Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of software engineers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of software engineers:
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Staff Software Engineer is the highest-paid type of software engineer with an average salary of $136,653 and an average hourly rate of $65.70.
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The second highest-paying type of software engineer is principal software engineer, with an average salary of $134,230.
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The average software engineer salary is $100,260 per year, and the average hourly pay is $48.20.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a software engineer, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of software engineers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of software engineers:
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Staff Software Engineer
Average Salary: $136,653
A Staff Software Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and repairing company software for maximum efficiency and usability. They instruct and mentor their team members in software development techniques and cloud development.
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Principal Software Engineer
Average Salary: $134,230
A Principal Software Engineer is responsible for the technical aspects of an organization’s projects. They diagnose, document, and troubleshoot systems to resolve problems identified through testing, as well as implement strategies to improve integration and efficiency.
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Software Engineer Lead
Average Salary: $125,565
A Software Engineer Lead is focused on developing and testing software programs. They manage a team of software engineers that design enterprise software products and operating systems.
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Senior Systems Software Engineer
Average Salary: $122,275
A senior systems software engineer is a professional responsible for managing a firm’s computer network systems. The professional’s roles include resolving complex application and network issues through the development of new solutions, overseeing systems developers and other information technology (IT) personnel, and integrating new technology. The job requires proficiency in the MySQL, Python, and Linux programming languages and excellent skills in organizational and time management and communication. The education requirements for the job include a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field.
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Senior Software Development Engineer
Average Salary: $116,926
A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company’s policies and regulations.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various software engineer that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Software Engineers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for software engineers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Software Engineer Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid software engineer job?
The highest-paid software engineer job is a staff software engineer. Staff Software Engineers earn an average salary of $136,653, which is $ 65.70 hourly.
A Staff Software Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and repairing company software for maximum efficiency and usability. They instruct and mentor their team members in software development techniques and cloud development.
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What is a good salary for a software engineer?
A good salary for a software engineer is $100,260 or more. The average software engineer salary is $100,260, so those making at least $100,260 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average software engineer salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a software engineer, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $100,260 average, as this includes all software engineers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Software Engineer jobs pay well?
Yes, software engineer jobs pay well. As in any industry, some software engineer jobs pay better than others, but the average software engineer salary of $100,260 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many software engineer jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of software engineers earning $0 a year on average.
Software Engineers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a software engineer. Do your research on the going rate for a software engineer in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do software engineers get paid the most?
Software Engineers get paid the most in Washington. In Washington, software engineers earn an average annual salary of $112,080 and an average hourly wage of $53.88.
Following WA, the states with the highest-paid software engineers are California, Oregon, and New York, with average annual salaries of $115,477, $91,473, and $92,846 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid software engineer salaries are:
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San Bruno, CA – $126,992
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Seattle, WA – $113,141
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New York, NY – $93,074
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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.
