Backend engineer in London
GB, cards in USD, cost of living 84 (NYC=100)
- Junior
- US$54,610
- Base
- Mid
- US$83,820
- Base
- Senior
- US$163,830
- Total comp
- Staff
- US$299,720
- Total comp
Salary comparison
Pick a role and city on each side and read the percentile pay ranges next to each other. Figures are medians and percentiles by seniority, sourced from BLS, ONS, and Levels.fyi 2025, shown in USD by default so the two markets compare like for like.
Senior median difference
London
$163,830
San Francisco
$291,000
$127,170 (+78%) more for Backend engineer in San Francisco than Backend engineer in London at senior level.
GB, cards in USD, cost of living 84 (NYC=100)
Each column shows the same five percentiles per seniority: the 10th and 90th mark the edges of the typical range, the 25th to 75th box is where most people in the role land, and the bold tick is the median. Junior and mid figures are base pay; senior and staff figures fold in bonus and equity where that reflects how the market actually pays, which is why the jump from mid to senior can look steep.
Pay is not the same as spending power. A higher headline number in a more expensive city can leave you with less once rent and tax are accounted for. We list each city's cost-of-living index (New York = 100) under each column so you can weigh the raw figure against local costs yourself. Figures are converted to a common currency (USD by default, switchable above) at approximate rates so the two sides compare directly; we do not net out tax. The percentile chart in each column stays in that market's local currency.
Open either side as a full salary page for the detailed table, sources, and other cities hiring the same role.
Salary percentiles by seniority, in GBP. Junior: 10th percentile £28,000, 25th £35,000, median £43,000, 75th £54,000, 90th percentile £66,000. Mid: 10th percentile £43,000, 25th £54,000, median £66,000, 75th £82,000, 90th percentile £102,000. Senior: 10th percentile £84,000, 25th £106,000, median £129,000, 75th £161,000, 90th percentile £200,000. Staff: 10th percentile £170,000, 25th £203,000, median £236,000, 75th £319,000, 90th percentile £426,000.
US, cards in USD, cost of living 112 (NYC=100)
Salary percentiles by seniority, in USD. Junior: 10th percentile $63,000, 25th $79,000, median $97,000, 75th $121,000, 90th percentile $150,000. Mid: 10th percentile $97,000, 25th $122,000, median $149,000, 75th $186,000, 90th percentile $230,000. Senior: 10th percentile $189,000, 25th $238,000, median $291,000, 75th $363,000, 90th percentile $451,000. Staff: 10th percentile $384,000, 25th $458,000, median $533,000, 75th $719,000, 90th percentile $959,000.
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