State of Devs 2025 survey outcomes are out! Whereas the survey isn’t straight associated to the code a part of what we do for work, I do love the main target Devographics took ever since its inception in 2020. And this yr it introduced us some relatively fascinating outcomes via the attendance of 8,717 builders, a lot of information, and much more helpful insights that I feel everybody can search for and study from.
I made a decision to take a look at the survey outcomes with an analytical mindset, however wound up pouring my coronary heart out as a result of, properly, I’m a developer, and your entire survey impacts me in a approach. I’ve some private opinions, it seems. So, sit again, loosen up, and indulge me for a bit as we take a look at just a few selection items of the survey.
And it’s value noting that that is solely half one of the survey outcomes. A second information dump shall be printed later and I’m to poke at these numbers, too.
A possibility to attach
One factor I observed from the Demographics part is how a lot tech connects us all. The vast majority of responses come from the U.S. (26%) however many different nations, together with Italy, Germany, France, Estonia, Austria, South Africa and plenty of extra, account for the remaining 74%.
I imply, I’m working and speaking with you proper now, all the best way from Nigeria! Isn’t that stunning, to have the ability to talk with individuals world wide via this excellent place we name CSS-Tips? And into the larger neighborhood of builders that retains it so enjoyable?
I feel this can be a testomony to how a lot we need to join. Extra so, the State of Devs survey provides us a possibility to precise our ache factors on points surrounding our experiences, office environments, high quality of well being, and even what hobbies we’ve got as builders. And whereas I say builders, the survey makes it clear it’s greater than that. Behind anybody’s face is somebody encountering life challenges. We’re all individuals and individuals are able to pure emotion. We’re all simply human.
It’s additionally one of many causes I made a decision to open a Bluesky account: to join with extra builders.
I feel this survey provides insights into how a lot we care about ourselves in tech, and the way keen we’re to unravel points hardly ever talked about. And the truth that it’s international in nature illustrates how a lot in frequent all of us have.
Extra ladies participated this yr
From what I observed, fewer ladies participated within the 2024 State of JavaScript and State of CSS fewer ladies (round 6%), whereas ladies represented a much bigger share on this yr’s State of Devs survey. I’d say 15% continues to be far too low to pretty “signify” a complete key section of individuals, however it’s actually encouraging to see a larger slice on this specific survey. We’d like extra ladies on this male-dominated business.
Expertise over expertise
Opposite to fashionable opinion, private efficiency doesn’t normally equate to greater pay, and that is mirrored within the outcomes of this survey. It’s extra like, the extra skilled you might be, the extra you’re paid. However even that’s not the total story. In the event you’re new to the sphere, you continue to must do some private advertising and marketing, discover and maintain a mentor, and a complete bunch of stuff. Cassidy shares some good insights on this in a video interview tracing her growth profession. It is best to test it out, particularly when you’re simply beginning out.
Discover that the common revenue for these with 10-14 of expertise ($115,833) is on par with these with between 15-29 years of expertise ($118,000) and never removed from these with 30+ years ($120,401). Expertise seems to affect revenue, however maybe to not the extent you’d suppose, or else we’d see a wider hole between these with 15 years versus these with greater than double the service time.
Greater than that, discover how revenue for essentially the most skilled builders (30+ years) is bigger on common however the vary of how a lot they make is decrease than than these with 10-29 years beneath their belts. I’m curious what causes that decline. Is it an absence of maintaining with what’s new? Is it ageism? I’m positive there are many explanations.
Wage, office, and job looking
I choose not drill into each report. I’m all for very particular areas which might be coated within the survey. And what I take away from the survey is certain to be totally different than your takeaways, regardless of numbers being what they’re. So, listed below are just a few highlights of what stood out to me personally as I combed via the outcomes.
Your expertise, employment standing, and firm’s employer rely appear to straight have an effect on pay. For instance, full-timers report greater salaries than freelancers. I suppose that is smart, however I doubt it offers the total image as a result of freelancers freelance for numerous causes, whether or not its versatile hours, having extra selection to decide on their initiatives, or having private constraints that restrict how a lot they’ll work. In some methods, freelancers are capable of command greater pay whereas working much less.
Dangerous administration and burnout appear to be essentially the most talked-about points within the office. Be on guard throughout interviews, search for evaluations in regards to the firm you’re about to work for, and ensure there are far fewer complaints than accolades. Be sure to’re not being too labored up throughout work hours; breaks are important for a lift in productiveness.
Seventy % of parents reported no discrimination within the office, which suggests we’re maybe doing one thing proper. That mentioned, it’s nonetheless disheartening that 30% expertise some type of discrimination and reducing that determine is one thing we must goal for. I’m hoping corporations — significantly the tech giants in our area — pay attention to this and implement legal guidelines and insurance policies surrounding this. Nonetheless, we will at all times name out discriminatory habits and make corrections the place essential. And who’s to say that everybody who answered the survey felt secure sharing that kind of factor? Silence might be the enemy of progress.
By no means get too comfy in your job. Though 69% report having by no means been laid off, I nonetheless suppose that job safety is brittle on this area. At all times study, construct, and if attainable, attempt to search for different sources of revenue. Layoffs are nonetheless occurring, and looking out on the information, it’s more likely to proceed for the foreseeable future, with the U.S., Australia, and U.Ok. being main the best way.
One quantity that jumped off the web page for me is that it takes a median of 4 purposes for many builders to discover a new job. This bamboozles me. I’m searching for a full-time position (sure, I’m out there!), and I commonly apply for greater than 4 jobs in a given day. Maybe I’m doing one thing flawed, however that’s additionally not in step with these in my social {and professional} circles. I do know and see loads of people who find themselves working exhausting to search out work, and the variety of jobs they apply for has to deliver that quantity up. 4 purposes appears approach low, although I don’t have the quantitative proof for it.
Your private community continues to be the easiest way to discover a job. We’ll at all times and ceaselessly be social animals, and I feel that’s why most survey members say that coworker relationships are the best perk of a job. I discover this to be true with my work right here at CSS-Tips. I get to collaborate with different like-minded CSS and front-end fanatics far and vast. I’ve developed shut relationships with the editors and different writers, and that’s one thing I worth greater than every other advantages I may get some other place.
Compensation continues to be a high office problem. JavaScript continues to be the king of programming (bias alert), taking the highest spot as the most well-liked programming language. I do know you’re , that CSS got here in at third.
To my shock, Bluesky is extra fashionable amongst builders than X. I didn’t notice how a lot toxicity I’ve been uncovered to at X till I opened a Bluesky account. I hate saying that the “engagement” is best, or some buzz-worthy factor like that, however I do expertise extra precise discussions over at Bluesky than I’ve for a very long time at X. And lots of of you report the identical. I hasten to say that Bluesky is a direct substitute for what X (let’s face it, Twitter) was, however it appears we at the least have a greater various.
Well being points
With out our well being, we’re nothing. Embrace your physique for what it’s: your temple. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
— Mrs. N.
I’m wanting nearer on the survey’s outcomes on well being due to the sheer variety of responses that report well being points. I wrestle with points, like again pains, and that compelled me to improve my work atmosphere with a correct desk and chair. I are inclined to code on my mattress, and properly, it labored. However maybe it wasn’t the very best factor for my bodily well being.
I do know we will fall into the stereotype of people that spend 8-12 hours watching two huge displays, sitting in an opulent gaming chair, whereas frantically typing away at a mechanical keyboard. You recognize, the Hackers stereotype. I do know that isn’t an correct portrayal of who we’re, however it’s straightforward to turn out to be that due to how individuals take a look at and perceive our work.
And when you really feel quite a lot of stress to maintain up with that picture, I feel it’s value getting right into a extra wholesome mindset, one which will get various hours of sleep, prioritizes train, maintains a balanced eating regimen, and all these issues we all know are in the end good for us. Regardless that 20% of parents say they haven’t any well being points in any respect, a whopping 80% wrestle with well being points starting from sleep deprivation to preserving a wholesome weight. You’re vital and should really feel wholesome.
Take into consideration your well being the best way you consider the UI/UX of the web sites you design and construct. It makes up an element of the design, however has the essential position of turning unusual duties into pleasant experiences, which in flip, transforms into an general lovely expertise for the consumer.
Your well being is identical. These small elements usually missed can and can have an effect on the nice machine that’s your physique. Right here’s a small checklist of life enhancements you can also make proper now.
Closing ideas
Range, illustration, expertise, revenue, and well being. That’s what stood out to me within the 2025 State of Devs survey outcomes. I see optimistic tendencies within the numbers, but additionally an enormous quantity of alternative to be higher, significantly when it comes being extra inclusive of ladies, offering ample probabilities for upward mobility based mostly on expertise, and the way we deal with ourselves.
Please try the outcomes and see what stands out to you. What do you discover? Is there something you’ll be able to take away from the survey that you should use in your personal work or life? I’d like to know!
