Software Engineer Salary
Software engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and systems. They apply engineering principles and programming languages to build solutions that meet user needs.
Software Engineer Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level software engineers earn around $78,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $125,000. Senior-level software engineers can earn $185,000 or more.
Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for software engineers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $74,600, while the top 10% earn $198,580.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $74,600 |
| 25th Percentile | $98,200 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $124,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $158,200 |
| 90th Percentile | $198,580 |
Software Engineer Salary by State
Software Engineer salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $204,930, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $93,150.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $204,930 | Details → |
| #2 California | $190,026 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $180,090 | Details → |
| #4 New York | $163,944 | Details → |
| #5 Washington | $157,734 | Details → |
| #6 Alaska | $150,282 | Details → |
| #7 New Jersey | $150,282 | Details → |
| #8 Maryland | $144,072 | Details → |
| #9 Oregon | $144,072 | Details → |
| #10 Connecticut | $142,830 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $140,346 | Details → |
| #12 Virginia | $139,104 | Details → |
| #13 New Hampshire | $132,894 | Details → |
| #14 Rhode Island | $131,652 | Details → |
| #15 Utah | $126,684 | Details → |
| #16 Delaware | $125,442 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $124,200 | Details → |
| #18 Illinois | $124,200 | Details → |
| #19 Minnesota | $124,200 | Details → |
| #20 Arizona | $122,958 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $122,958 | Details → |
| #22 Pennsylvania | $121,716 | Details → |
| #23 Texas | $121,716 | Details → |
| #24 Vermont | $121,716 | Details → |
| #25 Georgia | $119,232 | Details → |
| #26 North Carolina | $119,232 | Details → |
| #27 Maine | $117,990 | Details → |
| #28 Idaho | $116,748 | Details → |
| #29 New Mexico | $115,506 | Details → |
| #30 Wisconsin | $114,264 | Details → |
| #31 Montana | $113,022 | Details → |
| #32 Michigan | $111,780 | Details → |
| #33 Ohio | $111,780 | Details → |
| #34 Tennessee | $110,538 | Details → |
| #35 Indiana | $109,296 | Details → |
| #36 Missouri | $109,296 | Details → |
| #37 Nebraska | $109,296 | Details → |
| #38 Louisiana | $108,054 | Details → |
| #39 South Carolina | $108,054 | Details → |
| #40 Iowa | $106,812 | Details → |
| #41 North Dakota | $106,812 | Details → |
| #42 Wyoming | $106,812 | Details → |
| #43 Kansas | $104,328 | Details → |
| #44 Kentucky | $103,086 | Details → |
| #45 South Dakota | $103,086 | Details → |
| #46 Alabama | $101,844 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $101,844 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $96,876 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $94,392 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $93,150 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Analyze user requirements and design software solutions
- ● Write clean, maintainable code in languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript
- ● Conduct code reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams
- ● Debug and resolve software defects and performance issues
- ● Deploy applications and maintain CI/CD pipelines
Top Skills
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Job Outlook
Much faster than average — projected 25% growth over the next decade