Software Engineer Salary in the United States (2026)
The median Software Engineer salary in the US is $135,980 per year - about $11,332/month or $65/hour. Here is the full pay range, by experience level, based on 1,687,890 Software Developers tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Software Engineer salary by experience level
Pay rises sharply with experience. These bands are based on the BLS wage percentiles for Software Developers - entry-level roles cluster near the 10th-25th percentile, while senior and lead roles reach the 75th-90th.
Early-career and junior roles (10th-25th percentile).
The median - what a typical Software Engineer earns.
Senior, lead and specialist roles (75th-90th percentile).
Full Software Engineer salary distribution
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025. Occupation: Software Developers (SOC 15-1252). bls.gov/oes
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How much does a Software Engineer make?
A Software Engineer in the United States earns a median of $135,980 per year as of 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earn under $82,460, while the top 10% earn more than $214,670 - a spread of $132,210 driven mostly by experience, location, industry and company size.
With roughly 1,687,890 people employed in this occupation nationally, Software Engineer is one of the more established career paths - which means more openings, but also more competition per role. Applying early and at volume is the single biggest lever most candidates ignore.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does a Software Engineer make in the US?
The median Software Engineer salary in the United States is $135,980 per year (2025), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to about $65 per hour.
What is the entry-level Software Engineer salary?
Entry-level Software Engineer roles typically pay between $82,460 and $105,210 per year, corresponding to the 10th-25th wage percentiles for this occupation.
What is the highest Software Engineer salary?
The top 10% of Software Engineers earn more than $214,670 per year. Senior, lead and specialist roles, plus high-cost metros and high-paying industries, push compensation toward the top of the range.
How can I earn more as a Software Engineer?
The fastest way to raise your pay is to change roles - candidates who move companies typically see larger raises than internal increases. LoopCV helps by automatically applying to Software Engineer jobs for you every day, so you get more offers to negotiate from.