The technology job market in Spain is facing 2026 with an increasingly visible paradox: same role, same experience… and very different salaries. This disparity, which for years was explained by company size or the difference between consulting and product companies, is now being shaped by a factor accelerating everything: the internal reorganization of companies around Artificial Intelligence.
This is one of the conclusions highlighted in the Manfred Salary Guide 2026, based on data from over 120,000 professionals from its community and supplemented with information from Prosfy. The document is presented as a practical tool for companies and candidates, but it also functions as a thermometer for a sector that has moved from the “hangover” of adjustments in 2023-2024 to a selective recovery in 2025… and to a consolidation of trends in 2026.
2025 recovers, 2026 polarizes
According to the guide, 2025 saw a rebound in supply and a higher demand for senior profiles, driven by the new wave of Artificial Intelligence and companies created and financed in recent years. But this recovery was not evenly distributed. Some “deprioritized” roles—because budgets shifted to other areas or because there is confidence that AI will help cover tasks—experienced fewer opportunities and salary drops, with explicit mentions of Product Managers, Engineering Managers, Mobile Developers, and Product Designers.
In 2026, the document anticipates continuity: as new roles related to AI (such as AI Engineer, and more specialized ones like Head of AI or AI Architect) solidify, part of the traditional market faces a tougher scenario, with increased pressure on entry-level positions and companies seeking to optimize structures.
Methodological novelty: percentiles and experience
The guide introduces a way of reading that directly highlights internal market inequality: salaries by percentiles, in addition to tables based on experience for each role. This is an important nuance because the median (50th percentile) can seem “low” in roles with very large samples—such as backend or frontend—and therefore, the report suggests complementing the picture with ranges based on years of experience.
Without company size data in the sample, the document states that the dataset includes very diverse organizations: from banking and retail to technology consulting, product companies, and multinationals. Within this mix, salary dispersion becomes part of the message.
Backend and Frontend: stagnation, saturation, and a gap at the high end
In backend, Manfred describes real stagnation and even a regression below the 50th percentile. The most common salary is near 45,000 €, while entering the “top 25%” of highest-paid talent hovers around 65,000 €. Experience-based ranges illustrate a clear ladder: 20,000–30,000 € (<2 years), 31,000–40,000 € (2–5), 41,000–50,000 € (5–10), and 51,000–55,000 € (>10).
In frontend, the report describes a decline across all percentiles, with a median closer to 40,000 €. This is attributed to a saturated market flooded with junior profiles and a generalized decrease in offers. Still, high-quality and experienced profiles remain above 50,000 €. Experience ranges narrow: 20,000–30,000 € (<2), 31,000–35,000 € (2–5), 35,000–40,000 € (5–10), and 40,000–50,000 € (>10).
Full-Stack revalues: the hybrid profile regains priority
The guide positions Full-Stack as one of the winners: it gains value due to the difficulty of finding seniors with well-developed skills in both areas and because many startups prefer hybrid roles. The top percentiles increase by an average of 5,000–7,000 €, with an additional note: profiles with a product mindset and good AI tool integration will be among the most sought after (and costly). Experience-wise: 20,000–30,000 € (<2), 31,000–40,000 € (2–5), 41,000–50,000 € (5–10), and 51,000–60,000 € (>10).
AI, data, and infrastructure: the market segment that pays for scarcity
Within AI, AI Engineer emerges as the most in-demand role, defined as a hybrid between backend, AI, and MLOps. Salary ranges grow rapidly: 25,000–35,000 € (<2), 36,000–50,000 € (2–5), 51,000–70,000 € (5–10), and 71,000–90,000 € (>10).
In data roles, the report highlights tension due to a lack of profiles:
- Data Engineer: 25,000–35,000 € (<2), 36,000–45,000 € (2–5), 46,000–60,000 € (5–10), 61,000–80,000 € (>10).
- Data Scientist: 25,000–35,000 €, 36,000–50,000 €, 51,000–70,000 €, 71,000–100,000 € (depending on experience).
- MLOps: 25,000–35,000 €, 36,000–50,000 €, 51,000–75,000 €, 75,000–100,000 €.
- Data Architect: no data for less than 2 years; 40,000–55,000 € (2–5), 56,000–75,000 € (5–10), 75,000–100,000 € (>10).
In infrastructure, the guide notes internal differentiation: while the traditional SysAdmin role stagnates, profiles focused on security, performance, deployments, CI/CD, and automation start to move above 40,000 €. Experience ranges: 20,000–25,000 € (<2), 26,000–35,000 € (2–5), 36,000–45,000 € (5–10), and 46,000–50,000 € (>10).
The SRE/DevOps role is described as critical and scarce, with clear progression toward higher bands: 25,000–35,000 € (<2), 36,000–45,000 € (2–5), 46,000–60,000 € (5–10), and 61,000–80,000 € (>10).
Mobile, QA, and design: the colder side of the market
In Mobile, the guide notes deprioritization of apps and a decline at higher percentiles, with one exception: highly scarce profiles such as React Native or Flutter, maintaining salaries close to 65,000–70,000 € at senior levels. Experience ranges are: 20,000–30,000 €, 31,000–40,000 €, 41,000–45,000 €, and 46,000–50,000 €.
In QA & Testing, the report mentions a challenging point: teams handling QA, test automation, and expecting partial substitution by agents. Salary ranges are: 20,000–25,000 €, 26,000–32,000 €, 33,000–40,000 €, and 41,000–45,000 €.
And in Product Design, the report describes a “debacle” due to team reductions and candidate saturation: 20,000–25,000 € (<2), 26,000–30,000 € (2–5), 31,000–40,000 € (5–10), and 41,000–50,000 € (>10).
A decisive factor: in-person work and the “+20%” surcharge
The guide adds a note many companies already observe in practice: if the position requires onsite presence, salaries increase by at least 20%, because a significant portion of talent prioritizes maintaining remote or hybrid conditions. This tension, combined with the uneven adoption of AI tools within companies, fuels the “two-speed” scenario that the document anticipates for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an AI Engineer earn in Spain in 2026 according to experience-based tables?
The report shows ranges from 25,000–35,000 € for profiles with less than 2 years of experience up to 71,000–90,000 € for those with over 10 years, with intermediate brackets already exceeding 50,000 € for 5–10 years of experience.
What salary range does the guide indicate for SRE/DevOps roles in Spain in 2026?
Based on experience, the range spans from 25,000–35,000 € for less than 2 years up to 61,000–80,000 € for over 10 years, with a notable segment between 46,000–60,000 € for 5–10 years.
Why are backend and frontend stagnating while full-stack and data roles grow?
The guide attributes this adjustment to saturation at entry levels in some roles, fewer offers in certain areas, and a shift of resources toward hybrid profiles and data/infrastructure roles, where scarcity and direct impact on AI projects sustain demand.
What salary ranges does the guide provide for cybersecurity roles in Spain in 2026?
For Security/Cybersecurity Engineer, ranges go from 25,000–30,000 € for less than 2 years up to 56,000–80,000 € for over 10 years, with a midpoint bracket between 41,000–55,000 € for 5–10 years.
- Manfred (with expanded data alongside Prosfy), “Salary Guide 2026 – Salaries in Technology (Spain)”, Borja Pérez.
Source: Salaries Gap in Spain