Developers will earn more in 2025 – Dissatisfaction with salary still high
The State of Devs shows that developers earn more than in the previous year – yet many are not satisfied. Germans fare poorly in comparison.
(Image: peampath2812/Shutterstock.com)
The report on the first "State of Devs" has been published. The survey by Devographics provides insights into the living conditions of developers worldwide. It shows that although they can expect rising salaries, income is still the main criticism of the job. Many are satisfied with the working environment and appreciate the positive interaction with colleagues.
(Image:Â Alexander Supertramp/Shutterstock.com)
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Rising salaries – but also falling salaries
More than half of those surveyed (56%) had seen their salary increase in the twelve months prior to the survey, particularly in Norway, where this applies to 70%. However, it should be borne in mind that only 67 people stated Norway as their place of residence. 35 percent of the study participants received the same salary, while nine percent experienced a salary decrease. In Germany, 54 percent received a higher salary, 38 percent received the same salary and six percent received a lower salary.
(Image:Â The State of Devs 2025)
Average salaries vary greatly depending on the region: in the top-ranked USA, the average gross annual salary is around 144,000 US dollars. The DACH region ranks 15th, 12th and 3rd: in Germany, the developers surveyed earn an average salary of 79,000 US dollars, in Austria 81,000 US dollars and in Switzerland 111,000 US dollars.
Most used programming languages: JavaScript and TypeScript
This developer survey also asked which programming languages the respondents use (multiple answers possible). Web development is at the top of the list, with JavaScript (83 percent) and TypeScript (75 percent) leading the way, followed by CSS and HTML. Python, PHP, Bash and Java occupy the next places with a clear gap. Java, for example, is only used by 17 percent.
Satisfied developers in a friendly working environment
The majority of respondents work 36 to 40 hours per week, and the developers surveyed are generally happy in their job: 44% are "happy" and 18% are even "very happy". In contrast, only three percent are very unhappy. However, newcomers with zero to four years of professional experience are on average less happy than more experienced developers, while the average "happiness value" rises significantly after ten years.
(Image:Â The State of Devs 2025)
What respondents value most about their current job is the relationship with their colleagues: 71 percent gave this answer. This was followed by the work-life balance (63%) and the working conditions (60%). Salary was mentioned by 44 percent. Salary, on the other hand, is at the top of the list of difficulties at work: 43% are not satisfied with it. Training and further education are also considered inadequate by 38%, and 34% are not enthusiastic about the work content. Multiple answers were possible in each case.
(Image:Â The State of Devs 2025)
Demographics: country, gender and family status
Most respondents came from the USA (26 percent), followed by the United Kingdom (9 percent) and Germany (8 percent). Devographics noticed that significantly more women took part in this study (18%) than in its other studies, where the proportion is often only around 6%. 82 percent stated that they were male, three percent non-binary and 0.3 percent did not see themselves listed in the selection options.
The study also collected further data on private life: According to this, 75 percent of respondents are in a relationship or married. The majority do not have children, and if they do, it tends to be with increasing age, and usually one or two children.
More detailed answers from the respondents
The results of the survey can be viewed on the website. In addition to the evaluated answers, interested parties can click on speech bubbles to access further written additions from the participants. However, this is only the first part of the evaluation of the entire study; a second part is to follow.
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8,717 people took part in the "State of Devs" survey conducted by Devographics between April 15 and May 15, 2025. Devographics is an association of contributors, volunteers and translators around the initiator Sacha Greif, who once launched the "State of JavaScript" study. The study organizers regularly conduct surveys, including "State of CSS" and"State of React".
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