Software Engineer Salary: Your 2024 Guide

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Learn how much software engineers can make and factors that affect their salaries.

[Featured image] A software engineer is sitting at a desk with a laptop in front of them.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 17 percent job growth in the software engineering field between 2023 and 2033 [1]. This rate is substantially faster than the average across all US jobs, making it an excellent time to start or advance your career in this field. Use the following article to compare software engineer salaries in the United States by level of experience, location, and area of expertise. Then, read on to learn about in-demand skills you can use to increase your salary and advance your career.

Read more: Software Engineer Career Path 2024

Software engineer salary

In the US, software engineers earn an average salary of $161,000 [2]. They can also earn between $33,000 and $62,000 in additional pay, which may include bonuses, profit-sharing, or commissions. Software engineer salaries vary depending on the factors described in each section below.

Specialization

Since modern businesses rely on technology to manage daily operations, software engineers can work in nearly every industry. Software engineering also branches out into many different disciplines, such as cloud computing and mobile app development. The following salary insights by job role, popular technologies, and fields of expertise were sourced from Glassdoor in October 2024:

Read more: 4 Cloud Computing Career Paths to Know in 2024

Location

Although many software engineers work remotely, location can still impact yearly salary. Remember that the cost of living also plays a role in pay. The top five highest-paying states for software engineers include:

1. California

2. Texas

3. New York

4. Washington

5. Virginia

You can learn more about software engineer salary and employment rate by state by checking out Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers.

Education

Seventy-three percent of software engineers have a bachelor's degree, 20 percent have a master's, and four percent have an associate degree [3]. Most commonly, software engineers pursue degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or information technology. If earning a degree is not part of your plans, you have other options.

A recent study shows 70 percent of companies chose to adopt skills-based hiring methods in 2023 [4]. Employers may prefer candidates with hands-on experience or accept micro-credentials such as certifications and certificates in lieu of a degree.

Read more: What is Computer Science? Meaning, Jobs, and Degrees

You can qualify for an entry-level software engineering job in as little as four months by completing the Amazon Junior Software Developer Professional Certificate program. You'll learn full-stack development using industry-standard languages and tools like JavaScript, SQL, and generative AI.

In-demand skills for software engineers

Developing in-demand skills may help you increase your current salary, so it's essential for software engineers to stay up-to-date on technology trends and advancements. To get started, you can subscribe to the Career Chat LinkedIn newsletter for weekly briefings on career advancement and emerging tech. Here are a few skills to consider building:

  • MERN stack is a popular framework among full-stack developers, well known for its versatility.

  • Generative AI. The demand for AI literacy has risen in the last couple of years. According to a survey by StackOverflow, 76% of developers use or plan to use AI tools in their workflow [5]. Being able to effectively and ethically leverage AI to increase your productivity is a desirable skill that may help you stand out as a job candidate. You can learn from the experts at IBM while earning a certificate for your study by enrolling in the Generative AI for Software Development Specialization:

Read more: 7 Tips for Sharpening Software Developer Skills

Software engineer salary based on experience

The following annual salary insights were sourced from Glassdoor in October 2024:

  • Entry level (0-1 year): $132,000

  • Junior (1-3 years): $150,000

  • Intermediate (4-6 years): $171,000

  • Senior (7-9 years): $190,000

Top companies hiring software engineers

The following list outlines the average yearly salary range for major tech companies hiring software engineers:

  • Amazon software engineer: $171,000 to $250,000

  • Google software engineer: $212,000-$301,000

  • IBM software engineer: $120,000 to $170,000

  • Microsoft software engineer: $175,000 to $242,000

Read more: Top 5 Entry-Level Computer Science Jobs + How to Get One

Advance your software engineering career with Coursera

Prepare for a junior role as a software engineer by earning the Amazon Junior Developer Professional Certificate. You'll gain foundational knowledge of popular programming languages as well as in-demand skills like generative AI in as little as four months:

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, consider the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of London. Earning your BSc virtually allows you to work at your own pace and earn career credentials for a fraction of the cost of in-person education.

Article sources

1. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm." Accessed October 22, 2024.

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