Software engineer salary in 2025
Software engineers make $78K-$200K+ depending on experience — FAANG total comp reaches $300K-$700K. AI engineers earn 15-30% more. Compare salaries by company, language, and country.
- 1.Check Base Salary
- 2.Add Stock & Bonus
- 3.Adjust for Location
- 4.Factor Specialization
- 5.Read Total Comp
Key Takeaways
- →US median salary: $133,080/year or $64/hour (BLS, May 2024)
- →FAANG senior engineers earn $300K-$700K+ total comp including stock and bonuses
- →AI/ML engineers earn 15-30% more than traditional software engineers at every level
- →Job growth: 15% through 2034 — 129,200 openings per year (BLS)
How much do software engineers make?
Software engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $133,080 per year — or about $64 per hour (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024). Entry-level roles start around $78,000-$100,000. Senior engineers at top tech companies earn $300,000-$700,000+ in total compensation including stock and bonuses.
The field is growing 15% through 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations (BLS, 2024). That translates to roughly 129,200 new openings per year.
Formula: Total Compensation = Base Salary + Stock Awards + Annual Bonus + Signing Bonus
Related: True employment cost calculator · Freelance rate calculator · Consultant rate calculator
Entry-level software engineer salary
Entry-level software engineers (0-2 years of experience) earn $78,000-$100,000 per year in the US. In high-cost areas like San Francisco and Seattle, starting salaries reach $110,000-$130,000. At FAANG companies, entry-level total compensation starts at $150,000-$190,000 including stock and bonuses (ZipRecruiter, 2026; Levels.fyi, 2024).
Salary grows fast with experience:
- Mid-level (3-5 years): $110,000-$145,000 — can lead small features independently
- Senior (6-9 years): $150,000-$200,000 — owns system design, mentors juniors
- Staff / Principal (10+ years): $200,000-$350,000+ — architecture-level decisions
The biggest salary jump happens between mid-level and senior — a 30-40% increase on average. After senior, compensation growth shifts from base salary to stock awards and bonuses (Levels.fyi, 2024).
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024, Glassdoor 2025, ZipRecruiter 2026
Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft engineer salary
| Company | Avg Base Salary | Mid-Level Total Comp | Senior Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| $138,000 | $188,000-$250,000 | $350,000-$413,000 | |
| Meta | $153,000 | $195,000-$280,000 | $350,000-$500,000 |
| Amazon | $131,000 | $148,000-$220,000 | $300,000-$400,000 |
| Apple | $142,000 | $169,000-$240,000 | $300,000-$450,000 |
| Microsoft | $138,000 | $186,000-$250,000 | $300,000-$400,000 |
At FAANG companies, base salary is only 40-50% of total compensation. The rest comes from RSUs (restricted stock units), annual bonuses (15-25% of base), and signing bonuses ($20,000-$100,000+). Stock refreshers after year 2 can add another $50,000-$150,000 per year (Levels.fyi, 2024; PayScale, 2025).
Key insight: A senior engineer at Google earning $180K base might take home $400K+ when stock and bonuses are included.
Sources: Levels.fyi 2024, PayScale 2025, Indeed 2025, Glassdoor 2025
How much do AI engineers make?
| Role | Avg Base Salary | Total Comp (Mid-Level) | Total Comp (Senior) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Engineer | $153,000 | $180,000-$280,000 | $280,000-$450,000 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | $161,000 | $185,000-$300,000 | $300,000-$500,000 |
| MLOps / LLMOps Engineer | $145,000-$180,000 | $200,000-$320,000 | $320,000-$500,000 |
AI and ML engineers earn 15-30% more than traditional software engineers at the same experience level. The premium is driven by extreme demand — companies across every industry are racing to build AI products, but the talent pool of experienced ML engineers remains small (PeopleInAI, 2025).
- Entry-level AI engineers start at $95,000-$140,000 — already above the median for all software engineers
- Senior AI engineers at top companies routinely earn $400,000-$800,000+ in total compensation
- Hot specializations: LLM fine-tuning, Edge AI ($185,000-$360,000), and AI infrastructure are the highest-paid niches in 2025
Sources: PeopleInAI 2025, AI Speed Staffing 2025, Indeed 2025, Glassdoor 2025
Highest paying programming languages (2025)
| Language | Avg Annual Salary | Demand Level | Typical Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python | $126,000-$130,000 | Very high | AI/ML, data science, backend |
| Go | $140,000-$160,000 | High | Cloud infrastructure, DevOps |
| Rust | $140,000-$155,000 | Growing fast | Systems, blockchain, performance |
| Java | $115,000-$126,000 | Stable | Enterprise, Android, backend |
| JavaScript / TypeScript | $102,000-$111,000 | Very high | Web frontend/backend, full-stack |
| Swift (iOS) | $124,000-$130,000 | Moderate | iOS apps, Apple ecosystem |
| C++ | $120,000-$140,000 | Moderate | Game engines, embedded, finance |
Python and Go command the highest salaries because they power the two hottest areas: AI/ML and cloud infrastructure. JavaScript has the largest developer population, which pushes average salaries lower despite massive demand (Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 2024; VentureBeat, 2025).
Rule of thumb: Specializing in a language used for AI, infrastructure, or systems programming pays 15-25% more than general web development.
Sources: Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2024, VentureBeat 2025, GeeksforGeeks 2025
Software engineer salary in India, Europe, and the US
| Country | Avg Annual Salary (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $130,000-$148,000 | Highest globally, especially in Bay Area, Seattle, NYC |
| Canada | $85,000-$120,000 CAD ($63K-$89K USD) | Toronto and Vancouver are top hubs |
| United Kingdom | £49,000-£71,000 ($62K-$90K USD) | London pays 15-35% above national average |
| Germany | €50,000-€70,000 ($54K-$76K USD) | Berlin and Munich are leading hubs |
| Australia | $100,000-$140,000 AUD ($65K-$91K USD) | Sydney and Melbourne dominate |
| India | ₹8L-₹35L ($10K-$42K USD) | Bangalore averages ₹35L, 4x other cities |
The US pays 2-3x more than Western Europe and 10x more than India for equivalent experience. However, purchasing power parity narrows the gap — a senior engineer earning €70,000 in Berlin has similar living standards to one earning $130,000 in Austin (Glassdoor, 2025; Ravio, 2025).
Remote work trend: US companies hiring remote engineers in lower-cost regions typically pay 60-80% of US rates — still a premium over local salaries.
Sources: BLS 2024, Glassdoor 2025, Ravio 2025, UpGrad 2025
Software engineer vs software developer
| Factor | Software Engineer | Software Developer |
|---|---|---|
| Median salary | $133,080 (BLS) | $127,260 (BLS) |
| Scope | System design, architecture, scalability | Feature implementation, coding |
| Typical companies | FAANG, enterprise, infrastructure | Startups, agencies, product teams |
| Education | Often CS degree or equivalent | Degree, bootcamp, or self-taught |
| Job growth | 15% through 2034 | 15% through 2034 |
In practice, the titles are often interchangeable. The salary difference of ~$6,000 reflects the fact that "software engineer" titles are more common at larger, higher-paying companies, while "software developer" is used more at mid-size firms and agencies. The actual work and skills overlap by 90%+ (BLS, 2024).
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024, Glassdoor 2025
What affects how much a software engineer makes?
Where do software engineers get paid the most?
San Francisco, Seattle, and New York pay 20-40% more than the national median. Remote work has compressed this gap, but geographic premiums persist for on-site roles.
Do software engineers need a CS degree?
A computer science degree from a top university correlates with 10-15% higher starting salary, though the gap narrows after 5+ years of experience. Bootcamp graduates start lower but reach parity within 3-4 years. Google, Apple, and IBM have dropped degree requirements.
Does specialization matter for salary?
AI/ML, cloud infrastructure, and security engineering pay 15-30% premiums over general software engineering. LLMs, Kubernetes, and distributed systems are the highest-demand specializations in 2025.
Do startups or big companies pay more?
FAANG and late-stage unicorns pay 50-100%+ more in total compensation than Series A startups. But equity at early-stage startups can exceed FAANG total comp if the company succeeds.
Should software engineers negotiate salary?
Engineers who negotiate earn $5,000-$30,000 more on average. At senior levels, negotiation can swing total compensation by $50,000-$100,000+ through stock and bonus adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
How much does a software engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for a software engineer in the US is $133,080 (BLS, May 2024). Entry-level engineers earn $78,000-$100,000, mid-level $110,000-$145,000, and senior engineers $150,000-$200,000+. At FAANG companies, total compensation for senior roles reaches $300,000-$700,000.
How much does a software engineer make per hour?
The median hourly rate is $64/hour (BLS, 2024). Entry-level engineers earn about $38-$48/hour, mid-level $53-$70/hour, and senior $72-$100+/hour. Freelance software engineers charge $70-$200/hour depending on specialization and location (Index.dev, 2025).
How much does an entry-level software engineer make?
Entry-level software engineers (0-2 years) earn $78,000-$100,000 per year in the US. In high-cost areas like San Francisco and Seattle, starting salaries can reach $110,000-$130,000. FAANG entry-level total comp starts at $150,000-$190,000 including stock and bonuses (ZipRecruiter, 2026; Levels.fyi, 2024).
Is AI engineering the highest-paid software job?
Yes — AI engineers earn an average base salary of $153,000 per year, 15-30% more than traditional software engineers. Senior AI engineers at top companies earn $400,000-$800,000+ in total compensation (PeopleInAI, 2025).
Is software engineering a good career?
Yes — software engineering is one of the highest-paying careers accessible without an advanced degree. The median salary of $133,080 is more than double the US median for all occupations ($48,060). Job growth of 15% through 2034 means strong demand for at least a decade. The main tradeoffs: high mental demands, fast-moving technology, and potential burnout (BLS, 2024).
What is the highest paying programming language?
Go and Rust developers earn the highest average salaries at $140,000-$160,000 per year, driven by demand in cloud infrastructure and systems programming. Python follows at $126,000-$130,000, boosted by AI/ML demand. JavaScript, despite being the most popular language, averages $102,000-$111,000 due to its larger developer supply (Stack Overflow, 2024).
How much do Google software engineers make?
Google software engineers earn an average base salary of $138,000. Total compensation ranges from $188,000 at entry level (L3) to $413,000+ at senior level (L5). Staff engineers (L6) and above can earn $500,000-$1M+ in total compensation. About 40-50% of total comp comes from RSUs (Levels.fyi, 2024).
How much do software engineers make in California?
California software engineers earn an average of $151,000-$160,000 per year — 15-20% above the national median. In San Francisco and San Jose specifically, median salaries reach $170,000-$180,000. However, California's high cost of living (especially Bay Area housing at $3,000-$5,000/month for rent) offsets much of the premium (BLS, 2024; Glassdoor, 2025).
Do software engineers need a degree?
Not always. While 65% of software engineers hold at least a bachelor's degree, major companies including Google, Apple, and IBM have dropped degree requirements. Bootcamp graduates reach equivalent salaries within 3-4 years (BLS, 2024; HackerRank, 2024).
What is the job outlook for software engineers?
Software engineering jobs are projected to grow 15% between 2024 and 2034 — much faster than the 4% average for all occupations. This will create roughly 129,200 openings per year. Demand is strongest in AI/ML, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The job market remains competitive but has shifted from the hyper-growth of 2020-2021 to more sustainable hiring (BLS, 2024).
How much do remote software engineers make?
Remote software engineers typically earn 85-100% of on-site salaries at the same company. US companies hiring remote engineers in lower-cost regions often pay 60-80% of Bay Area rates — still a strong premium over local salaries in most markets. Fully remote positions average $120,000-$150,000 per year, with senior remote roles at $180,000-$250,000+ (Glassdoor, 2025).
How much do freelance software engineers charge per hour?
Freelance software engineers in the US charge $70-$200 per hour depending on specialization and experience. AI/ML specialists charge $100-$200+/hour. General web developers charge $50-$100/hour. Offshore freelancers in Eastern Europe charge $40-$70/hour, and in Southeast Asia $20-$50/hour (Index.dev, 2025; Gun.io, 2025).