Complete salary data for software engineers in Bristol — including the aerospace & defence premium, Bristol's growing tech scene, and comparison to London and Manchester.
Last updated: April 2026 | Source: 200,000+ UK job listings
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| Level | Bristol range | London equivalent | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior (0–2 yrs) | £24,000–£35,000 | £35,000–£48,000 | 71% |
| Mid-level (3–5 yrs) | £41,000–£57,000 | £60,000–£80,000 | 73% |
| Senior (6–9 yrs) | £59,000–£82,000 | £85,000–£115,000 | 73% |
| Staff / Lead | £78,000–£105,000 | £115,000–£150,000 | 72% |
| Principal / Architect | £95,000–£135,000 | £150,000–£220,000 | 68% |
Bristol has a unique tech market profile compared to Manchester or Edinburgh, shaped by two distinct employer clusters. The first is the aerospace, defence, and advanced engineering sector — Airbus, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Leonardo all have significant Bristol operations that employ large numbers of software engineers, often at salary premiums of 10–15% above market median due to clearance requirements and specialist domain knowledge.
The second is a rapidly growing startup and scale-up ecosystem, particularly in deep tech, climate tech, and AI. Bristol's two universities produce strong technical talent, and the city's quality of life relative to London has made it a strong attractor for professionals relocating from the capital with families. This has pulled senior engineering talent into the market and raised salary expectations at the top end.
Software engineers who hold or can obtain security clearance in Bristol command a significant premium. Cleared senior engineers in defence tech earn £75,000–£100,000 in Bristol — the upper end of the London market for equivalent seniority without clearance. For engineers willing to work in defence, Bristol offers an unusually strong salary-to-cost-of-living ratio.
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