Web3 salaries have fallen sharply in 2026, hitting their lowest level in half a decade, and all that just a year after peaking at record highs in early 2025.
As the latest Finbold analysis shows, the average Web3 worker in May 2026 earns around $138,000 a year – a steep 75.1% decline from the January 2025 peak of $553,000.
Compared to, for example, December 2021 levels at around $205,000, salaries are down roughly 32.7%. In other words, the current figures reflect a sustained cooling trend, not a sudden shift. The uptick in early 2025 was one of the isolated incidents, comparable ones taking place in April, June, and December the same year.
Web3 salaries decline
For further comparison, the average yearly salary during the period between December 2021 and May 2026 was around $239,000, meaning that those employed in the sector now earn 42% less than would be expected, looking at the numbers in the period.
More specifically, the average salary stood at approximately $293,000 in 2022 before declining to about $223,000 in 2023 and further to $206,000 in 2024. The industry somewhat rebounded in 2025, with the yearly average climbing to roughly $275,000, propped by the above-mentioned January record.
However, as the numbers suggest, that momentum has since reversed. Looking at the year so far, the average salary so far in 2026 is $181,000, with $138,000 in May being the lowest month on average.
What’s more, the number of new Web3 developer jobs itself has also sunk to the lowest point on record – just 14 on Web3.career at the time of writing. Conversely, the number of applicants per Web3 position sits at no less than 232.
Who makes the most in Web3?
As of May 2026, Web3 Chief Technology Officer (CTO) positions have the highest average salary of roughly $150,000 per year, with a minimum base salary of $50,000 and a maximum of $350,000.
Lead developers, on the other hand, make the least amount of money, with salaries ranging from $80,000–$247,000, or about $151,000 a year on average.
Geographic discrepancies are also noteworthy. Namely, North American developers have the highest average salary ($143,000 per year, to be precise), with a minimum base salary of $80,000 and a maximum of $260,000.
Finally, Oceanian developers have the lowest salaries, making $112,000 a year on average, making between $90,000 and $160,000.
Featured image via Shutterstock
