Software Engineer Salary Guide
Real salary ranges for Software Engineers in the US market — what you should expect, and what you can negotiate.
Salary Ranges
25TH PERCENTILE
$110,000
Entry-level or lower cost-of-living markets
50TH PERCENTILE
$165,000
Median — most roles fall here
75TH PERCENTILE
$240,000
Experienced, larger market or company
90TH PERCENTILE
$320,000
Top earners, premium markets
Software Engineer compensation has diverged sharply based on company tier, with FAANG offers 40-60% higher than startups at equivalent seniority levels. Equity packages now represent 30-50% of total compensation at tech leaders, while base salary growth has plateaued due to remote work market saturation.
Top-Paying Cities
San Francisco, CA$220,000
San Jose, CA$215,000
New York, NY$195,000
Seattle, WA$185,000
Boston, MA$175,000
Top-Paying Industries
Technology (FAANG)$280,000
Fintech/Finance$240,000
Cloud Infrastructure$235,000
Cryptocurrency/Web3$220,000
Enterprise Software$190,000
Negotiation Tip for Software Engineers
Request equity refresh cycles and sign-on bonuses tied to vesting cliff dates rather than negotiating base salary alone; tech companies have more flexibility on equity grants than cash compensation.
Practice your negotiationRelated tools
Know your worth. Negotiate with confidence.
Get your personalized salary analysis and negotiation coaching — free to start.
Get Started Free