Full Stack Developer Salary in 2026: 7 Cities Compared (With Real Numbers)

Full stack development is the Swiss Army knife of engineering roles. You build the API, design the database schema, implement the UI, and deploy the whole thing. It's the most common job title in tech — and for good reason: startups need generalists who can ship features end-to-end, and even large companies value engineers who can work across the stack.

The trade-off is well-known: full stack developers have broader skills but shallower depth than specialists. At senior levels, this shows in compensation — a senior full stack developer typically earns 10–15% less than a senior backend or frontend specialist. But the sheer volume of full stack roles means more opportunities, faster hiring, and greater career flexibility.

Here's the real data across 7 markets.

The Quick Comparison

The most notable pattern: New York has a higher ceiling ($233K) than San Francisco ($207K). This is unusual — for most tech roles, SF leads. For full stack developers, NYC's finance sector drives the top end: banks and fintech companies pay premium salaries for engineers who can build complete features without needing separate frontend and backend teams.

San Francisco: $122K–$207K

San Francisco's full stack market is driven by startups. Early-stage companies need engineers who can build an entire product — landing page, API, database, deployment — without requiring a team of specialists. Full stack developers are the backbone of the Bay Area startup ecosystem.

The $122K floor represents junior-to-mid level full stack developers at smaller companies. In SF, even the floor is respectable — you're working with production systems from day one.

The $207K ceiling reflects senior full stack engineers at well-funded startups or mid-level roles at Big Tech. Note that this ceiling is lower than specialized roles (backend engineers hit $291K, frontend $240K in SF). The full stack premium is versatility, not peak compensation.

At Big Tech companies, the "full stack" title is less common. Google, Meta, and Apple hire "software engineers" who may work across the stack, but the role definitions are broader. If you're a full stack developer targeting SF Big Tech, apply for SWE roles — the skills transfer directly.

Full breakdown: Full Stack Developer Salary in San Francisco

New York: $105K–$233K

New York's full stack salary range is wider than San Francisco's, with a $233K ceiling that exceeds SF by $26K. The reason: finance.

Fintech companies like Stripe, Square, and Plaid need full stack engineers who can build complete payment flows, from the user interface through the API to the database and compliance layer. Traditional banks hiring for internal tools (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan) similarly value engineers who can deliver complete features without requiring coordination between three specialized teams.

The $105K floor is typical for mid-level full stack developers at non-tech companies in NYC — agencies, media companies, e-commerce, and local businesses. The city's economic diversity means full stack demand exists at every pay level.

Full stack is arguably the best generalist engineering role for New York's market specifically. The city's economy rewards versatility because many employers aren't large enough to maintain separate frontend, backend, and DevOps teams.

See the numbers: Full Stack Developer Salary in New York

Austin: $85K–$195K

Austin's full stack market has grown dramatically. The $195K ceiling reflects Big Tech satellite offices (Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta) hiring full stack engineers at near-headquarters rates.

The $85K floor represents roles at local startups and small companies. Austin's startup scene is real but younger than SF's or NYC's, which means less competition for talent at the lower end and more negotiating room at the top.

Texas's lack of state income tax makes Austin's numbers more attractive than they initially appear. A full stack developer earning $129K in Austin has comparable purchasing power to $165K in San Francisco after taxes and cost of living.

Current data: Full Stack Developer Salary in Austin

Remote (US): $50K–$180K

Remote full stack development has the widest range on this list — $130K between floor and ceiling. The $50K floor is concerning and represents a real segment of the market: bootstrapped companies, international employers paying USD-adjusted rates, or roles with aggressive location-based discounts.

The $180K ceiling reflects senior full stack developers at remote-first companies paying at or near SF rates. Companies like Shopify, GitLab, and Automattic hire full stack talent at premium rates regardless of location.

The $115K median is the sweet spot — competitive compensation with the flexibility to live anywhere. For full stack developers, remote work is particularly natural: you already work across the entire stack, so adding "work from anywhere" to that breadth isn't a stretch.

Current ranges: Full Stack Developer Salary — Remote

Toronto: C$90K–C$150K

Toronto's full stack market is anchored by Shopify — one of the world's most prominent employers of full stack developers. Shopify's Ruby on Rails monolith (and its gradual evolution toward modular architecture) employs hundreds of full stack engineers.

The C$90K–C$150K range (roughly US$66K–US$110K) positions Toronto below US markets but above European cities on absolute numbers. The median of C$103K is comfortable in Toronto, though housing costs have risen sharply.

Canada's immigration advantage (Global Talent Stream, Express Entry) makes Toronto accessible to international full stack developers. The city's diverse economy — tech, finance, healthcare, media — provides job stability across sectors.

See the breakdown: Full Stack Developer Salary in Toronto

London: £60K–£140K

London's full stack market benefits from the city's diverse employer base. The £140K ceiling reflects senior roles at Big Tech and top-tier fintech companies. The £60K floor represents mid-level roles at agencies, small companies, and non-tech enterprises.

The £80K median is reasonable for London — particularly for engineers in the early-to-mid career stage. Full stack developers in London often have more varied work than specialists: smaller team sizes mean more responsibility per person.

Full data: Full Stack Developer Salary in London

Berlin: €52K–€75K

Berlin has the narrowest range (€23K) and lowest absolute salaries on this list. The €63K median reflects the German market's structural characteristics: lower cash compensation offset by comprehensive benefits.

Full stack developers are particularly in demand at Berlin startups — the city's startup ecosystem favors small, scrappy teams where one engineer handles everything. Delivery Hero, N26, and dozens of earlier-stage startups actively hire full stack talent.

The €75K ceiling is achievable at senior levels. Breaking above it typically requires joining a US company's Berlin office or transitioning to a specialized role.

See the details: Full Stack Developer Salary in Berlin

Full Stack vs. Specialist: The Career Trade-off

The optimal path for many engineers: start full stack (years 0-3) to build breadth and ship complete features, then specialize (years 3-5+) in the area you enjoy most. This gives you the resume breadth that hiring managers value and the depth that drives compensation growth.

The Bottom Line

Full stack development remains the most accessible and flexible engineering career in 2026. The salary ceiling is lower than specialized roles, but the floor is consistently high, the job market is enormous, and the skills transfer across industries and company sizes.

San Francisco and New York lead on compensation ($157K–$158K median). Berlin offers the lowest numbers but the best lifestyle-per-euro. Remote roles provide the best location flexibility but the widest pay variance — choose your employer carefully.