Technology
Software Engineer — Career & Salary Intelligence
Software Engineer careers, salary ranges across the United States, education requirements, and growth outlook.
National median
$135,980
Entry (p10)
$82,460
Top 10% (p90)
$214,670
Career score
83/100
Elite Career
Career overview
Software Engineer careers, salary ranges across the United States, education requirements, and growth outlook.
Career stability score 82/100. Automation risk 32/100. Remote-work compatibility 88/100.
What the job pays nationally
The published wage distribution for this occupation, before any location adjustment. These are pay percentiles, not years of experience \u2014 the source data does not link the two.
| Percentile | What it means | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 1 in 10 earn less than this | $82,460 |
| 25th percentile | 1 in 4 earn less than this | $105,210 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $135,980 |
| 75th percentile | 1 in 4 earn more than this | $171,980 |
| 90th percentile | 1 in 10 earn more than this | $214,670 |
Salary by location
Cost-of-living adjusted mid-level compensation.
| City | COL | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 187 | $166,830 | $224,590 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 176 | $160,920 | $223,150 |
| Chicago, IL | 107 | $134,380 | $203,410 |
| Houston, TX | 96 | $129,440 | $181,770 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 104 | $131,750 | $180,460 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 101 | $133,040 | $190,180 |
| San Antonio, TX | 90 | $128,430 | $165,870 |
| San Diego, CA | 160 | $163,270 | $223,260 |
| Dallas, TX | 103 | $133,290 | $179,400 |
| San Jose, CA | 202 | $213,110 | $289,150 |
| Austin, TX | 119 | $134,120 | $209,890 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 93 | $130,330 | $170,580 |
Salary by education
Approximate compensation by educational attainment.
| Education level | Estimated salary | vs Bachelor's |
|---|---|---|
| High School | $95,000 | -30% |
| Associate Degree | $112,000 | -18% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $136,000 | — |
| Master's Degree | $170,000 | 25% |
| Doctorate / Professional | $211,000 | 55% |
| Professional Certifications | $152,000 | 12% |
10-year career growth forecast
Projected compensation assuming standard market growth.
Certifications that increase earnings
AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Premium cloud architecture roles
Approx. uplift: +12%
Google Cloud Professional
GCP-focused enterprises pay a premium
Approx. uplift: +10%
Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
Platform / SRE leverage
Approx. uplift: +9%
PMP (Project Management Professional)
Cross-functional leadership
Approx. uplift: +8%
Career Opportunity Score breakdown
Overall
83/100
Excellent
Elite Career
Compensation
87/100
Excellent
Growth
92/100
Excellent
Demand
90/100
Excellent
Stability
82/100
Excellent
Advancement
49/100
Moderate
Remote flexibility
88/100
Excellent
Frequently asked questions about Software Engineer
Common questions about salary, education, growth, and total compensation.