Conclusion

THIS SECOND ANNUAL SOFTWARE DEVELOPER SALARY SURVEY garnered over 6,800 responses this year, up from 5,000 responses in 2016. While we did see a drop in median salaries compared to last year, we also noted big changes in the demographics of the respondents that may help explain those declines. However, many of the trends and percentage shares we observed last year held this year, giving us confidence in the stability of the survey as a measurement tool.

The software development survey is an open, self-selecting survey. Respondents may not be representative of the industry as a whole, likely reflecting the inherent biases of those familiar with O’Reilly and engaged in some way with the content and events that O’Reilly produces. Keep that bias in mind when reviewing the results. If the survey results have little in common with your own work/life experience, it’s more likely that the survey did not capture your situation rather than your situation being abnormal.

When looking at the charts, tables, and results, remember the data is all interconnected. Try not to focus on or optimize for any one attribute. If C++ programmers make a higher salary than others, simply learning that language is unlikely to lead to higher pay. The C++ programmers in the survey may have more experience, work for larger companies, have higher degrees, or work in a different industry than you do. Use the survey results as a starting point for thinking about your own career and what path (i.e., what skills, locations, roles, and responsibilities) might work best for your goals and aspirations.

Also, keep in mind that causation doesn’t mean correlation. For example, attending more meetings, while correlated with higher pay, is not likely to increase your salary. Focus instead on gaining the responsibilities and roles associated with those who attend more meetings to advance. This goes for everything in the survey, programming languages, company size, industry, and so on.

The survey aims to provide information you can use to make well-informed decisions regarding your career by helping you better understand your own situation in the context of the larger software development community. You can address what you find most important to you, including tool choices, work methods, culture, and compensation. We hope the perspectives offered by the survey can assist you in such endeavors.