Highest-Paying Senior Software Engineer Jobs [2026]
Research Summary. The Zippia data team has compiled average salary estimates for senior software engineer roles across the US by analyzing a mixture of public government data, company reports, and thousands of job postings. This analysis identifies the types of senior software engineers that command the highest salaries in 2026.
Summary of our findings on the highest-paying senior software engineer positions:
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Software Engineering Manager ranks as the highest-paid senior software engineer, with an average salary of $140,929 and an average hourly wage of $67.75.
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Next in line is the Staff Software Engineer, earning an average salary of $136,653.
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The average salary for senior software engineers overall is $114,494 per year, translating to an hourly rate of $55.05.
Table of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging, and while salary should not be the sole consideration, it plays a crucial role in your decision-making process. For those aspiring to become senior software engineers, understanding the highest-paying roles can help shape your career trajectory.
Here are the top salary figures for various senior software engineering positions:
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Software Engineering Manager
Average Salary: $140,929
A Software Engineering Manager leads teams focused on software and application development. Responsibilities include designing software applications, producing progress reports, and assessing team performance, while ensuring adherence to company policies and goals.
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Staff Software Engineer
Average Salary: $136,653
A Staff Software Engineer develops and optimizes software for efficiency, while also mentoring team members in software and cloud development techniques.
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Principal Software Engineer
Average Salary: $134,230
A Principal Software Engineer focuses on the technical aspects of projects, diagnosing and troubleshooting systems to enhance integration and efficiency.
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Software Engineer Lead
Average Salary: $125,565
A Software Engineer Lead manages team efforts in developing and testing software products and systems.
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Senior Systems Software Engineer
Average Salary: $122,275
A Senior Systems Software Engineer oversees network systems, resolving complex issues, managing IT personnel, and integrating new technologies.
Below is the complete table showing average salaries for various senior software engineering roles, followed by detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Senior Software Engineers
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Engineering Manager | |
| 2 | Staff Software Engineer | |
| 3 | Principal Software Engineer | |
| 4 | Software Engineer Lead | |
| 5 | Senior Systems Software Engineer | |
| 6 | Senior Software Development Engineer | |
| 7 | Lead Software Developer | |
| 8 | Software Engineer-Consultant | |
| 9 | Senior Engineer | |
| 10 | Senior Applications Engineer | |
| 11 | Software Systems Engineer | |
| 12 | Senior Quality Assurance Engineer | |
| 13 | Contract Software Engineer | |
| 14 | Software Engineer | |
| 15 | Software Quality Engineer | |
| 16 | Software Design Engineer | |
| 17 | Software Developer | |
| 18 | Software Test Engineer | |
| 19 | Lead Engineer | |
| 20 | Senior Test Engineer |
Methodology
Zippia utilizes publicly available data from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to generate salary estimates.
Our data science team also reviews job postings and company resources to acquire updated salary information for senior software engineers. Once the data is collected, a weighted average is calculated for each job title. For further details on our salary estimates, please refer to our detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Senior Software Engineer Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid senior software engineer job?
The highest-paid senior software engineer job is a Software Engineering Manager. With an average salary of $140,929 (approximately $67.75 hourly), this role involves managing teams that develop software applications.
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What is a good salary for a senior software engineer?
A good salary for a senior software engineer is $114,494 or higher. This figure represents the average salary for the role, and salaries can vary based on factors such as location and experience.
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Do Senior Software Engineer jobs pay well?
Yes, senior software engineer jobs are well-compensated. The average salary of $114,494 significantly exceeds the national average salary of approximately $44,225 per year.
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Where do senior software engineers earn the highest salaries?
Senior software engineers earn the most in Washington. In this state, the average salary is $129,229, while California, Oregon, and New York also offer competitive salaries averaging $130,711, $111,336, and $113,338, respectively.
Top cities for senior software engineer salaries include:
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San Francisco, CA – $139,625
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Seattle, WA – $130,235
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New York, NY – $113,574
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
