Java developers pocket the most - research

Java is the programming language with the highest average salary, according to Emolument report

Java is the programming language with the highest average wage for UK developers, according to a report from salary benchmarking site Emolument.

The report, which surveyed 1,500 developers in eight countries including the UK, Germany and the US, found that Java developers earn the most, with the average salary per developer in the UK at £51,000. This was followed by C++ (£49,000), then Python (£43,000).

Globally, Emolument found that developers in the US earn the most, with the average salary there at £66,000. This was followed by the UK (£41,000) and then Ireland (£35,000). The lowest-paying country for developers is Spain with an average salary at £21,000.

The report also found that developers in the finance sector are paid the most in the UK, with average salaries for this vertical at £52,000. The public sector is the lowest-paying industry for developers (£33,000).

Imperial College London produces the best-paid developers (£53,000). University College London (£45,000) came second, followed by Bristol University (£43,000).

Alice Leguay, chief operating officer at Emolument, said developers' salaries are very varied.

"It seems that the perfect formula is to graduate from Imperial College before getting a job as a Java developer at a top finance firm. And move to the US," she said. "It is striking to see how inefficient this market is when it comes to salaries, with a very uneven distribution curve.

"In this growing market, in the early stages of their careers, developers should constantly balance working for the right company with satisfying their salary demands, ideally combining the two further on in their careers."