Updated August 17, 2026 · Compared across 10,564 active listings
Head-to-Head
| Metric | FastAPI | Django |
|---|---|---|
| Overall demand | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| 30-day trend | ↑ 0.1pp | ↓ 0.0pp |
| Listings count | 122 | 78 |
| Top category | AI & Machine Learning | Software Engineering |
| Avg. salary | $128,183 | $182,500 |
Demand by Category
| Category | FastAPI | Django | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data & Analytics | 0.1% | 0.0% | FastAPI |
| Software Engineering | 0.6% | 0.4% | FastAPI |
| Product & Design | 0.1% | 0.1% | Tied |
| DevOps & Infrastructure | 0.0% | 0.1% | Django |
| Security | 0.1% | 0.2% | Django |
| AI & Machine Learning | 0.7% | 0.1% | FastAPI |
Who Uses What?
FastAPI is dominant in: Data & Analytics, Software Engineering, AI & Machine Learning
Django is dominant in: DevOps & Infrastructure, Security
Trend Direction
FastAPI shows stronger momentum in the current job market, appearing in 122 listings at 0.3% overall demand compared to Django's 78 listings at 0.1%. FastAPI also recorded a +0.1 percentage points gain over the past 30 days while Django held flat at +0.0 percentage points. Its dominance in high-growth categories like AI & Machine Learning (0.7%) and Software Engineering (0.6%) suggests hiring demand is being pulled by the expansion of ML-adjacent engineering roles.
Often Used Together?
FastAPI and Django appear together in 21.0% of listings that feature either skill, meaning roughly one in five roles expects familiarity with both frameworks. This co-occurrence rate is high enough that learning one often complements the other in a candidate's profile.
Our Take
If you're targeting AI, machine learning or data-heavy engineering roles, FastAPI is the stronger bet given its 0.7% demand in AI & Machine Learning versus Django's 0.1%. Django still commands a higher median salary at $182,500 compared to FastAPI's $128,183, so it may suit developers angling for security or infrastructure positions where Django leads. Given the 21.0% co-occurrence rate, learning both gives you the widest range of opportunities across Software Engineering where FastAPI sits at 0.6% and Django at 0.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I learn FastAPI or Django?
If you're entering data engineering, machine learning or API-heavy software roles, FastAPI is the more in-demand choice with 122 job listings versus Django's 78. Django remains relevant in DevOps and security roles and carries a higher median salary, so your target sector should drive the decision. Knowing both frameworks increases your competitiveness given how often they appear together.
Which pays better — FastAPI or Django?
Django pays better by median salary, at $182,500 compared to FastAPI's $128,183 — a difference of over $54,000. Django's salary premium may reflect its concentration in higher-paying niches like security (0.2%) and DevOps & Infrastructure (0.1%) where compensation tends to be elevated. FastAPI roles are more numerous but skew toward data and ML engineering, where salaries are competitive but the median sits lower in this dataset.
Do employers ask for both FastAPI and Django in the same role?
Yes — FastAPI and Django co-occur in 21.0% of job listings, which is a meaningful overlap. Employers in Software Engineering in particular list both, where FastAPI demand sits at 0.6% and Django at 0.4%. Having working knowledge of both frameworks makes a candidate more versatile across a wider range of backend engineering roles.
See individual skill profiles: FastAPI spotlight · Django spotlight
Data from 10,564 active listings across 199 companies via Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby. About our data & methodology.