Software engineer salary in United States, 2026
How much does a Software Engineer make in the United States?
Average base salary
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The average salary for a software engineer is $135,883 per year in the United States and $5,000 cash bonus per year.38.1k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated October 5, 2026).
Highest paying companies for Software Engineer in United States
Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.Looking to Hire?
Highest paying cities for Software Engineers near United States
Where can a Software Engineer earn more?
Compare salaries for Software Engineers in different locations
Skills for Software Engineer
- Software development
- Java
- Python
- JavaScript
- Agile
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Software Engineer
The average salary for a Software Engineer is $135,883 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 38.1k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 5, 2026.
Software Engineer jobs on Indeed - find your next one today.
Software Engineer salaries typically range between a low of $79,659 and a high of $231,791 per year, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.
Some of the highest-paying cities for Software Engineer include San Jose, CA at $186,773 per year, New York, NY at $173,787 per year, and Seattle, WA at $160,707 per year.
Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Software Engineer include Xebia IT Architects India Pvt. Ltd ($420,000 per year) and CHAI ($381,250 per year).
Compensation can vary based on the specific niche and level of responsibility within the field. Here is how the average Software Engineer salary compares to related positions:
- Entry Level Software Engineer: Average $81,120 per year
- Junior Software Engineer: Average $86,920 per year
- Principal Software Engineer: Average $180,808 per year
- Senior Software Engineer: Average $159,054 per year
- Software Engineer Intern: Average $35.29 per hour
- Staff Software Engineer: Average $212,943 per year