DevelopmentJunior2026
Junior Software Engineer salary
Junior Software Engineer 2026 salary grid by seniority level, in France, the US and the UK. Data from thousands of offers and self-reported pay slips.
Senior France median
66 700 €
gross / year
Senior France daily rate
303 €
pre-tax / day
FR market
2,024
-10.4% offers vs 6 months ago
Salaries in France (€ gross / year)
| Level | Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 32 199 € | 39 100 € | 46 000 € |
| Mid | 46 000 € | 52 899 € | 59 800 € |
| Senior | 57 500 € | 66 700 € | 75 900 € |
| Lead | 71 300 € | 80 500 € | 92 000 € |
Freelance daily rate (€ pre-tax / day)
| Level | Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | 146 € | 177 € | 209 € |
| Mid | 209 € | 240 € | 271 € |
| Senior | 261 € | 303 € | 344 € |
| Lead | 323 € | 365 € | 418 € |
International comparison
🇺🇸 United States
| Level | Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $66,500 | $80,750 | $95,000 |
| Mid | $95,000 | $109,249 | $123,500 |
| Senior | $118,750 | $137,750 | $156,750 |
| Lead | $147,250 | $166,250 | $190,000 |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
| Level | Min | Median | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | £39,200 | £47,600 | £56,000 |
| Mid | £56,000 | £64,399 | £72,800 |
| Senior | £70,000 | £81,200 | £92,400 |
| Lead | £86,800 | £98,000 | £112,000 |
Tips to negotiate your salary
- Know the market median: that's your anchor. The high end (max) is negotiable with a strong case.
- Negotiate the full package: base salary, bonus, equity (BSPCE/RSU), PTO, remote work, healthcare, training, equipment.
- Use your BATNA (best alternative): if you have another offer, mention it — without bluffing.
- Anticipate 'name your price' with a range: state median→max, never min→median.
- Ask for a review in 6 or 12 months if the company can't hit your target immediately.
Sources: LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Welcome to the Jungle, Indeed.
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