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Software engineer salary in United States

How much does a Software Engineer make in the United States?

Average base salary

$136,011
Average $136,011
Low $79,557
High $232,524

The average salary for a software engineer is $136,011 per year in the United States and $5,000 cash bonus per year.38.6k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated October 18, 2026).

Software Engineer job openings in United States

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Software Developer
Harvard University4.2out of 5 stars.
Boston, MA
Full-time
1 week ago

Highest paying companies for Software Engineer in United States

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Xebia IT Architects India Pvt....
 
$420,000per year
View company
CHAI
 
$381,250per year
MERCOR
 
$315,364per year
Superior Skilled Trades
 
$312,000per year
micro1
 
$275,000per year
Clipboard
 
$265,714per year

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Highest paying cities for Software Engineers near United States

  1. San Jose, CA
    $186,870 per year
  2. New York, NY
    $174,793 per year
  3. Seattle, WA
    $161,551 per year
  4. Los Angeles, CA
    $158,535 per year
  5. Redmond, WA
    $137,525 per year

Where can a Software Engineer earn more?

Compare salaries for Software Engineers in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Software Engineer

The average salary for a Software Engineer is $136,011 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 38.6k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on October 18, 2026.

Software Engineer jobs on Indeed - find your next one today.

Software Engineer salaries typically range between a low of $79,557 and a high of $232,524 per year, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Software Engineer include San Jose, CA at $186,870 per year, New York, NY at $174,793 per year, and Seattle, WA at $161,551 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 $81,525 per year
  • Junior Software Engineer: Average $87,468 per year
  • Principal Software Engineer: Average $181,968 per year
  • Senior Software Engineer: Average $159,458 per year
  • Software Engineer Intern: Average $35.22 per hour
  • Staff Software Engineer: Average $212,646 per year

How much do similar professions as Software Engineer get paid in United States?

Entry Level Software Engineer

Job openings
Average $81,525 per year

Junior Software Engineer

Job openings
Average $87,468 per year

Principal Software Engineer

Job openings
Average $181,968 per year

Software Engineer Intern

Job openings
Average $35.22 per hour