Individual Background

WE NOW MOVE ON TO DETAILS ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RESPONDENTS.

Gender

The sample was overwhelmingly male (94%), a breakdown even more skewed than the worldwide results of the survey (where 91% were male). Women in the sample earned less than men, with median salaries of $52k and $56k, respectively, but there was no coefficient for gender included in the model.

Education

A majority of respondents (56%) had an academic specialization in computer science and 13% had a background in mathematics, statistics, or physics, but no particular specialization was significant in the model. Having a Master’s degree (of any discipline, but we assume most were CS or something technical) is also not significant in the model, but a PhD adds +$7,906.

Age and Experience

The age range was skewed toward youth: over 60% of the sample was under 40. Salary increased with age, the most well-paid demographic being the 56–60 cohort who earned a median of $71k (followed closely by those aged 41–45). However, we also asked about years of experience, and this appeared to be the actual predictor of salary: given a certain level of experience, age is no longer a factor and thus did not have any associated coefficients. According to the model, developers can expect an additional +$1,257 of pay per year of experience. This is independent of title, role, and tasks, which the model shows affecting ...

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