop both the design side and infrastructure of websites and development projects. Build your skills as a full-stack developer with programs from industry leaders on Coursera. Review the options below and determine the best fit for your needs:

• Begin a rewarding career in this profession with the Microsoft Full-Stack Developer Professional Certificate. Over 12 courses, you’ll develop a strong foundation in front-end development, working with modern frameworks like Blazor to create dynamic and responsive user interfaces. On the back end, you’ll work with .NET and learn how to manage databases, implement security protocols, and deploy applications in cloud environments.

• Or learn critical skills in front-end, back-end, and cloud native application development with the IBM Full Stack Software Developer Professional Certificate. Over 15 courses, you’ll learn how to build, deploy, test, run, and manage full-stack cloud-native applications. You'll publish the applications you've developed to your GitHub repository to share your portfolio with your peers and prospective employers.