Software Engineer Salary in USA 2025
Pay by experience level, state, and company type
Median Total Compensation (USA)
Software Engineer Salary Overview
This guide breaks down software engineer salary in the US for 2025, covering average and median pay, starting salaries, senior compensation, and how earnings vary by state and company type. Whether you're evaluating your first offer, negotiating a raise, or considering a job change, these figures provide the context you need.
Software engineering remains one of the highest paying jobs in the US, with strong demand across startups, big tech, finance, healthcare, and virtually every other industry that builds or uses software. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued growth in software development roles, and compensation has kept pace with demand.
The data here draws from government sources, large industry salary databases, and compensation aggregators, presented in plain English so you can compare offers and plan your career. For broader context on tech salaries across different roles, see our industry comparison guide.
What Software Engineers Earn: Salary Snapshot
Software engineer compensation in the US typically falls in the low-to-mid six-figure range for total pay (base salary plus bonuses and stock). Recent data sources show median total compensation around $120,000–$140,000, with significant variation based on experience, location, and company type.
Entry-level roles start lower but still well above most other professions. Experienced engineers and those at staff or principal levels can earn well into multiple six figures, especially at large tech companies where stock grants significantly boost total compensation.
| Level | Typical Total Annual Pay (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level / Junior | ~$85,000–$105,000 | First roles, often at smaller companies or outside top hubs |
| Mid-Level (2–5 years) | ~$110,000–$160,000 | Common range for engineers with solid experience |
| Senior Engineer | ~$150,000–$200,000+ | Higher responsibility, complex systems, mentoring |
| Staff / Principal | ~$200,000–$350,000+ | Technical leadership, architecture decisions |
| Big Tech / FAANG | Can exceed $400,000+ | Salary + bonus + significant stock grants |
These figures represent realistic ranges from multiple sources. Actual compensation varies by data source and methodology, so treat them as benchmarks rather than precise promises.
Software Engineer Salary by Experience Level
Entry-Level / Junior Software Engineer
New graduates and bootcamp completers typically start in the $85,000–$105,000 range, depending on location, company size, and whether they're joining a startup, established tech firm, or non-tech company. This starting range already exceeds most other entry-level professional salaries, making software engineering an attractive first career.
Entry-level pay varies significantly by market. A junior engineer in San Francisco might start at $110,000+ while a similar role in a smaller city could be $75,000–$85,000. Company prestige also matters—FAANG and top-tier startups typically offer higher starting compensation including signing bonuses and initial stock grants.
Mid-Level Software Engineer
After 2–5 years of experience, software engineers typically see significant salary growth. Mid-level engineers who own features end-to-end, contribute to architecture decisions, and mentor juniors commonly earn $110,000–$160,000 in total compensation.
This is often where salary growth accelerates fastest. Engineers who develop strong skills in high-demand areas (distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, security, ML) or who work at well-funded companies often land in the upper end of this range or beyond.
Senior, Staff, and Principal Engineers
Senior engineers (typically 5–8+ years) earn $150,000–$200,000+ at most companies. Staff and principal engineers—roles requiring deep technical expertise, cross-team impact, and often architectural leadership—can earn $200,000–$350,000 or more.
At major tech companies (Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix), senior and staff compensation often includes substantial stock grants that push total compensation significantly higher. A Staff Engineer at a FAANG company might have a $200,000 base salary but $400,000+ in total compensation once stock and bonuses are included.
Reaching these levels requires not just time but demonstrated impact: designing systems used by millions, leading critical projects, influencing technical direction, and mentoring other engineers. For strategies on advancing your career and compensation, see our salary negotiation guide.
Software Engineer Salary by Location
Geographic location significantly impacts software engineer pay. Major tech hubs offer the highest nominal salaries, though cost of living—especially housing—often consumes much of the difference.
Major Tech Hubs
California (especially the Bay Area and Los Angeles), Washington (Seattle), New York, and Massachusetts (Boston) consistently show the highest software engineer salaries. Senior engineers in San Francisco or Seattle routinely earn $180,000–$250,000+ in base salary alone, with total compensation potentially much higher at top companies.
However, housing costs in these areas can run $3,000–$5,000+ monthly for a one-bedroom apartment. Many engineers find that high nominal salaries don't translate to proportionally higher purchasing power.
Growing Tech Markets
Texas (Austin, Dallas), Colorado (Denver, Boulder), North Carolina (Research Triangle), Georgia (Atlanta), and Arizona (Phoenix) offer competitive salaries with lower costs of living. A senior engineer earning $150,000 in Austin may have better purchasing power than one earning $200,000 in San Francisco.
These markets have seen significant tech industry growth, with many companies opening satellite offices or hiring remote workers based there.
Remote Work Impact
Remote work has complicated location-based pay. Some companies pay the same regardless of location; others use geographic "zones" that adjust compensation. An engineer working remotely for a Bay Area company from a lower-cost state might earn Bay Area rates, significantly boosting their purchasing power—or might receive adjusted pay based on their location.
| Region / Example States | Typical Effect on Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Major tech hubs (CA, WA, NY, MA) | Higher nominal salaries | Higher rent and living costs, intense competition |
| Growing markets (TX, CO, NC, GA) | Competitive pay, better cost-adjusted value | Growing tech ecosystems, many remote roles |
| Smaller markets / lower-cost states | Lower nominal salaries | Costs often lower too; some remote roles pay near big-market rates |
For context on how these figures compare to typical US earnings, see our guide to average salary in the US.
Software Engineer Salary by Company Type
Big Tech and FAANG Companies
Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, and similar large tech companies consistently pay the highest total compensation. A mid-level engineer at Google might earn $150,000 base plus $50,000–$100,000+ annually in stock and bonuses. Senior and staff engineers often see total compensation of $300,000–$500,000+.
Competition for these roles is intense, with rigorous interview processes. The tradeoffs: high compensation comes with high expectations, and stock grants may require staying for years to fully vest.
Well-Funded Startups
Series B+ startups often pay competitively on base salary (sometimes slightly below big tech) but offer equity that could be worth significant amounts if the company succeeds. Early employees at successful startups have occasionally seen life-changing returns.
The risk: startup equity is illiquid and may become worthless if the company fails or never reaches an exit. Many engineers prefer the certainty of big tech stock over startup lottery tickets.
Finance and Fintech
Investment banks, hedge funds, and fintech companies often pay comparably to big tech, sometimes higher. Quantitative roles at top trading firms can exceed FAANG compensation significantly. The tradeoffs include longer hours, less flexibility, and different work cultures.
Non-Tech Companies
Traditional industries (retail, manufacturing, healthcare, insurance) employ many software engineers but typically pay 10–30% less than tech-first companies for equivalent roles. Benefits may include better work-life balance, job stability, and less intense work environments. Some engineers prefer this tradeoff, especially mid-career.
For more on how different tech roles compare, see our tech salaries comparison guide.
How Skills and Specialization Affect Pay
Not all software engineers earn the same, even at identical experience levels. Certain skills and specializations command premium compensation.
High-Demand Technical Skills
Backend and distributed systems engineers who can design and scale systems handling millions of requests often earn more than average. Cloud infrastructure expertise (AWS, GCP, Azure), security engineering, and performance optimization skills similarly command premiums.
Machine learning and AI engineers have seen particularly strong demand, with compensation often 10–20% above general software engineering roles. See our guide to machine learning engineer salary for specific figures.
Industry Specializations
Certain industries pay premiums for domain expertise. Fintech companies value engineers who understand financial systems. Healthcare tech rewards those comfortable with HIPAA compliance and medical data. Embedded systems and firmware engineers command premiums in hardware-adjacent companies.
Full-Stack vs. Specialized
The market values both breadth and depth differently depending on company needs. Startups often prefer full-stack engineers who can ship features end-to-end. Large companies may pay more for deep specialists in areas like database optimization, frontend performance, or security.
The best strategy: develop strong fundamentals, then build depth in an area that interests you and aligns with market demand. Related roles like data scientist and cybersecurity analyst offer alternative paths with their own compensation profiles.
How to Increase Your Software Engineer Salary
Compensation growth in software engineering comes from strategic career moves, not just time served.
Build High-Impact Skills
Focus on skills that matter: system design, scalability, reliability, security. Contribute to projects that affect key metrics—revenue, user growth, cost reduction. Document your impact in terms that matter to the business.
Negotiate Effectively
Many engineers leave money on the table by not negotiating offers. Research market rates for your role, location, and experience level. When you receive an offer, negotiate—most companies expect it and have room to improve initial numbers, especially on signing bonuses and stock.
Our salary negotiation guide covers specific tactics for both new offers and internal promotion conversations.
Change Companies Strategically
Engineers who switch employers every 2–4 years typically see faster compensation growth than those who stay in place. Each move is an opportunity to negotiate from a position of strength, especially if you have competing offers.
Target Higher-Paying Employers
A senior engineer at a Fortune 500 retailer might earn $140,000. The same engineer at Google might earn $280,000+. If maximizing compensation is a priority, targeting high-paying employers matters more than almost any other factor.
Pursue Senior and Staff Levels
Moving from mid-level to senior to staff represents the largest compensation jumps. This requires demonstrating not just technical skill but leadership, mentorship, and cross-team impact. Seek projects that let you demonstrate these capabilities.
Career Path and Related Roles
Individual Contributor Track
The IC track progresses from Software Engineer → Senior Software Engineer → Staff Engineer → Principal Engineer → Distinguished Engineer (at some companies). Each level brings higher compensation and broader scope of impact while remaining technical rather than managerial.
Management Track
Engineers who prefer leading people can move into Engineering Manager → Senior Manager → Director → VP of Engineering. Management compensation often matches or exceeds IC compensation at equivalent levels, with different tradeoffs in daily work.
Related Technical Roles
Software engineering skills transfer to many adjacent roles with their own compensation profiles:
Data Scientists combine software engineering with statistics and domain expertise. Machine Learning Engineers focus on building and deploying ML systems. DevOps Engineers and SREs specialize in infrastructure, reliability, and automation. Security Engineers protect systems and data from threats.
Each path has different day-to-day work and slightly different compensation curves. Your choice should balance earning potential with what you actually enjoy doing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average software engineer salary in the US in 2025?
Median total compensation for software engineers in the US is approximately $120,000–$140,000, though this varies significantly by experience, location, and company type. Entry-level positions start around $85,000–$105,000, while senior and staff engineers earn $150,000–$300,000+.
What is a good starting salary for a software engineer?
A strong starting salary for a new graduate or bootcamp completer is typically $85,000–$110,000 depending on location and company. Top tech companies may offer $120,000+ for entry-level roles including signing bonuses and stock. In smaller markets or at non-tech companies, $70,000–$85,000 may be more common but still competitive compared to other entry-level professions.
Which states pay software engineers the most?
California, Washington, New York, and Massachusetts consistently show the highest nominal software engineer salaries, driven by major tech hubs in San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and Boston. However, high cost of living offsets much of the difference. States like Texas, Colorado, and North Carolina offer competitive salaries with better purchasing power.
How much can a senior or staff software engineer make?
Senior software engineers typically earn $150,000–$200,000+ in total compensation. Staff and principal engineers at well-compensated companies earn $200,000–$350,000+. At FAANG companies, staff engineers often see total compensation of $350,000–$500,000+ including significant stock grants.
Is software engineering still a good career choice?
Yes. Despite periodic layoffs at specific companies, overall demand for software engineers remains strong with projected job growth above average for all occupations. The field offers high compensation, remote work options, and opportunities across virtually every industry. However, the market has become more competitive, making continuous learning and skill development important for career advancement.