How to hire a software engineer

How to hire a software engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 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 a software engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new software engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a software engineer do?

Post a software engineer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a software engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A software engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of software engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Software Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   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	$35-65
   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
   Software Consultant	A software consultant is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the technological content and system applications of an organization, ensuring its efficiency and optimal performance. Software consultants design software systems, following clients' specifications and business needs... Show more	$32-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Python
   • Software Development
   • Database
   • GIT
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • Linux
   • C
   • C++
   • API
   • CSS
   • Scrum
   • Spring Boot
   • UI

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage product releases, solve software bugs in a client/server environment, write UNIX shell scripts to manage development environments.
   • Manage responsive UI design, implementing complex, dynamic functionality.
   • Define continuous integration process and configure Jenkins build server to manage it.
   • Develop a python serial communication program to automate test procedures and verify proper operation.
   • Manage website/software/mobile applications by generating full scope requirements base upon PMI / SDLC guidance.
   • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.

   More software engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the software engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A software engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a software engineer in Kansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level software engineer. Additionally, a software engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average software engineer salary

   $100,260yearly

   $48.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level software engineer salary

   $73,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average software engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$126,992	$61
   2	Washington	$113,141	$54
   3	New York	$93,074	$45
   4	Oregon	$91,839	$44
   5	District of Columbia	$84,161	$40
   6	Arizona	$83,740	$40
   7	Massachusetts	$83,520	$40
   8	Virginia	$82,203	$40
   9	New Jersey	$82,155	$40
   10	Texas	$81,355	$39
   11	North Carolina	$79,096	$38
   12	Pennsylvania	$78,490	$38
   13	Minnesota	$76,098	$37
   14	Illinois	$75,952	$37
   15	Michigan	$74,612	$36
   16	Ohio	$74,590	$36
   17	Georgia	$74,229	$36
   18	Indiana	$72,911	$35
   19	Arkansas	$72,900	$35
   20	Florida	$71,875	$35

   Average software engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$174,309	$83.80	12
   2	BandPage	$158,055	$75.99
   3	Meta	$153,335	$73.72	3,651
   4	Airbnb	$153,070	$73.59	5
   5	Credit Karma	$152,581	$73.36	2
   6	Brex	$148,309	$71.30	13
   7	BitGo	$148,002	$71.15	12
   8	ByteDance	$147,866	$71.09	273
   9	Netflix	$147,779	$71.05	18
   10	Conning	$147,043	$70.69
   11	Wealthfront	$146,765	$70.56	9
   12	Apple	$146,613	$70.49	768
   13	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC	$146,595	$70.48	13
   14	TikTok	$146,303	$70.34	263
   15	Mixpanel	$145,994	$70.19	4
   16	Quora	$145,651	$70.02	10
   17	Jane Street	$145,558	$69.98	20
   18	StumbleUpon	$145,226	$69.82
   19	Nuxeo	$144,828	$69.63
   20	Upstart Network	$144,806	$69.62

4. Writing a software engineer job description

   A 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 a software engineer job description:

   Software engineer job description example

   In this role, the Software Engineer - Digital Rx (Hybrid Role) will perform and implement activities that impact upon digital channels related to consumer / patient pharmacy touchpoints / interactions in an Agile and Cloud (Azure) environment.
   
   Job Responsibilities Writes code that meets specifications. Develops software applications and tools. Completes programming and performs testing and debugging applications. Develops software applications and tools using Agile development methodologies. Participates actively in the design, architecture and create phases, to aim at producing high quality deliverables, working with existing architects where appropriate. Participates in the evaluation of compatibility of programs with existing communications hardware and software features. Develops professional expertise, applies company policies and procedures to resolve a variety of issues. Works on problems of moderate scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of a variety of factors. Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Strengthens productive internal/external working relationships. Receives general instructions on routine work, detailed instructions on new projects or assignments. Usually works with some supervision, conferring with higher-ups on unusual or complex matters. Demonstrates proficiency in several areas of the professional function. Has working knowledge of programming languages important to the organization. Effectively resolves problems and roadblocks as they occur. Has working knowledge of programming languages important to the organization. Interacts with internal and external peers and/or managers to exchange semi-complex information related to assigned activities. Acts as individual contributor as well as team member. Utilizes experience in order to identify problematic relationships. Anticipates, prevents and eliminates problems and creates efficient fixes. Gathers and updates necessary information and communicates to appropriate parties. Qualification: Bachelor's Degree and at least 2 years of Engineering, Software Engineering or similar field .experience OR High School/ GED and at least 4 years of Engineering, Software Engineering or similar field experience. Experience writing code for applications or automation. Experience with programming languages for online applications, microservices, APIs or mobile applications. Experience building, testing applications or automation. Knowledge of the Software Development Life Cycle. Experience creating coding solutions to fix moderate problems/issues. Willing to travel up to 5% of the time for business purposes (domestically and/or internationally). Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or similar field. Experience working in an Agile environment. At least 2+ years of progressively complex related experience. Experience identifying operational issues and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems. Web/backend Developer Previous experience with full stack development ranging from front-end user interfaces to back-end systems. Proficient in back-end languages like Java, Node/Typescript, etc. with exposure to performance optimization of high traffic & scalable services. Hands on with modern UI frameworks like React with good knowledge of front-end design pattern (stateless components, conditional rendering, controlled components, hooks etc.). Excellent knowledge of distributed SQL (e.g., Oracle, MySQL), NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra) design & consumption patterns. Have an exposure to implementation, capacity planning & performance tuning of Cloud technologies - Azure (ACS, AKS), Google, IBM, AWS or Cloud Foundry. Knowledge of software engineering best practices including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build process, testing & operations. An Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans
   
   About Walgreens Boots Alliance
   
   Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is a global leader in retail pharmacy, impacting millions of lives every day through dispensing medicines, and providing accessible, high-quality care. With more than 170 years of trusted healthcare heritage and innovation in community pharmacy, the company is meeting customers' and patients' needs through its convenient retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products.
   
   Including equity method investments, WBA has a presence in more than 25 countries, employs more than 450,000 people and has more than 21,000 stores.
   
   WBA's purpose is to help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives. The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business.
   
   WBA is included in FORTUNE's 2021 list of the World's Most Admired Companies . This is the 28th consecutive year that WBA or its predecessor company, Walgreen Co., has been named to the list.
   
   More company information is available at .

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find 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 software engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit software engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting software engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 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 software engineer

   Once you've selected the best software engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new software engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a software engineer?