Ever wondered what a web developer in the UK actually earns? Whether you’re eyeing a career change, hiring your first in-house dev, or navigating salary negotiations, understanding the numbers matters. Let’s cut through the vague job board chatter and give you a clear picture—backed by 2025 data and real-world benchmarks.
The State of Web Development in 2025
Web development remains one of the most stable, in-demand tech careers in the UK. With nearly every organisation needing a digital presence, skilled developers are not just valuable—they’re indispensable.
From agencies to in-house teams, startups to government contracts, web developers are building the infrastructure of modern digital business. But what’s that work worth in pounds?
Salary Breakdown: UK Web Developer Earnings by Experience Level
Salaries depend on more than your job title. Experience, location, and tech stack all weigh in. Here’s the 2025 breakdown:
⚫ Entry-Level (0–2 years)
- Range: £20,000 – £25,000
- Typically involves support tasks, bug fixes, and learning on the job.
- Most entry-level roles don’t require a degree—bootcamp grads and GitHub portfolios are welcome.
⚫ Mid-Level (2–5 years)
- Range: £25,000 – £40,000
- You’re shipping production code, owning projects, and guiding juniors.
- Full-stack skills or back-end focus tends to land higher offers.
⚫ Senior Developers (5+ years)
- Range: £40,000 – £65,000
- You manage architecture, lead sprints, and make critical tech decisions.
- Expect strong pay jumps if you’re leading React, Laravel, or cloud-native builds.
⚫ Lead Developers / Heads of Development
- Range: £65,000 – £75,500+
- Management-heavy roles. Strategic tech planning, hiring, and cross-team alignment.
Location Matters: Where You Work Drives Pay
Your postcode can influence your payslip. Remote work is closing some gaps, but location still skews salaries.
| City | Average Salary |
| West London | £74,123 |
| City of London | £67,500 |
| Birmingham | £60,000 |
| South West London | £57,500 |
| Glasgow | £52,500 |
London pays more—driven by cost of living and demand. But competitive remote packages now exist nationwide.
Freelancers: Feast or Famine?
Freelance developers in the UK typically earn £250–£500 per day, or £20 to £100+ per hour. Rates scale with skill, experience, and niche.
Benefits:
- High earning potential
- Work-life control
- Project variety
Drawbacks:
- No paid leave
- Admin and tax responsibilities
- Feast-or-famine cycles if not well-networked
Strong portfolios, visible GitHub work, and client testimonials are critical to landing steady freelance work.
What Actually Impacts Your Salary?
You’re not paid just for your job title. These variables shift the numbers:
1. Tech Stack
- Laravel, React, Vue.js, and cloud-native frameworks push earnings up.
- CMS-only roles (e.g. WordPress-only) typically cap out lower.
2. Experience
- 2–3 years can double your starting salary.
- Learning DevOps (Docker, CI/CD, Kubernetes) boosts senior offers.
3. Certifications
- Industry-respected certs from Meta, IBM, and Microsoft can help.
- They’re especially useful if you’re self-taught or switching careers.
Recommended programmes:
- Meta Front-End Developer – React, UI/UX
- Meta Back-End Developer – Node.js, APIs
- IBM Full-Stack Developer – DevOps, containers
- Microsoft Full-Stack – C#, .NET, Azure
Academic Background vs Real Skills
Don’t have a degree? That’s no blocker in 2025.
What recruiters care about:
- GitHub projects
- Code quality
- Stack versatility
- Contributions to open source
Formal education helps, but it’s not mandatory. Bootcamps, online courses, and real-world experience often count more.
What Does a Web Developer Actually Do?
Web development isn’t one job—it’s a spectrum. Here’s a quick breakdown.
Front-End Developer
- Focus: HTML, CSS, JS frameworks (React, Angular)
- Goal: User-facing design and interactivity
Back-End Developer
- Focus: PHP, Python, Node.js, SQL
- Goal: Server logic, databases, API integrations
Full-Stack Developer
- Combines both front- and back-end
- Most in-demand for startups and smaller teams
Daily Tasks
- Building and maintaining web apps
- Writing clean, scalable code
- Debugging and performance tuning
- Working in Agile teams
- Reviewing peer code
- Integrating APIs and third-party services
Career Paths: How You Can Progress
Most web developers move up like this:
- Junior Developer – Focused on learning, debugging
- Mid-Level Developer – Project ownership, mentoring juniors
- Senior Developer – Technical leadership, planning
- Lead Developer / Manager – Strategic, people-focused
Some shift sideways into:
- DevOps
- Software architecture
- Product management
- Teaching / mentoring
In-House vs Agency vs Freelance: What’s Best?
| Type | Typical Pay | Pros | Cons |
| Agency | £30k–£40k | Fast learning, diverse builds | Fast pace, lower pay |
| In-House | £40k–£55k | Job security, benefits | Less variety in projects |
| Freelance | £250–£500/day | Freedom, higher day rates | No paid leave, less stability |
Agencies are great early in your career. Freelance is viable once you’ve built a portfolio and network.
How to Raise Your Salary (Fast)
Want to increase your pay without waiting five years?
Tactical Moves:
- Switch jobs every 2–3 years – Loyalty doesn’t always pay.
- Specialise in stacks like Laravel or React – Rare skills earn more.
- Go niche – Fintech and government contracts often pay premium.
- Contribute to open source – It proves expertise and attracts offers.
- Learn DevOps tools – CI/CD, Docker, and Kubernetes make you stand out.
Workplace Realities in 2025
- Hours: 37–40/week, with crunch common in agency roles
- Remote Work: Widely accepted; many roles are hybrid or fully remote
- Culture: Tech casual, flexible teams, minimal hierarchy
- Health: Ergonomics matter—long screen hours mean eye strain and RSI risk
- Diversity: Still skewed male. Initiatives like Code First: Girls are helping shift the balance.
Real Listings, Real Variance
Here’s what job ads across the UK look like in 2025:
- Sheffield – £35,000–£55,000 for a generalist dev
- Oldham – £35,000 for PHP + REST API skills
- Wolverhampton – £32,000–£35,000 for WordPress agency role
- Milton Keynes – Admin-heavy role labelled “web dev”
Lesson: Job title alone doesn’t set the pay—tech stack, sector, and responsibilities do.
Final Word from Kraken Dev Co
Web development in the UK pays. But it pays best to those who stay sharp, learn fast, and deliver real value. Your GitHub is your CV. Your skills are your leverage. And your visibility—through contributions, open source, and communities—is your growth engine.
At Kraken Dev Co, we don’t just write code—we write outcomes. Whether you’re hiring or building your career, focus on capability, not credentials. That’s what keeps you ahead in this market.
If you’re a developer looking to level up, or a business aiming to hire talent that actually ships—get in touch.🦑 https://krakendevco.com
