devICT Salary Survey
In May 2018, a group of volunteers started collecting and analyzing salary data for technical employees in the Wichita, Kansas Metropolitan Area. The main purpose was to better understand the economy around the skilled, technical workforce.
Within the community, there are often talks about where a salary should be, and how individuals could better negotiate their pay. This was an attempt at an analytical look into answers that have so far been hearsay.
Methods
Data was collected through three main sources. Individuals anonymously provided data about their compensation, six employers provided anonymous salary data of their payroll, and City and County public records were collected.
Names and specificities were cleansed from the data, and identifying information was removed. Samples with fewer than 4 data points were removed for statistical relevance.
Analysis
Economist Anthony Bieker provided analysis of the data collected. Kenton Hansen provided data cleaning, charts, and developed the code for this report.
Through the process, three questions emerged.
- How are people in Wichita paid?
- How do Employee salaries compare to Contractor rates?
- How do salaries for remote employees compare to those working in Wichita?
Salary Data for All Job Titles by Experience
| All Respondents | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $53,476.50 | $52,000.00 |
| 50th | $66,197.00 | $77,300.00 |
| 75th | $83,274.25 | $96,500.00 |
| 90th | $102,153.60 | $120,000.00 |
| Average | $68,637.37 | $77,384.44 |
| n | 190 | 84 |
| 2017 | 1-4 years | 5-10 years | 11+ years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $34,020.00 | $55,750.00 | $80,000.00 |
| 50th | $42,500.00 | $72,000.00 | $93,166.50 |
| 75th | $60,000.00 | $84,567.25 | $109,860.50 |
| 90th | $75,800.00 | $97,400.00 | $135,000.00 |
| Average | $49,442.35 | $72,244.27 | $93,841.69 |
| n | 17 | 30 | 26 |
| 2018 | 1-4 years | 5-10 years | 11+ years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $39,760.00 | $60,445.00 | $80,000.00 |
| 50th | $50,000.00 | $77,000.00 | $95,000.00 |
| 75th | $60,000.00 | $95,000.00 | $110,000.00 |
| 90th | $69,328.00 | $103,600.00 | $135,000.00 |
| Average | $50,417.37 | $77,424.91 | $94,342.64 |
| n | 19 | 32 | 25 |
How do salaries compare between Employee and Contractor?
Hidden Costs in ContractingFor several reasons, Contractors, paid on a 1099, are typically paid more per hour than an Employee. Contractors are responsible for paying their own FICA and Income Taxes. Contractors have the added responsbility of bookkeeping and sales for which an employee could reasonably expect to rely on someone else.
The difference is typically 25% to 30%.
| 2017 | 2017 W-2 | 2017 1099 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $53,155.25 | $66,250.00 |
| 50th | $65,437.00 | $85,000.00 |
| 75th | $81,715.00 | $116,250.00 |
| 90th | $101,103.60 | $135,000.00 |
| Average | $67,952.78 | $91,166.67 |
| n | 180 | 12 |
| 2018 | 2018 W-2 | 2018 1099 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $50,500.00 | $72,500.00 |
| 50th | $74,000.00 | $95,000.00 |
| 75th | $95,000.00 | $104,500.00 |
| 90th | $116,935.20 | $133,000.00 |
| Average | $74,879.75 | $88,866.67 |
| n | 67 | 15 |
| 2018 1099 | Salary Δ | Percent Δ |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | + $22,000.00 | 143.56% |
| 50th | + $21,000.00 | 128.38% |
| 75th | + $9,500.00 | 110.00% |
| 90th | + $16,064.80 | 113.74% |
| Average | + $13,986.92 | 118.68% |
How do salaries compare between Wichita and Remote?
| Wichita | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $52,244.00 | $43,576.00 |
| 50th | $63,350.00 | $65,000.00 |
| 75th | $80,000.00 | $82,871.00 |
| 90th | $100,000.00 | $98,400.00 |
| Average | $66,006.86 | $66,038.08 |
| n | 161 | 49 |
| Remote | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $80,000.00 | $80,000.00 |
| 50th | $93,166.50 | $96,000.00 |
| 75th | $109,860.50 | $117,446.00 |
| 90th | $130,550.00 | $129,600.00 |
| Average | $95,313.23 | $98,669.48 |
| n | 26 | 27 |
| 2018 Remote | Salary Δ | Percent Δ |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | + $36,424.00 | 183.59% |
| 50th | + $31,000.00 | 147.69% |
| 75th | + $34,575.00 | 141.72% |
| 90th | + $31,200.00 | 131.71% |
| Average | + $32,631.40 | 149.41% |
| Local by Years of Experience | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1-4 | 5-10 | 11+ |
| 25th | $38,000.00 | $56,500.00 | $74,000.00 |
| 50th | $40,000.00 | $67,000.00 | $82,871.00 |
| 75th | $50,000.00 | $81,730.75 | $100,000.00 |
| 90th | $58,400.00 | $93,200.00 | $129,000.00 |
| Average | $42,994.62 | $68,933.25 | $85,543.92 |
| Avg Exp | 2.43 | 6.85 | 18.50 |
| n | 13 | 20 | 13 |
| Remote by Years of Experience | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1-4 | 5-10 | 11+ |
| 25th | $54,000.00 | $77,000.00 | $90,126.50 |
| 50th | $80,000.00 | $87,932.00 | $107,000.00 |
| 75th | $108,250.00 | $95,500.00 | $116,169.00 |
| 90th | $115,500.00 | $125,000.00 | $124,500.00 |
| Average | $82,500.00 | $86,266.55 | $104,049.25 |
| Avg Exp | 2.67 | 6.45 | 19.25 |
| n | 6 | 11 | 8 |
| Δ by Years of Experience | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentile | 1-4 | 5-10 | 11+ |
| 25th | +$16,000.00 | +$20,500.00 | +$16,126.50 |
| 50th | +$40,000.00 | +$20,932.00 | +$24,129.00 |
| 75th | +$58,250.00 | +$13,769.25 | +$16,169.00 |
| 90th | +$57,100.00 | +$31,800.00 | -$4,500.00 |
| Average | +$39,505.38 | +$17,333.30 | +$18,505.33 |
| Avg Exp | +0.24 | -0.40 | +0.75 |
All Respondents by year
All Respondents by Percentile
Employee vs. Contractor
Local vs. Remote
Developers by Experience
| All Respondents | All 2017 | All 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $53,250.00 | $52,000.00 |
| 50th | $68,150.00 | $68,455.00 |
| 75th | $80,272.25 | $87,875.50 |
| 90th | $99,200.00 | $99,800.00 |
| Average | $68,942.97 | $69,764.50 |
| Average years. Exp | 10.26 | 8.468 |
| n | 30 | 32 |
| 2017 | 1-4 years | 5-10 years | 11+ years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $50,000.00 | $57,750.00 | $78,500.00 |
| 50th | $60,000.00 | $64,400.00 | $88,166.50 |
| 75th | $60,000.00 | $78,500.00 | $101,000.00 |
| 90th | $60,000.00 | $80,108.90 | $117,500.00 |
| Avg | $52,857.14 | $65,707.88 | $92,916.63 |
| Avg years Exp | 2.35 | 7.50 | 20.25 |
| n | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 1-4 years | 5-10 years | 11+ years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $41,875.00 | $60,315.00 | $78,750.00 |
| 50th | $56,000.00 | $65,750.00 | $94,251.00 |
| 75th | $63,852.50 | $82,921.50 | $101,000.00 |
| 90th | $91,031.00 | $87,400.00 | $117,500.00 |
| Avg | $57,281.67 | $70,238.20 | $95,062.75 |
| Avg years Exp | 2.29 | 7.50 | 20.25 |
| n | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Local Developer | 2017 | 2018 | Remote Developer | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $60,000.00 | $57,687.50 | 25th | $67,500.00 | $67,500.00 |
| 50th | $66,300.00 | $68,455.00 | 50th | $85,000.00 | $75,000.00 |
| 75th | $80,000.00 | $87,900.00 | 75th | $106,666.50 | $102,251.00 |
| 90th | $82,348.00 | $99,400.00 | 90th | $127,200.00 | $120,600.00 |
| Average | $65,188.38 | $70,060.92 | Average | $88,333.29 | $85,928.86 |
| Average years Exp | 10.61 | 8.60 | Average years Exp | 10.83 | 10.83 |
| n | 21 | 24 | n | 7 | 7 |
| 2018 Difference | 2018 % Δ |
|---|---|
| + $9,812.50 | 117.0% |
| + $6,545.00 | 109.6% |
| + $14,351.00 | 116.3% |
| + $21,200.00 | 121.3% |
| + $15,867.94 | 122.6% |
| Developer W-2 vs 1099 | 2018 W-2 | 2018 1099 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $51,375.00 | $75,000.00 |
| 50th | $61,260.00 | $86,800.00 |
| 75th | $77,170.00 | $101,000.00 |
| 90th | $92,001.60 | $113,300.00 |
| Avg | $63,249.74 | $86,465.00 |
| Avg years Exp | 7.63 | 10.57 |
| n | 23 | 8 |
| W2 vs. 1099 Δ | % Δ |
|---|---|
| + $23,625.00 | 146.0% |
| + $25,540.00 | 141.7% |
| + $23,830.00 | 130.9% |
| + $21,298.40 | 123.2% |
| + $23,215.26 | 136.7% |
For several reasons, Contractors, paid on a 1099, are typically paid more per hour than an Employee. Contractors are responsible for paying their own FICA and Income Taxes. Contractors have the added responsbility of bookkeeping and sales for which an employee could reasonably expect to rely on someone else.
The difference is typically 25% to 30%.
Web Developer by Experience
| All Respondents | All 2017 | All 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $37,000.00 | $39,640.00 |
| 50th | $42,500.00 | $42,588.00 |
| 75th | $53,689.50 | $50,000.00 |
| 90th | $72,347.40 | $51,400.00 |
| Average | $47,708.67 | $45,445.93 |
| Average years. Exp | 5.33 | 5.08 |
| n | 15 | 14 |
| 2017 | 1-4 years | 5+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $34,515.00 | $43,250.00 |
| 50th | $37,000.00 | $52,689.50 |
| 75th | $41,375.00 | $74,867.25 |
| 90th | $47,250.00 | $81,500.00 |
| Average | $37,753.33 | $58,411.00 |
| Average years Exp | 2.33 | 9.00 |
| n | 6 | 10 |
| 2018 | 1-4 years | 5+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $38,510.00 | $43,082.00 |
| 50th | $40,000.00 | $47,500.00 |
| 75th | $45,000.00 | $57,761.75 |
| 90th | $50,800.00 | $88,232.90 |
| Average | $40,860.00 | $56,902.88 |
| Average years Exp | 2.29 | 8.33 |
| n | 7 | 8 |
What's the difference between a Developer and a Web Developer?
In a sentence, for a particular role, it seems the difference is the complexity of the work. Functionally, it's the difference between developing for web content and application development, whereever that application might be run. However, this definition is nebulous because of the voluntary, anonymous data collection.
For this survey, we based the difference on the job title. Job titles like "Senior Developer," "Junior Developer," "Mobile Developer" or "Front End Developer" all went into the Developer category. While those people might in fact be deploying code to the web.
On the other hand, titles like "Web Developer," "Form Developer," "Lead Web Developer," "Mobile Web Developer," "Web Designer" were classified with each other because they shared a connection with informational sites on the Web. Once analyzed, the "Web" titles had an average pay trending lower compared to other titles, which is why we decided to present them seperately.
Engineer by Experience
| All Respondents | All 2017 | All 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $66,000.00 | $63,750.00 |
| 50th | $83,269.00 | $83,435.50 |
| 75th | $104,500.00 | $101,000.00 |
| 90th | $134,560.00 | $128,800.00 |
| Average | $87,918.57 | $88,366.79 |
| Average years. Exp | 6.43 | 6.42 |
| n | 23 | 24 |
| 2017 | 1-4 years | 5+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $55,000.00 | $74,000.00 |
| 50th | $60,000.00 | $83,269.00 |
| 75th | $115,900.00 | $96,000.00 |
| 90th | $133,120.00 | $120,800.00 |
| Average | $82,485.71 | $86,160.41 |
| Average years Exp | 2.57 | 8.00 |
| n | 7 | 17 |
| 2018 | 1-4 years | 5+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | $54,500.00 | $78,500.00 |
| 50th | $60,000.00 | $85,966.00 |
| 75th | $80,000.00 | $98,000.00 |
| 90th | $122,400.00 | $125,500.00 |
| Average | $75,285.71 | $90,237.69 |
| Average years Exp | 2.57 | 8.00 |
| n | 7 | 16 |