How much does a Software Engineer make?
Experience
- All years of Experience
- 0-1 Years
- 1-3 Years
- 4-6 Years
- 7-9 Years
- 10-14 Years
- 15+ Years
Industry
- All industries
- Legal
- Aerospace & Defense
- Agriculture
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology
- Management & Consulting
- Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services
- Personal Consumer Services
- Education
- Financial Services
- Government & Public Administration
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Media & Communication
- Nonprofit & NGO
- Energy, Mining & Utilities
- Real Estate
- Restaurants & Food Service
- Retail & Wholesale
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics
- Hotels & Travel Accommodation
- Human Resources & Staffing
$139K
/yrThe estimated total pay for a Software Engineer is $139,498 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $117,813 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $21,684 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $113K-$174K/yr?
For Software Engineer
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Software Engineer?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $139,498 /yr |
| Senior Software Engineer | $193,351 /yr |
| Software Engineer IV | $212,915 /yr |
Related Job Titles
For Software Engineer
Some related job titles are Entry Level Software Engineer Salaries with median pay of $127,083, Principal Software Engineer Salaries with median pay of $264,447, Software Development Engineer Salaries with median pay of $142,255, Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) Salaries with median pay of $140,579.
Top Paying Companies
For a Software Engineer in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Software Engineer in United States. Employers include Stripe, Cruise and Meta.
For Software Engineer
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Software Engineer?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $139,498 /yr |
| Senior Software Engineer | $193,351 /yr |
| Software Engineer IV | $212,915 /yr |
What are total pay estimates for a Software Engineer at different companies?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$251,215
/ yr
$197,651
/ yr
$263,640
/ yr
$181,795
/ yr
$204,653
/ yr
$221,923
/ yr
$154,147
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$99,188
/ yr
$183,948
/ yr
$188,436
/ yr
$111,252
/ yr
$198,513
/ yr
$99,656
/ yr
$115,875
/ yr
$106,274
/ yr
$107,622
/ yr
$121,044
/ yr
$137,296
/ yr
$214,697
/ yr
$165,790
/ yrSoftware Engineer Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Software Engineer in United States
The top 5 paying industries for a Software Engineer in United States are Financial Services with a median total pay of $134,447, Arts, Entertainment & Recreation with a median total pay of $133,697, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $128,878, Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $127,126, and Restaurants & Food Service with a median total pay of $126,375.
- Arts, Entertainment & RecreationArts, Entertainment & Recreation$133,697
10% Higher than other industries
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
What people are saying about Software Engineer salaries
Recent Salaries Shared
For software engineer
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
United States of America
| 7-9 years
/yr
$140K | $30K
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 10-14 years
/yr
$165K | $4K
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
United States of America
| 4-6 years
/yr
Submitted Yesterday
Software Engineer pay FAQ
The average salary for a Software Engineer is $139,498 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 619695 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Software Engineer employees in United States.
The highest salary for a Software Engineer in United States is $174,154 per year.
The lowest salary for a Software Engineer in United States is $112,789 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Software Engineer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Software Engineer.
Software engineers are paid well above average, often receiving six-figure salaries. The pay range reflects the demand for their skillset and the profitability of the products they develop. Candidates with prior experience in the field or higher levels of education generally receive higher salaries. Pay is expected to grow as the digital transformation reaches a global level. Software engineers can further increase their total pay by pursuing freelance consulting opportunities.
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With a post-graduate degree, a couple of years' work experience, and annual bonuses, a software engineer's salary can qualify as good money. Anonymous Glassdoor ratings indicate that around 74% of software engineers are satisfied with their salaries.
The total pay for software engineers following the average career path can stretch from $93,272.65 to $211,644.92 per year, depending on the level of experience. Total pay includes salaries, bonuses, and other benefits with a monetary value. After working a few years and gaining enough experience, you could enter the ranks of principal software engineers and earn higher total pay.
If you want to earn more from your career as a software engineer, or you'd like to apply for a new position with a higher salary, ask yourself what you can bring to the table. If you hold an associate's degree, the next step would be to complete your bachelor's in software engineering. And after that, consider acquiring your master's degree or a doctorate.
Learn new skills that are in high demand for your field. Add credibility to your skills by obtaining certifications from well-known authorities such as Microsoft, C (programming language), and CIW.
If you enjoy your job as a software engineer but would like to earn a higher salary, you could ask for a salary increase, provided that you can back up your request. If your job responsibilities have multiplied, you've been promoted, or you find out you're being underpaid, consider starting a dialogue with your bosses. Point out what you've brought to the company or any skills and certifications that set you apart. A 3% increase is standard, but ask for more to kick off negotiations.
Software engineers new to a company should highlight their most sought-after skills and experience to motivate a higher starting salary.