The practice of Developer Relations (DevRel) continues to mature and evolve, shaping the way organizations connect with and support their developer communities. As we release the 11th Annual State of Developer Relations Report, we see a deepening connection between DevRel activities and company objectives, increased recognition of DevRel's value, and a call for more standardized practices across the field.
Increased Awareness and Alignment with Business Goals
This year's findings highlight a stronger alignment between DevRel programs and broader business objectives. For example, 36% of respondents reported that product usage is their top active community metric, and 44% indicated that active users are a primary measure of program success. Additionally, 18% now link revenue influence directly to their metrics. The primary goal for DevRel remains driving awareness and adoption, with 66% of respondents citing it as the top priority.
Growth and Recognition of DevRel Teams
We're also seeing a shift in the composition of DevRel teams. The number of one-person teams has dropped by 18%, reflecting a move away from the generalist "Swiss army knife" approach. Collaboration is critical, with 85% of teams working closely with product, marketing, and engineering at least once a month. DevRel’s value is increasingly communicated to senior leadership, with 62% of teams reporting to founders or C-level executives, and 20% reporting directly to the CEO.
Improving Access to DevRel Knowledge
While "on the job" learning remains the most common way to acquire DevRel skills, its dominance is declining, down from 87% to 50%. This shift suggests an increasing availability of formal training and resources, which is essential for developing a skilled DevRel workforce.
Challenges and Opportunities for Growth
Despite the progress, the DevRel field faces challenges. The lack of a defined career path remains a significant hurdle, with 61% of respondents having no clear progression. Demonstrating impact also remains a challenge, with 61% finding it difficult to prove their influence and 50% struggling to raise awareness of their contributions.
AI in DevRel and Continued Stability
Artificial intelligence (AI) is now a part of the DevRel toolkit for 78% of professionals, although concerns around accuracy, effectiveness, and security remain. As DevRel practices continue to mature, there is stability in job security, with 15% reporting layoffs, similar to previous years. Median total compensation for DevRel professionals in 2024 stands at $193k USD.
The Need for More Support and Standardization
DevRel professionals express a strong desire for more standardized practices and support. Many still face challenges with archaic tooling (61%) and handcrafted SDKs (47%). There's a growing interest in standardizing and professionalizing DevRel, with 63% showing high interest in participating in efforts to formalize the field.
Meet Our 2024 Working Group Contributors
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our working group contributors for their invaluable insights:
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors—APIMatic, Fern, and DZone—for their support in making this report possible.
Moving Forward
As we look to the future, there is a clear need for greater standardization and support to strengthen the practice of Developer Relations. We hope this report serves as a valuable resource for all DevRel professionals working to drive impact and build meaningful relationships with their developer communities.
👉 Read the full report here: 11th Annual State of Developer Relations Report