⚙️ Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
Backend Developer Salary in the US
A Backend Developer earns a national median of $135,980 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
Backend Developer (BLS occupation 15-1252) earns a national median of $135,980 and a mean of $148,100 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $213,110. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
Core skills for Backend Developer
About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 15-1252 (Software Developers). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a Backend Developer earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a Backend Developer is $135,980 per year (mean $148,100), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay Backend Developers the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($213,110), San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley ($186,640), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($167,280).
Where does this Backend Developer salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 15-1252. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is Backend Developer a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $135,980/year, Backend Developer pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.