Software Engineer Salary in America: Real Numbers from Top Tech Companies (2025)

Software engineer salary in America spans $118,000 to $188,000 per year. Indeed reports the average software engineer earns $128,200 annually in the United States, while Glassdoor shows median total compensation at $148,000.

Software engineer salary in US varies considerably between experience levels and companies. Top earners reach $231,046 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range falls between $117,933 (25th percentile) and $187,654 (75th percentile) annually. Companies provide additional compensation beyond base salary, with average software engineers receiving $18,858 in extra cash compensation, bringing total compensation to $157,491.

This guide covers software engineer salaries across experience levels, locations, and major tech companies. The salary data helps you understand current compensation standards for software engineers in 2025.

What do software engineers earn in America?

Software engineer salary in America reached $138,240 per year in 2025. Most software engineers receive cash bonuses averaging $18,858 annually.

Average salary and bonus breakdown

Software engineers earn above the national average across all professions. Total compensation reaches approximately $157,491 when combining base salary with bonuses. AI and machine learning specialists command premium packages 15-25% higher than market averages.

Salary range across all levels

Entry-level positions start at $78,906, while median salary sits at $132,000. Top earners (90th percentile) make up to $231,046 annually. The typical pay range falls between $117,933 (25th percentile) and $187,654 (75th percentile).

Monthly and hourly earnings

Average software engineers in America earn $11,520 monthly before taxes. This equals $2,654 weekly or $66.46 per hour based on a 40-hour workweek. Senior-level engineers at the 75th percentile take home $15,637 monthly.

How salaries changed in recent years

Software engineer salary in USA increased 2-4% annually in 2025. This growth rate exceeds inflation, indicating continued high demand for technical talent.

Technology professionals earned $112,602 in 2024 a 1.2% year-over-year increase. Mid-career professionals with 3-5 years experience saw substantial salary growth after declining in 2023. Entry-level positions faced downward pressure with a 1.4% decrease for the second consecutive year.

Why does experience level matter for software engineer salary?

Experience level determines software engineer salary in America. Compensation doubles or triples as professionals advance through career stages.

Entry-level Software Engineer Salary (0–2 years)

Entry-level software engineers earn between $67,504 and $80,161 annually. Glassdoor data from June 2025 shows average salary at $75,733. Major tech companies like Facebook pay beginners up to $80,000+ per year.

Engineers focus on mastering core programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and version control systems. Starting salaries experienced downward pressure recently, with a 1.4% decrease for the second consecutive year.

Mid-level Software Engineer Salary (3–5 years)

Mid-level engineers earn between $84,380 and $105,475. The national average for this experience band stands at $109,450 annually.

This group saw substantial salary growth following a decline in 2023, with a 7.2% increase. Mid-level engineers handle complex tasks independently, contribute to system design, and mentor junior team members.

Senior-level Software Engineer Salary (6–9 years)

Senior software engineers with 6-9 years experience command salaries averaging $99,705. The range varies based on location, company, and specialization. Senior engineers in Pune earn between $300,000-$360,000 annually.

Professionals develop deep expertise in specific domains and lead technical design initiatives while managing small teams. Their compensation growth rate averages 4.7% annually.

Principal and Lead Engineer Salary

Software Engineer Salary Growth Over Time

Software engineer salaries in America grow most rapidly during the mid-career phase. After initial growth in the first two years, compensation accelerates between years 3-5.

Experienced engineers with 10+ years earn above $126,570 annually. Senior management positions earn substantially more. This shows the long-term financial benefits of pursuing a software engineering career in America.

Software Engineer Salary by Location

Location affects software engineer salary in America, with certain cities and states offering higher compensation packages.

Top Paying Cities and States

San Francisco Bay Area leads with software engineers earning $15,119,036 annually. Seattle software engineers command $12,441,476, while New York reaches $13,414,298. San Jose tops San Francisco with engineers earning $14,126,975 annually. Among states, California ($11,572,104), Washington ($11,018,146), and Maryland ($9,977,313) offer the highest compensation.

Remote vs Office Positions

Remote positions often pay more than office-based roles across major cities. San Francisco remote engineers earn $15,188,481 versus $14,850,959 for office-based roles a difference of $337,522. Remote engineers in New York earn $506,283 more than their in-office colleagues. The national average for office-based engineers stands at $11,586,364, with total compensation reaching $13,173,814.

Cost of Living Impact

High salaries don't always mean greater purchasing power. A $12,150,785 software engineering salary in San Francisco yields $7,256,719 in buying power after living costs. Atlanta shows the opposite pattern, where the cost-of-living adjusted salary ($9,450,610) exceeds the median salary ($8,944,328). Washington ranks first in salary adjusted for cost of living.

Emerging Tech Hubs

Cities like Philadelphia, Boulder, and Austin are growing as tech hubs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 26% growth in software development jobs by 2032, adding 410,400 new positions. Nonmetropolitan areas are becoming competitive, with Southern Vermont paying $11,226,819 and Eastern Oregon offering $10,573,714 annually.

Software Engineer Salary at Top Tech Companies

Top tech companies provide software engineer salary packages in America above industry averages. These companies pay substantially higher compensation in 2025.

Google

Google software engineers earn between $92,126 and $286,893 annually. Senior engineers command up to $212,362, with staff engineers reaching $266,642. Base salary typically ranges from $92,126 to $157,791, with additional stock options and bonuses.

Meta

Meta (formerly Facebook) software engineers receive base salaries ranging from $80,000 to $154,416. Total compensation reaches approximately $309,680,000+ for distinguished engineers. E3 entry-level positions offer about $151,884 annually, escalating to $1,139,136 at E8 Principal level.

Apple

Apple compensates software engineers between $271,000 and $500,000 yearly, with most positions falling in the $114,513 to $182,261 range. The median stands at approximately $130,000, with top performers earning above $372,117.

Amazon

Amazon software engineers typically earn between $193,000 and $330,000 annually. Base compensation starts around $109,694, with total packages for principal engineers reaching $553,535.

Microsoft

Microsoft offers engineers $135,008 to $243,015 annually. Entry-level positions (Level 59) start at approximately $135,008, while principal engineers (Level 65) earn around $243,015.

Airbnb

Airbnb pays software engineers between $168,760 and $421,900 annually. Mid-level engineers (4-6 years) typically earn around $168,760, while senior positions (7-9 years) reach $337,520.

Netflix

Netflix leads with average software engineer salary of $431,184, approximately 31% higher than Facebook. Total compensation typically ranges from $185,587 to $375,290.

ByteDance

ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) offers software engineers between $141,382 and $286,049 annually. Senior positions with 15+ years of experience can earn up to $740,016, featuring substantial equity components.