How to hire an associate software engineer

How to hire an associate software engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate software engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate software engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate software engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate software engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your associate software engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an associate software engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An associate software engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, associate software engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of associate software engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Associate Software Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Software Engineer	Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device... Show more	$28-49
   Software Analyst	A software analyst is responsible for creating and designing software programs and applications, as well as modifying existing ones for optimization according to business requirements. Software analysts work with the technical team to draw system codes, analyze programming languages, and ensure the stability and efficiency of software navigation by running multiple quality checks to the system... Show more	$29-47
   Lead Engineer	A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly... Show more	$28-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Python
   • C++
   • GIT
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • Linux
   • Scrum
   • Taking Care
   • Code Reviews
   • Front End
   • Spring Boot
   • Unix
   • Web Services
   • CSS

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
   • Grade homework papers and programs develop on HTML, JavaScript, JSP and XML.
   • Create web pages to store the Wiki information about the team using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
   • Utilize programming skills in PHP, HTML, MySQL and JavaScript.
   • Compile the code on both UNIX and Linux platforms and resolve the bugs.
   • Develop a web application independently using ASP.NET and integrate it with intuit QuickBooks payment API.

   More associate software engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate software engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An associate software engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, associate software engineers' average salary in hawaii is 42% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate software engineers 41% less than senior-level associate software engineers.
   • Certifications. An associate software engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an associate software engineer's salary.

   Average associate software engineer salary

   $78,981yearly

   $37.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate software engineer salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average associate software engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$93,242	$45
   2	New Jersey	$91,625	$44
   3	Delaware	$88,390	$43
   4	New York	$86,760	$42
   5	Texas	$81,840	$39
   6	Ohio	$81,380	$39
   7	Washington	$79,403	$38
   8	Missouri	$75,121	$36
   9	Illinois	$74,126	$36
   10	District of Columbia	$73,930	$36
   11	Connecticut	$73,595	$35
   12	Virginia	$72,309	$35
   13	Massachusetts	$72,228	$35
   14	Florida	$71,623	$34
   15	Maryland	$69,715	$34
   16	New Hampshire	$68,649	$33
   17	Georgia	$68,403	$33
   18	North Carolina	$67,508	$32
   19	South Carolina	$64,610	$31
   20	Indiana	$62,621	$30

   Average associate software engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$122,752	$59.02	1,125
   2	Wasabi Technologies	$117,634	$56.55
   3	Match Group	$117,634	$56.55	17
   4	The New York Times Company	$112,432	$54.05	10
   5	Walgreens	$111,715	$53.71	7
   6	JCPenney	$111,166	$53.45	1
   7	Cerner	$111,111	$53.42
   8	American Tower	$107,946	$51.90
   9	Morgan Stanley	$107,137	$51.51	35
   10	Move	$105,751	$50.84
   11	Kohl's	$104,413	$50.20	2
   12	Payscale	$104,256	$50.12
   13	Riot Games	$103,302	$49.66	16
   14	Moody's	$101,738	$48.91	5
   15	Goldman Sachs	$101,591	$48.84	11
   16	Belk	$101,354	$48.73	1
   17	BlackLine	$101,159	$48.63	3
   18	Zynga	$100,998	$48.56	8
   19	DemandTec	$100,493	$48.31
   20	NetSuite	$98,822	$47.51

4. Writing an associate software engineer job description

   An associate software engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an associate software engineer job description:

   Associate software engineer job description example

   As a member of our Software Engineering Group, we look first and foremost for people who are passionate around solving business problems through innovation and engineering practices. You'll be required to apply your depth of knowledge and expertise to all aspects of the software development lifecycle, as well as partner continuously with your many stakeholders on a daily basis to stay focused on common goals. We embrace a culture of experimentation and constantly strive for improvement and learning. You'll work in a collaborative, trusting, thought-provoking environment-one that encourages diversity of thought and creative solutions that are in the best interests of our customers globally.
   This role requires a wide variety of strengths and capabilities, including:
   BS/BA degree or equivalent experience Advanced knowledge of application, data, Java Spring Boot framework, SQL, and infrastructure architecture disciplines Understanding of architecture and design across all systems Working proficiency in developmental toolsets Knowledge of industry-wide technology trends and best practices Ability to work in large, collaborative teams to achieve organizational goals Passionate about building an innovative culture Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages Understanding of software skills such as business analysis, development, maintenance, and software improvement
   
   JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
   
   We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
   
   The health and safety of our colleagues, candidates, clients and communities has been a top priority in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. JPMorgan Chase was awarded the "WELL Health-Safety Rating" for all of our 6,200 locations globally based on our operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
   
   As a part of our commitment to health and safety, we have implemented various COVID-related health and safety requirements for our workforce. Employees are expected to follow the Firm's current COVID-19 or other infectious disease health and safety requirements, including local requirements. Requirements include sharing information including your vaccine card in the firm's vaccine record tool, and may include mask wearing. Requirements may change in the future with the evolving public health landscape. JPMorgan Chase will consider accommodation requests as required by applicable law.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find associate software engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate software engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit associate software engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit associate software engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with associate software engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate software engineer

   Once you've found the associate software engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new associate software engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an associate software engineer?