This is how much a Python developer earns: Guide for 2024

Skilled Python developers are a prerequisite for the success of many companies. This is also noticeable on the job boards - which is good, because being in demand also has a positive effect on earnings. According to Kununu 36 % of all Python developers say they earn between €47,500 and €55,700. Find out what your salary depends on and how much you can earn as a Python Developer (m/f/d) in this article.  

How much does a Python developer earn? 

First of all: In our article, we use the terms Python developer, Python programmer and Python developer synonymously - so there is no significant difference if we use one or the other job title. 

The salary of a Python Developer has quite a wide range. You can earn from €28,000 to €85,000 gross per year for a Python job in Germany. In the USA, the average salary for Python programmers is 111,177 $ per year - and can be even higher. How much employers are willing to pay you depends, as you may have guessed, on a number of factors. Your education plays a role, as does the industry you work in, but your experience, negotiating skills and the location of the company also play a significant role. But let's start at the beginning - you can find out how you can influence your starting salary in the following chapter.    

Your salary as a Junior Python Developer 

Are you ready to put your skills to the test as a Junior Python Developer? Great! The job market for Python programmers is developing positively, with more vacancies opening up every year. The salary jumps can be considerable. The lower limit of the gross starting salary is around €28,000 per year, the upper limit as a junior Python programmer is €58,000. Your experience and qualifications as well as the industry and size of the company and its location will determine your salary. Of course, your negotiating skills also play an important role, which is why you should prepare your arguments for salary negotiations well. In this chapter, you will find out what you should consider in order to make the most of your skills financially.  

Qualifications and experience 

First and foremost, your qualifications, education and previous experience will affect your potential salary as a Python developer. The good news is that these are aspects that you can directly influence. You don't feel really fit with Python yet? No problem! Further training courses such as the Python Programmer close your knowledge gaps in no time at all. 

The investment you make in your training has a huge impact on your starting salary. As you can see in the table below, the salaries of career starters vary considerably depending on the degree. Even a three-year Bachelor's degree can mean a jump in salary of over €12,000 per year compared to a completed vocational training course. 

Your other qualifications also play a role. It is important that you understand what StencilJS, Django, Hive, SASS and Bootstrap mean and can use at least some of them. Your experience in using these tools and skills will have a direct positive impact on your salary as a Python developer. 

Tip: For your application documents, record all your projects, your role in them and the areas of experience you have developed in them. This will help you make your case during your salary negotiations. 

Industries 

After training, the industry is the second most important factor in determining your salary. Whether you are suitable for a job in an industry depends not only on your skills, but also on your interests. Be aware of which projects excite you the most, so you will also realize which skills you may still lack to get started in your desired industry.   

Reading tip: In our detailed article Dream Job Python Programmer: Salary, Duties, Bootcamp 2023 you will find relevant information for getting started as a Python programmer broken down once again. 

The sometimes considerable, industry-dependent salary differences in Python jobs result from the financial added value that is generated through programming. For example, Python programmers in the advertising industry receive the lowest salary, with an average of €48,900, and in the financial sector, with an average of €71,400, the highest, as can be seen in the table below.  

Company headquarters 

The location of the company or branch office also has a significant impact on your future salary. It depends not only on the federal state, but also on the city. As expected, Munich, the most expensive city in Germany, tops the list with an average of €58,400. In Leipzig, on the other hand, the average salary for a Python Developer job is €47,400. The cost of living in the federal states and cities varies greatly; rent in Munich is on average four times as high as in Leipzig, so salaries are adjusted accordingly. This means that a higher salary can quickly become obsolete if the cost of living eats up all the "local bonuses" and even more. At Stepstone you can find out about the average salaries of Python developers in your city. 

Tip: During your job search, find out whether the respective position also works as a "remote job" in order to avoid the location-dependent salary differences or to benefit from a higher salary. 

Company size 

When it comes to the relationship between salary and company size, the rule is: "The bigger the better". The explanation for this is simple: larger companies have higher turnover and often also collective agreements, which means that salaries are already higher on average. The projects are also more ambitious, more international and tend to be more lucrative. The following table shows the average salaries depending on the size of the company. 

You now know the key factors. After this solid overview of starting salaries for Python jobs, in the next chapter you will find out where the journey can take you in the course of your career. 

How does the salary of a Python programmer develop? 

As your professional experience as a Python Developer grows, so does your salary. Of course, because your skills will also continue to develop! As a general rule, you can assume that the longer you work in this profession, the higher your salary will be. In the table below, you can see how the salary of Python programmers increases with years of experience. 

However, you can also actively stimulate this growth. Further training is the most obvious method. Acquiring new skills and advancing into higher areas of responsibility can be optimized through additional courses. Social skills can also be helpful. As a team leader, the coordination and organization of your team is essential for the efficiency and thus also for the success of the project, and success is rewarded. Participation in prestigious projects can also have a positive impact on salary development.  

Tip: At StackFuel you will find various Programming courseswhich you can complete parallel to your job in order to develop yourself further. 

Recommendation for action and conclusion 

Even the starting salaries of Python developers can be above the German average - and there is still plenty of room for improvement. It's worth looking into Further training to invest in increasing your own qualifications. An annual salary increase of around 4 percent or more is good for the wallet and there are many levers to realize even larger salary increases.  

Training or studying will open up paths to higher positions and more lucrative sectors. Further training will also support you immensely in your career and give you more room for maneuver in salary negotiations. Providers like us at StackFuel can help you realize your career dreams: With elementary key skills ranging from programming knowledge to project management skills, we offer a wide range of directly job-related knowledge with courses on Python Programmer.  

Your choice of industry can also have a huge impact on your salary. You can continue to expand and adapt your specializations during your career, so that you can also change industries if necessary.  

As a Python developer, you can use the regional salary differences to get more pay, even without having to relocate, as remote jobs are common in this professional field. This means you can stay in the favorable location of your choice and still earn a higher salary. 

Large companies pay more and offer better career opportunities. More ambitious projects, including international ones, give you a huge boost on the salary scale and open doors to big players.  

In short: As a Python developer, you have many trump cards to grow your salary!

Sources

Stepstone (2024): "Python Developer Salaries in Germany“ [19.04.2024]

Kununu (2024): "Salary for Python developer:in“ [19.04.2024]