When you hear full stack developer, a professional who builds both the front end and back end of websites. Also known as end-to-end developer, it means you handle everything from buttons users click to servers that store their data. That’s a powerful skill set—and in 2025, it pays. But how much? It’s not just about knowing JavaScript and Python. It’s about solving real problems: fixing slow sites, making apps that work on phones, or building systems that handle thousands of users without crashing.
Front end developer, the part of full stack work focused on what users see and interact with—think React, CSS animations, mobile layouts—often earns less than back end developer, the part handling databases, APIs, and server logic. But when you combine both? That’s where the big numbers show up. Companies don’t hire two people when they can hire one who does it all. Freelancers with full stack skills charge $75 to $150 an hour, depending on how well they can explain their value—not just their code. In the UK, full stack devs with 3+ years of experience regularly hit £55,000 to £75,000 a year. In the US, it’s $90,000 to $130,000. But those numbers aren’t random. They come from people who ship working products, not just tutorials.
It’s not about learning every framework. It’s about knowing how to pick the right tools for the job. A full stack dev who can make a WordPress site load in under a second, or build a custom API that connects a mobile app to a database, earns more than someone who just copies code from Stack Overflow. Salaries jump when you understand user behavior, security risks, or how to optimize for SEO. That’s why posts here cover everything from React and Next.js to PHP and hosting—because real earnings come from knowing how the whole system works, not just one piece.
What you’ll find below are real breakdowns: how much a freelance full stack dev charges in 2025, why Python and Java salaries differ depending on the industry, and whether learning WordPress or JavaScript first actually affects your pay. No fluff. Just what works.
Full stack developers are among the highest-paid tech roles in 2025, with salaries reaching €110,000 in Dublin and $160,000 in the U.S. Learn what skills drive pay, where the best jobs are, and how to break into the field.