There’s far too many factors involved here to give a concise and accurate answer.

The salary range for programmers is really broad. Even in the US (where salaries tend to be higher) I’ve seen programmers make anywhere from $25,000 - $250,000 a year.

That’s a 10 times differe
nce for largely the same skill. How on Earth does that happen? Well, a lot depends on who you work for and when you got hired.

Take my first job out of college back in 2005. I worked at a local computer repair shop making websites with PHP. I was pulling back $25,000 a year or something in that range anyway.

I had no idea that was basically at the state minimum salary level. I also didn’t realize how bad of a deal this was working at a tiny computer repair company being pushed to work 50–60 hours a week.

Yeah, that job sucked and luckily I didn’t stay for long.

Later I landed a job at the University making $35,000 a year, which later became more like $45,000 a year. After that each job added considerably to my income.

Eventually I made it to a pretty high level relative to the part of the country where I live. I also know some programmers who are making at the high end of the rage given above… $250,000+.

Here is what I’ve noticed in my own career and also what I’ve seen from other people.

1. Growing businesses pay better.
2. It’s easier to be promoted in a successful business.
3. Asking for more money usually gets you more money.
4. The people who make the most ask for the most.

That sounds simplistic and maybe a bit obvious, but I see those patterns play out at every level.

The people making the least ask for the least. The people making the most ask for the most. Heck, they demand it!

I have a friend who has moved into consulting and he’s managed to get his rate higher than I thought possible because he figured out how to ask for more money in a way that people are willing to say yes. He works the hours he wants to work, with the clients that he enjoys working with, and spends plenty of quality time with his family.

But he didn’t start there. He worked his way up the success ladder by working hard, learning a ton, and taking care of business the right way. Along the way he kept finding better opportunities and asking for more money.

None of this is complicated, but it usually takes 10+ years for the results to be really obvious.

So, my advice to you if you want to make as much money as you possibly can as a programmer is…

1. Land a job at the most successful company you can
2. Ask for as much money as you are comfortable with
3. Work really hard (and increase your value)
4. Periodically ask for more money (either at your current job or elsewhere)

Repeat that process and reap the benefits.

That is how I’ve seen people consistently make it to the top of the programming profession.