In Manchester, typical starting salaries for junior Software Engineers range from £30,000–£40,000. Mid-level engineers often earn £45,000–£65,000, while senior roles can reach £65,000–£85,000+ depending on stack, industry and leadership scope. Fintech, health tech and high-scale product companies may offer higher packages, with equity or bonus potential.

Most roles are 37.5–40 hours per week with hybrid options common across the city. Occasional out-of-hours work can occur during releases or incident response; many employers offer time off in lieu or overtime pay policies. Career paths include Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, Engineering Manager, Solutions/Cloud Architect or specialist tracks such as Data, DevOps, Security or Mobile.

jobwise aggregates real-time market data so you can benchmark salaries, identify high-paying employers and shortlist roles where your skills command a premium.

• Programming and architecture: Strong skills in one or more of Java, C#, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript; frameworks such as .NET, Spring, Node.js, React, Angular; REST/GraphQL APIs; microservices and event-driven design.
• Cloud and DevOps: AWS/Azure/GCP, containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes), CI/CD (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps), infrastructure as code (Terraform), observability (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK).
• Quality and delivery: TDD/BDD, unit/integration testing, secure coding, performance optimisation, Agile/Scrum, trunk-based development.
• Data and storage: SQL/NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB), messaging (Kafka, RabbitMQ), caching (Redis), data pipelines.
• Soft skills: Problem-solving, clean code practices, communication, stakeholder collaboration, documentation, mentoring.
• Certifications and checks: AWS Certified Developer/Architect, Microsoft Azure Developer Associate, Google Professional Cloud certifications; BPSS/SC clearance for some public-sector or defence-adjacent roles; right to work in the UK.
• Transferable strengths: Analytical thinking, debugging, systems design and teamwork—jobwise’s CV parser highlights these so employers can quickly see your fit.

Upload your CV and jobwise parses it instantly, extracting skills, tools and achievements to match you with relevant permanent roles in Manchester. Fine-tune results with filters for tech stack, salary, hybrid/onsite, seniority and sector. Save searches, set job alerts and bookmark roles so you can apply quickly when the right opportunity appears.

• Thriving tech ecosystem: Home to major media, fintech and e‑commerce brands, plus a vibrant start-up and scale-up scene around the Northern Quarter and MediaCity.
• Value and lifestyle: Competitive salaries with a lower cost of living than London, strong transport links and a buzzing cultural scene.
• Consistent demand: Ongoing digital transformation drives steady hiring across industry verticals.
• Fewer missed opportunities: jobwise’s AI serves curated recommendations so you see roles that align with your skills and goals first.