Developers earn 11.5% more at late-stage startups than at public companies: Arc Salary Report

According to an Arc salary survey with 2,839 respondents, remote developers in the US earn an 11.5% higher median salary ($145,000 vs $130,000) at late-stage startups (series C and D) than at public companies. Globally, the difference is 9%.

• Spain: Developers in Spain earn 14.3% more — $40,000 at late-stage and $34,990 at public companies.

• Mexico: Series C-D pays an annual median salary of $37,350, a massive 81.9% more than public companies ($20,529).

Christine Orchard, Head of Marketing at Arc.dev, says: “It’s no secret that salary is a major factor in choosing a job. The findings will help developers be more strategic about where they apply when job hunting. Last year saw an all-time high in global venture funding. Startups flush with funds are now vying to attract the best and brightest from secure and more established public companies.”

Globally, the difference in pay by seniority is as follows:

• Junior and mid-level developers with 0-5 years of experience earn 17.4% higher at late-stage than at public companies. Companies are willing to pay top wages to young, agile developers with new tech skills.

• Senior developers with 6 and more years of experience earn 4.2% higher at late-stage vs public companies.

The report also looked at the difference in developer pay between growth stage (Series A and B) startups and early-stage (pre-seed or seed-funded) startups. Developers earn a whopping 30.5% higher median salary at Series A and B startups than at pre-seed or seed-funded startups globally.

Percentage increase in earnings in Series A and B vs. early-stage startups across countries:

• US: 8.7% higher at Series A and B ($125,000) vs early-stage ($115,000).

• Spain: 7.3% higher at Series A and B ($34,000) vs early-stage ($31,680).

• Mexico: 18.8% higher at Series A and B ($19,000) vs early-stage startups ($16,000).

• Colombia: 66.7% higher at Series A and B ($15,000) vs early-stage startups ($9,000).

• India: 8.8% higher at Series A and B ($40,000) vs early-stage startups ($36,750).

Globally, the salary difference is more for junior developers than for senior developers:

• Junior developers earn 51.3% more at Series A and B vs pre-seed and seed.

• Senior developers get paid 6.7% higher at Series A and B vs pre-seed and seed.

“Many developers wonder if startups pay more than big companies. But not all startups are equal and salaries vary considerably depending on the stage. For example, well-funded late-stage startups may be able to offer high salaries as they have established product-market fit and stronger revenue streams to prove it. Whereas early-stage startups with less funding offer lower salaries out of necessity but can offer growth and learning opportunities. Developers should consider their own career goals and the overall offer including job security, brand name, equity, workload, and career progression,” adds Orchard.

Please visit the full report here.

About Arc:

Arc is a radically different remote job search platform where companies apply to you. We connect developers worldwide with tech companies hiring remotely. Employers can get access to pre-vetted remote developers available for both permanent and contract roles.