Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Software development engineer lead salary
Average software development engineer lead salary
$119,557
Understanding the Salary of Software Development Engineer Leads
The average salary of a Software Development Engineer Lead stands at $119,557 per year as of October 2025. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, software leads in tech hubs like Silicon Valley may see higher compensation compared to their counterparts in other regions.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed the national average significantly, reflecting the demand for skilled engineers in these areas. Moreover, cities such as San Francisco and Seattle are known for offering some of the highest salaries in this field, making them attractive locations for software professionals.
Career Opportunities
For those looking to advance their careers, seeking positions in established tech companies or startups can provide lucrative opportunities. Additionally, continuing education and certifications can lead to higher-paying roles within the industry, further enhancing salary prospects. Overall, a Software Development Engineer Lead plays a pivotal role in software projects, and understanding the factors influencing their salary can assist candidates in making informed career choices.
Let Zippia find your next software development engineer lead job
Let Zippia find your next software development engineer lead job
Where can a Software Development Engineer Lead earn more?
Average software development engineer lead salary by state
The average software development engineer lead salary in Washington, California, and Utah are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average software development engineer lead salary states are Minnesota, Kansas, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for software development engineers lead
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $153,013 | $73.56 |
| 2 | California | $140,936 | $67.76 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,870 | $62.44 |
| 4 | Utah | $131,181 | $63.07 |
| 5 | Vermont | $123,417 | $59.34 |
| 6 | Delaware | $120,818 | $58.09 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $132,149 | $63.53 |
| 8 | Montana | $112,100 | $53.89 |
| 9 | Nevada | $111,199 | $53.46 |
| 10 | Idaho | $113,735 | $54.68 |
| 11 | Alaska | $116,789 | $56.15 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $110,798 | $53.27 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $116,043 | $55.79 |
| 14 | New York | $123,795 | $59.52 |
| 15 | Texas | $109,685 | $52.73 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $113,395 | $54.52 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $108,167 | $52.00 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $105,614 | $50.78 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $115,076 | $55.33 |
| 20 | Maryland | $119,136 | $57.28 |
| 21 | Arizona | $110,632 | $53.19 |
| 22 | Michigan | $103,924 | $49.96 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $107,210 | $51.54 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $108,970 | $52.39 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $115,578 | $55.57 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $108,295 | $52.06 |
| 27 | Virginia | $107,482 | $51.67 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $101,758 | $48.92 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $112,530 | $54.10 |
| 30 | Maine | $108,330 | $52.08 |
| 31 | Iowa | $103,809 | $49.91 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $101,249 | $48.68 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $103,200 | $49.62 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $103,164 | $49.60 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $103,290 | $49.66 |
| 36 | Colorado | $103,386 | $49.70 |
| 37 | Illinois | $104,311 | $50.15 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $100,089 | $48.12 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $106,008 | $50.97 |
| 40 | Georgia | $102,489 | $49.27 |
| 41 | Alabama | $101,065 | $48.59 |
| 42 | Ohio | $100,011 | $48.08 |
| 43 | Kansas | $98,444 | $47.33 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $102,291 | $49.18 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $98,611 | $47.41 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $97,700 | $46.97 |
| 47 | Missouri | $100,857 | $48.49 |
| 48 | Florida | $100,005 | $48.08 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $98,150 | $47.19 |
| 50 | Indiana | $95,719 | $46.02 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $96,080 | $46.19 |
Highest paying cities for software development engineers lead
The highest-paying cities for software development engineers lead are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $154,047 | $74.06 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $152,047 | $73.10 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $132,190 | $63.55 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $129,667 | $62.34 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $124,088 | $59.66 |
| 6 | Newark, DE | $120,862 | $58.11 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $116,001 | $55.77 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $115,614 | $55.58 |
| 9 | Columbia, SC | $115,146 | $55.36 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $110,484 | $53.12 |
| 11 | Cary, NC | $109,503 | $52.65 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $108,047 | $51.95 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $107,521 | $51.69 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $104,650 | $50.31 |
| 15 | Brookfield, WI | $103,382 | $49.70 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $103,283 | $49.66 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $102,261 | $49.16 |
| 18 | OFallon, MO | $101,253 | $48.68 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $100,187 | $48.17 |
| 20 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $100,070 | $48.11 |
Software development engineer lead salary details
A software development engineer lead's salary ranges from $91,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $155,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a software development engineer lead's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $155,000 | $12,917 | $75 |
| 75th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| Average | $119,557 | $9,963 | $57 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| 10th Percentile | $91,000 | $7,583 | $44 |
Highest paying software development engineer lead jobs
The highest paying types of software development engineers lead are staff software engineer, software development manager, and principal software engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Architect | $114,406 | $9,534 | $55.00 | 319,594 |
| Lead Engineer | $84,927 | $7,077 | $40.83 | 301,777 |
| Design, Development | $93,226 | $7,769 | $44.82 | 280,910 |
| Principal Software Engineer | $134,230 | $11,186 | $64.53 | 345,893 |
| Software Engineer-Consultant | $113,987 | $9,499 | $54.80 | 317,033 |
| Staff Software Engineer | $136,653 | $11,388 | $65.70 | 371,213 |
Top companies hiring software development engineers lead now:
Which companies pay software development engineers lead the most?
Software development engineer lead salaries at PitchBook Data and Microsoft are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average software development engineer lead salary at companies like OpenGov and Unify Square are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PitchBook Data | $167,345 | $80.45 |
| 2 | Microsoft | $156,147 | $75.07 |
| 3 | OpenGov | $155,516 | $74.77 |
| 4 | Unify Square | $148,276 | $71.29 |
| 5 | AEA Investors | $144,899 | $69.66 |
| 6 | DocuSign | $141,442 | $68.00 |
| 7 | Cantaloupe | $140,644 | $67.62 |
| 8 | Remitly | $140,482 | $67.54 |
| 9 | Starbucks | $139,726 | $67.18 |
| 10 | Activision Blizzard | $138,410 | $66.54 |
| 11 | LivingSocial | $138,377 | $66.53 |
| 12 | RealNetworks | $138,257 | $66.47 |
| 13 | Barclays | $138,045 | $66.37 |
| 14 | Gap Inc. | $137,920 | $66.31 |
| 15 | Citi | $137,584 | $66.15 |
| 16 | Smartsheet | $136,457 | $65.60 |
| 17 | Amazon | $135,103 | $64.95 |
| 18 | MPG | $134,294 | $64.56 |
| 19 | Glooko | $134,243 | $64.54 |
| 20 | Adobe | $133,879 | $64.36 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Software development engineer lead salary trends
The average software development engineer lead salary has risen by $22,195 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average software development engineer lead earned $97,362 annually, but today, they earn $119,557 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for software development engineers lead over the last decade.
Compare software development engineer lead salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average software development engineer lead salary over time
Compare software development engineer lead salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Software development engineer lead salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $120,000 | $57.48 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $116,000 | $55.59 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $113,000 | $54.33 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $111,000 | $53.37 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $109,000 | $52.47 | +1.8% |
Recently added software development engineer lead salaries
Software development engineer lead salary FAQs
Search for software development engineer lead jobs