Technology
Software Engineer — Career & Salary Intelligence
Software Engineer careers, salary ranges across the US and Canada, education requirements, and growth outlook.
National median
$128,000
Entry (p10)
$78,000
Top 10% (p90)
$210,000
Career score
82/100
Elite Career
Career overview
Software Engineer careers, salary ranges across the US and Canada, education requirements, and growth outlook.
Career stability score 82/100. Automation risk 32/100. Remote-work compatibility 88/100.
Salary by experience
National baseline before location adjustments.
| Level | Years | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0–2 yrs | $96,000 |
| Junior | 3–5 yrs | $113,600 |
| Mid | 6–10 yrs | $128,000 |
| Senior | 11–15 yrs | $166,400 |
| Lead / Principal | 16–20 yrs | $204,800 |
| Executive / Top Performer | 20+ yrs | $241,664 |
Salary by location
Cost-of-living adjusted mid-level compensation.
| City | COL | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 187 | $239,400 | $392,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 176 | $225,300 | $369,600 |
| Toronto, ON | 135 | $172,800 | $283,500 |
| Chicago, IL | 107 | $137,000 | $224,700 |
| Houston, TX | 96 | $122,900 | $201,600 |
| Montreal, QC | 98 | $125,400 | $205,800 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 104 | $133,100 | $218,400 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 101 | $129,300 | $212,100 |
| San Antonio, TX | 90 | $115,200 | $189,000 |
| San Diego, CA | 160 | $204,800 | $336,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 103 | $131,800 | $216,300 |
| Calgary, AB | 107 | $137,000 | $224,700 |
Salary by education
Approximate compensation by educational attainment.
| Education level | Estimated salary | vs Bachelor's |
|---|---|---|
| High School | $90,000 | -30% |
| Associate Degree | $105,000 | -18% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $128,000 | — |
| Master's Degree | $160,000 | 25% |
| Doctorate / Professional | $198,000 | 55% |
| Professional Certifications | $143,000 | 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
82/100
Excellent
Elite Career
Compensation
82/100
Excellent
Growth
92/100
Excellent
Demand
89/100
Excellent
Stability
82/100
Excellent
Advancement
52/100
Moderate
Remote flexibility
88/100
Excellent
Frequently asked questions about Software Engineer
Common questions about salary, education, growth, and total compensation.