Every year, careerkeg.com surveys thousands of tech professionals across a wide range of software engineering positions. Our research provides data on average entry level salaries for software engineers, annual salary growth rates and expected number of employees over the next ten years. The statistics we report are based upon anonymized results from real job postings.
The average annual salary of software engineers ranges from $84,000 to $105,000. As the most in-demand occupation in the U.S., computer technology is home to nearly 4 million jobs in the country. From customer service and sales management to information systems analysts, here’s what you can earn depending on where you start your career!
Starting Salaries For Software Engineers Overview
Ever wonder how much a software engineer makes in a year?
The average annual salary for a software engineer is $83,000. But that’s just the average. Some people make more, and some make less.
How much do software engineers make per hour? It depends on which industry you’re in, but it’s generally between $20 and $60 per hour depending on experience.
If you’re interested in becoming a software engineer, here are some things you need to know:
-You can become a software engineer by earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology. You’ll need to have good analytical skills, problem solving skills, and communication skills to succeed as a software engineer.
-There are many different types of programming languages out there (C++, Java, Python), so it’s important for you to choose one that interests you most before starting your career as a software engineer!
The Average Salary of Entry Level Software Engineers
Software engineers design, construct and maintain both software and systems based on the needs of computer and mobile phone users. They code the software, which tells the computer — or application — how to work. Most engineers and developers start out with a college degree, typically in a related field such as computer science or software engineering. While many companies look for software engineers and developers with some computer experience, larger firms will hire graduates right out of college. But the starting salary for new hires isn’t as meager as you might think.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that software developers earned an average of $100,000 per year in 2011. This figure, however, accounts for both developers and engineers, regardless of experience or skills. For 2012, starting salaries for a software engineer ranged from $78,000 to $120,000, predicts Robert Half Technology, one of the leading providers of IT professionals. This is a 6.6 percent increase over last year.
Skills
Software engineers with desirable skills often can earn more money. ASP development skills, which deal with active server pages, typically make 4 percent more, bringing the starting range up to $81,000 to $125,000. Java development skills, PHP development skills, .Net development skills and Web service development skills also help to increase starting salaries by as much as 6 percent to 8 percent for each.
ocation
Besides development skills, location affects salary. Software engineers in San Jose, California, for example, earn 33 percent more than the national average for all software engineers. Those in Boulder, Colorado, also fare better than most, bringing in 13 percent more than average. Software engineers in Minneapolis, Minnesota make just over 5 percent more than average. Those in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, however, earn 6 percent less than the national average.
Job Outlook
Employment growth for software developers is expected to reach 30 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much faster than the national average for all occupations, which is projected at 14 percent. The growth in employment is largely due to the need for more computer software and applications for handheld devices.
2018 Salary Information for Software Developers
Software developers earned a median annual salary of $103,620 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, software developers earned a 10th percentile salary of $78,570, meaning 90 percent earned more than this amount. The 90th percentile salary is $129,310, meaning 10 percent earn more. In 2018, 1,365,500 people were employed in the U.S. as software developers.
