React developers are in high demand these days as more companies adopt React for building user interfaces. With big tech giants like Meta (Facebook) using React extensively, the career prospects for React developers are brighter than ever. But what kind of salary can you expect as a React developer, especially at a company like Meta?
In this article, we will dive into the typical salary ranges for React developers at different levels. We’ll look at entry-level salaries, salaries for mid-career developers, as well as senior/lead level React developers. Whether you’re just starting out or are an experienced React pro, you’ll get a good idea of the kind of compensation you can expect working with React at Meta or other major tech companies.
Entry Level React Developer Salaries
Let’s start with entry level React developer salaries for those just entering the field with less than 2 years of experience. According to data from PayScale, the average entry level React developer salary is $72,102 per year in the United States. The salary range is wide though, with entry level React developers making from $55,000 on the low end up to $108,000 on the high end.
Here are some key facts about entry level React developer salaries:
- Average base salary: $72,102
- Salary range: $55,000 – $108,000
- 25th percentile: $62,500
- 75th percentile: $87,000
So as a new React developer just starting out, you can expect to make around $72,000 on average, with a quarter of entry level React devs making less than $62,500 and a quarter making more than $87,000. While your compensation will depend on factors like location and company, those numbers give you a good ballpark estimate.
Entry Level React Developer Salaries at Meta
As for entry level salaries at Meta specifically, levels.fyi shows a median base salary of $121,000 for entry level software engineers. Total compensation including stock options and bonuses averages around $169,000. Meta is known for offering very competitive salaries even for new engineers, so entry level pay is well above the market average.
Mid-Career React Developer Salaries
Once you move past entry level into the mid-career zone with 2-5 years of React experience, salaries go up. Here are some key stats on what mid-career React developers can make:
- Average base salary: $96,462
- Salary range: $75,000 – $142,000
- 25th percentile: $85,000
- 75th percentile: $115,000
So mid-career React developers make around $96,500 on average, with a quarter of devs making $85,000 or less and a quarter making $115,000 or more. With a few years experience you can command a nice income bump while continuing to develop your skills.
Mid-Career Salaries at Meta
At Meta, mid-career software engineering salaries also see a healthy increase. According to levels.fyi, the average Meta software engineer salary at the E4 level (industry experience 2-5 years) is:
- Median base pay: $170,000
- Median total compensation: $250,000
So a mid-career React developer at Meta could make $170k in salary, along with $80k or more in stock options and bonuses.
Senior React Developer Salaries
For experienced React developers with 5+ years experience in the framework, salaries climb even higher. Here are the averages for senior React devs:
- Average base salary: $117,114
- Salary range: $85,500 – $163,500
- 25th percentile: $100,000
- 75th percentile: $140,000
The average senior React developer has a base salary of around $117,000. A quarter of senior devs make $100k or less, while the top 25% make $140,000 or more.
Senior React Developer Salaries at Meta
Senior software engineers at Meta (level E5) do very well compensation-wise. Here are the median salaries:
- Median base pay: $240,000
- Median total compensation: $350,000
So for senior React developers, Meta pays around $240,000 in salary, along with over $100,000 in stock and bonus on average. This puts senior engineer compensation well above the market rates.
Lead/Principal Engineer Salaries
At the highest levels, lead and principal engineers with deep React expertise can earn some truly massive salaries. Here are the averages:
- Average base salary: $152,929
- Salary range: $115,000 – $215,000
- 25th percentile: $130,000
- 75th percentile: $175,000
The average base pay for lead React developers reaches $153,000, with top earners making $175,000 or more in base salary alone.
Lead Salaries at Meta
Principal software engineers at Meta (level E6) also make bank. Check out these lead engineer salary stats:
- Median base pay: $320,000
- Median total compensation: $600,000
So at the high end, lead React developers at Meta can pull in $320,000 in salary, along with $280,000 in stock and other pay. This puts total comp at around $600,000.
Factors That Influence React Developer Salaries
While the above numbers give you a general idea of React developer salaries at different career levels, many factors impact your actual earning potential. Here are some of the key ones:
- Location – Salaries vary significantly based on tech hub location. React developers in San Francisco, Seattle, NYC make more than other parts of the country.
- Company and industry – Working at a major tech company like Meta or Google boosts pay compared to other industries.
- Education – While not required, developers with computer science or engineering degrees tend to earn more.
- Skills and experience – Knowing additional frameworks like Node.js and having more years of experience increases salaries.
- Demand for React – As React skills remain highly sought after, salaries also get a boost.
While your compensation will depend on these and other factors, the salary ranges provided above give you a good idea of what’s possible as React developer at different career stages.
Job Perks and Benefits
In addition to strong salaries, React developers also enjoy great perks and benefits, especially at big tech companies like Meta. Some benefits you can expect include:
- Stock options or equity
- Performance bonuses
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement matching 401k contributions
- Life and disability insurance
- Generous time off, parental leave and sabbaticals
- Education stipends for continued learning
- Gym and wellness reimbursements
- Catered meals and snacks
- Commuter benefits
- Employee resource groups and networking
- Career coaching and mentoring
These kinds of perks and benefits can add tens of thousands more to your total compensation and also provide support for work-life balance.
React Developer Salary Outlook
As React continues to dominate as the top UI framework, the salary outlook remains bright for React developers. Demand for React skills continues to grow rapidly, while supply of experienced React developers struggles to keep up.
That supply/demand imbalance translates to above-average salary growth potential. Employers must pay top dollar to attract and retain React talent in such a competitive market.
Some projections for React developer salary growth include:
- 6% average base pay growth over the next 5 years
- 10% average total compensation growth over the next 5 years
- Starting salaries for new React developers increasing 5-10% annually
- Shortage of 19,000 React developers by 2027 predicted
So React developer salaries are poised to grow substantially in the coming years. Combined with amazing perks at companies like Meta, React skills provide a very lucrative career path.
How to Increase Your Salary as a React Developer
Here are some tips to boost your salary potential as a React developer:
- Master React fundamentals like JSX, hooks, virtual DOM, state management
- Learn React ecosystems tools like Redux, React Router, Next.js
- Get experience with modern styling like CSS Modules and Styled Components
- Build a portfolio of React apps and contributions to show your skills
- Contribute to open source React projects
- Expand skills into areas like TypeScript, React Native, GraphQL
- Switch jobs periodically to leverage new job offers
- Consider freelancing/contracting for higher hourly rates
- Attain React certifications from CodinGame, Hackerrank etc.
- Develop soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership
By continually improving your React skills and gaining more experience, you can maximize your earning potential.
Conclusion
A career as a React developer offers impressive salary potential, especially at leading tech firms like Meta. Entry level React developers can already earn over $120k total compensation at Meta, with salaries rising well into the hundreds of thousands for senior and lead roles.
With React developer demand outpacing supply, salaries are projected to enjoy continued strong growth. When you combine highly competitive pay with amazing perks and benefits at companies like Meta, React development is one of the most lucrative and promising tech career paths available today.