Software Engineer Salary

blogmeta November 24, 2025No Comments

Software engineer salary” is a great question, but the answer varies dramatically based on several key factors. There is no single number.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what to expect, from fresh graduates to senior levels, both in the US and globally.

Table of Contents

Key Factors Influencing Software Engineer Salaries

Location: This is the biggest factor. Salaries in major tech hubs are significantly higher.
Experience: Years of professional experience directly correlate with higher pay.
Company: Large tech companies (FAANG: Facebook/Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) pay more than non-tech companies or startups (though startups may offer equity).
Specialization: Certain skills are in higher demand (e.g., AI/ML, DevOps, Cloud, Security, Blockchain).
Education: While a degree can help, a strong portfolio and proven skills are often just as, if not more, important.

Salary Breakdown in the United States (in USD)

Data is aggregated from sources like Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Salary.com for 2026.

By Experience Level

Entry-Level / Junior Software Engineer (0-2 years)
- Total Compensation Range: $80,000 – $130,000
- *Base Salary is typically in the $70,000 – $110,000 range, with a signing bonus and sometimes a small equity grant.*
Mid-Level Software Engineer (3-5 years)
- Total Compensation Range: $120,000 – $220,000
- This is where compensation starts to diversify significantly based on company. Base salary makes up a smaller portion, with stock grants and bonuses becoming substantial.
Senior Software Engineer (5+ years)
- Total Compensation Range: $180,000 – $400,000+
- *At top tech companies, senior engineers can easily earn over $300,000, with a large part of that being stock-based compensation.*
Staff / Principal Engineer (8+ years)
- Total Compensation Range: $300,000 – $800,000+
- These are leadership and high-impact individual contributor roles. Compensation includes significant stock awards and bonuses.

By Location (for Mid-Level Engineers)

San Francisco Bay Area, CA / New York City, NY: Highest salaries. TC often $180,000 – $250,000+.
Seattle, WA / Boston, MA / Austin, TX: High salaries. TC often $150,000 – $220,000.
Other Major Metros (Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO): TC often $120,000 – $180,000.
Remote (US-based): Salaries are becoming more standardized. Can range from $100,000 – $180,000, depending on the company’s remote pay policy.

By Company (Total Compensation for Mid-Senior Levels)

FAANG / Big Tech (Google, Meta, Apple, etc.): $200,000 – $450,000+
High-Growth Tech (Uber, Airbnb, Stripe, etc.): $180,000 – $350,000+
Well-Funded Startups (Pre-IPO): $130,000 – $250,000 (with significant equity, which is high-risk/high-reward).
Finance / HFT (Jane Street, Citadel, Two Sigma): $250,000 – $600,000+ (Often the highest cash salaries, but with a demanding work culture).
Non-Tech Companies (Banks, Retail, Automotive): $100,000 – $180,000

Salary Breakdown Outside the US (Converted to USD for comparison)

Salaries are generally lower than in the US, but the cost of living is often lower as well.

Canada (Toronto, Vancouver)
- Mid-Level: $80,000 – $130,000 CAD (~$60,000 – $95,000 USD)
United Kingdom (London)
- Mid-Level: £60,000 – £90,000 (~$75,000 – $115,000 USD)
European Union (Berlin, Amsterdam)
- Mid-Level: €60,000 – €85,000 (~$65,000 – $92,000 USD)
India (Bangalore, Hyderabad)
- Mid-Level: ₹1,500,000 – ₹3,000,000 INR (~$18,000 – $36,000 USD)
- Note: Salaries at multinational companies (e.g., Google India) can be much higher and competitive locally.
Australia (Sydney, Melbourne)
- Mid-Level: A$110,000 – A$160,000 (~$72,000 – $105,000 USD)

How to Research Your Specific Situation

Levels.fyi: The best resource for tech salaries, especially for big tech companies. It breaks down compensation by company, level, and location.
Glassdoor: Good for a wider range of companies, including non-tech ones.
Blind: An anonymous forum where employees share salary information and negotiate offers.
H1B Salary Database: Provides the base salaries of jobs in the US that were sponsored for work visas (a good source of real data).

Summary

A software engineer’s salary is highly competitive, especially in the US tech industry. While a new grad might start around $100,000, a senior engineer at a top company can earn $300,000 – $500,000 or more in total compensation. Location, company, and specialization are the most critical levers.

If you have a specific location, company, or experience level in mind, I can try to provide a more targeted estimate