Software Development freelancers:
What the market really pays and wants.
Demand, rates and trends for Software Development – calculated from 311 real project and job postings of the last 90 days. No survey, no guesswork without data.
- Listings (90 d)
- 311
- Rank 35 of 531 skills
- Trend (90 d)
- ▲ 20 %
- Market share compared with the 90 days before. IT postings overall: ▲ 42 %
- Of which must-have
- 24 %
- Rated for 311 postings (AI analysis), otherwise “nice to have”
- Median hourly rate
- €86
- 38 data points, incl. converted salaries
- Remote possible
- 73 %
- 22 % fully remote · stated in 92 % of postings
In demand and growing.
Software Development is among the most in-demand skills, at rank 35 of 531. Its market share is rising (▲ 20 % vs. the 90 days before).
What is Software Development – and why do companies hire Software Development freelancers?
Software Development is the process of conceiving, designing, programming, and maintaining software applications. It encompasses the systematic creation of code and systems that run on computers, mobile devices, or in the cloud. Software Development is employed to solve business problems, automate workflows, and deliver digital products. The process involves various disciplines such as Frontend Development for user interfaces, Backend Development for server-side logic, and SDLC as a structured approach to managing the entire development cycle.
Organizations seek Software Development professionals for a broad range of projects, from creating new applications to modernizing existing systems. Typical tasks include analyzing requirements, planning architecture, implementing features, testing code, fixing defects, and documenting solutions. Developers frequently work in teams, communicate with stakeholders, and adapt to changing requirements. Demand spans startups, established enterprises, and organizations of all sizes that seek to expand their digital capabilities or implement specialized projects with external expertise.
The postings that mention Software Development fall into these types of project (share of the classified postings):
Typical roles
The roles hired most often are Backend Developer (45 %), Software Architect (10 %), Project Manager (9 %) and Data Scientist (6 %). Of the postings that state an experience level, 62 % explicitly ask for senior profiles.
Demand over the last 12 weeks
new listings per weekWeekly postings for Software Development are rising: from an average of 23 to 31 per week (+34 %). Volume is developing better than the IT market overall (▲ 42 %).
What do Software Development freelancers earn?
The median is €86 per hour. The middle 50 % of all figures lie between €73 and €100.
| Segment | Median | Middle 50 % | Data points |
|---|---|---|---|
| All figures | €86 | €73–100 | 38 |
| Senior | – | not enough data | 20 |
| Mid-level | – | not enough data | 13 |
| Junior | – | not enough data | 3 |
| Fully remote | – | not enough data | 14 |
| Partly remote | – | not enough data | 21 |
| On site | – | not enough data | 3 |
Basis: 38 figures of the last 90 days – 7 hourly rates from postings and 31 converted annual salaries from job ads (salary ÷ 1,000). We do not show segments with fewer than 30 data points. Figures in CHF are not included.
Which skills Software Development is wanted with – and which ones pay off
Python appears in 16 % of Software Development postings.
Often named together
Python16 %(opens in new tab)Java15 %(opens in new tab)CI/CD15 %(opens in new tab)C++15 %(opens in new tab)Scrum14 %(opens in new tab)Agile Methods14 %(opens in new tab)DevOps14 %(opens in new tab)C#11 %(opens in new tab)Share of Software Development postings that also name the skill.Who wants Software Development – and under which conditions
Seniority
Senior dominates (62 %). Pure junior roles are rare (5 %).
Stated in 96 % of listings
Industries
manufacturing grows the most (+39 % vs. the previous quarter).
Stated in 71 % of listings
Contract type
Freelance dominates (62 %).
Stated in 100 % of listings
Workplace
Partly remote dominates (51 %). Anyone working fully remote only reaches 22 % of postings.
Stated in 92 % of listings
Regions (on site)
Frankfurt am Main leads (10 %).
Stated in 69 % of listings
Project language
German dominates (86 %).
Stated in 100 % of listings
Market dynamics: how contested is Software Development?
Who posts Software Development projects
Postings of the last 90 days.Current Software Development projects
- Do you fit? Check
- Do you fit? CheckGießen · 50 % remote
- Do you fit? Check6 months · 12.10.2026
- Do you fit? Check
- Do you fit? CheckFrankfurt am Main · 95 % remote · 16.10.2026
- Do you fit? CheckHamburg · 50 % remote
Frequently asked questions about Software Development freelancing
How much does a Software Development freelancer earn per hour?
The median is currently €86 per hour, with the middle 50 % between €73 and €100.
How many Software Development projects are there right now?
In the last 90 days, 311 projects and jobs mentioning Software Development were posted. That is around 25 per week. The market share changed by ▲ 20 % compared with the previous quarter.
Is Software Development still in demand for freelancers?
Software Development ranks 35 of 531 skills.
Are Software Development projects possible remotely?
73 % of Software Development postings allow remote work. 22 % are fully remote.
Which skills should I learn as a Software Development freelancer?
Python (16 %), Java (15 %) and CI/CD (15 %) are most often required together with Software Development. What actually pays off for your profile is shown by the free CV check.
Who posts Software Development projects?
The 6 most active recruiters account for 52 % of all Software Development postings of the last 90 days.
Methodology: We count IT postings of the last 90 days that mention Software Development. Projects posted several times that are detected as duplicates count once; postings without an assignable IT category are missing, so the figures are a lower bound. The trend compares the share of all IT postings with the 90 days before and only appears with enough comparison data. We do not show figures based on fewer than 30 data points. The rating “must have” or “nice to have” comes from an AI analysis of the posting texts. Hourly rates come from postings and from annual salaries in job ads that we convert into hourly rates (salary ÷ 1,000); we state the basis for each analysis. Distributions only refer to postings that state the respective attribute; we state the coverage alongside. Recruiters are the posters of the listing according to the source, only above a minimum number of postings. The description of the skill is created automatically (from our skill directory or by AI) and checked by machine: no numbers, no company names, only the skill and its neighbours in the taxonomy. Texts are created and checked automatically, numbers come from the postings. An AI assigns the project type and role of each posting from its title, category and skills; the shares are counted postings, not estimates, and only appear with enough classified postings.
Basis: 10,565 IT listings in the window
You now know the Software Development market.
Now let the jury judge your profile.
Your CV against 311 Software Development listings – with findings, strengths and an hourly-rate check.