State of Devs 2026 survey results: developers are exhausted

A 2026 survey of 5,463 developers reveals widespread exhaustion and career anxiety in the field, with nearly half experiencing job insecurity and insufficient wages, while two-thirds report reduced motivation and increased cynicism. About 62% have experienced burnout at some point in their careers, and over a quarter anticipate needing to change careers within five years, with AI sentiment heavily polarized among respondents despite its prevalent use in the industry.