What is the starting salary for software engineers? What does a software engineer do? A software engineer is a computer programmer that works on the development of various computer programs. They may be required to create new software or update existing ones. Software engineers are required to have a knowledge of multiple different programming languages and be highly analytical in order to find solutions to problems or issues within a given piece of technology or program.
A software engineer’s salary can vary greatly based on their area of expertise, whether they’re employed in the public or private sector, and the size and scope of the company they work for. In general though, salary ranges are higher than what a software engineer would have earned 20 years ago due to the intense demand for programming talent. That said, not all job descriptions are created equal.
The average salary for a software engineer is $ 95,000 per year. This position works in the field of technology and has a bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer programming.
Salary For Software Engineer Overview
Software engineers are the backbone of many industries. They’re responsible for building and maintaining software systems, writing code, and debugging problems.
The average salary for a software engineer is $100,000 per year. In addition to their base pay, software engineers can earn up to $300,000 annually if they have experience in specific fields.
Salary for a Software Engineer
Entry-level software engineers make around $60,000 per year. However, experienced professionals can command more than twice that amount—up to $130,000 per year. The most experienced professionals in this field can earn up to $200,000 per year or more!
What Does a Software Engineer Do?
Software engineering is a branch of applied computer science. Theoretical computer science studies the formal aspects of algorithms, programs, and languages. Applied computer science, by contrast, considers the development of algorithms, programs, and software. A software engineer typically specializes in an aspect of software development, like programming or user interface design.
People commonly conflate software engineering roles with computer engineering and information technology (IT) roles. Unlike software engineers, however, computer engineers design and construct hardware such as microchips, circuit boards, and routers. IT professionals manage networks and databases or install and service software, computers, and networks.
How Much Can You Earn as a Software Engineer?
As a rapidly evolving profession, software engineering attracts individuals interested in virtual reality, blockchain technology, and other software applications. Software engineering may be an excellent career choice for individuals with strengths in calculus, formal semantics, and logic.
Earnings for software engineers vary with experience, location, industry, specialty area, and education. PayScale data indicates an average annual salary of $77,000 for entry-level software engineers and $106,090 for experienced professionals as of August 2021.
Software Engineers
Average Annual Salary, 2021
$87,510
Source: PayScale
Software Engineer Salary by Experience
Software engineer salaries vary significantly with years of experience in the field. As you acquire more experience over time and become harder to replace, employers typically provide higher compensation. Job offers from competitors can help speed up salary growth.
The table below lists the average median salary at different experience levels. The figures represent only the base salary. Additional earnings from employers such as benefits, commissions, profit sharing, and bonuses may result in higher total compensation.
Annual Salaries by Experience for Software Engineer, 2021
| YEARS OF EXPERIENCE | AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (<1 year) | $77,000 |
| Early Career (1-4 years) | $84,870 |
| Midcareer (5-9 years) | $96,160 |
| Late Career (10-19 years) | $106,090 |
| Experienced (20+ years) | $115,000 |
Software Engineer Salary by Location
Software engineers’ average earnings vary with location. For example, a smaller pool of eligible job applicants in a sparsely populated area can increase demand for qualified employees. Employers typically pay higher salaries to match demand and attract the best candidates.
The higher cost of living in larger cities and metropolitan areas can also result in more lucrative salaries. For instance, software engineers make an average of $123,040 annually in San Francisco but only $82,620 in Atlanta as of August 2021.
The additional $40,420 in average earnings in San Francisco likely reflects the stark difference in the cost of living between the two cities. The cost of living in San Francisco towers above the national average by 80%, while the cost of living in Atlanta lags by 1%, according to PayScale.
Below, you can explore average salaries for different locations. The first table includes the top-paying cities for software engineers, according to PayScale. The second set of figures specifies the top-paying metropolitan areas for relevant careers, including software developers, testers, and analysts, according to the BLS.
