The national salary range for software engineers runs from $50,000 at the 10th percentile to $103,000 at the 90th percentile. Most offers for mid-level roles will fall between the 25th percentile of $65,000 and the 90th percentile of $103,000. Setting your offer within that band keeps you competitive for the majority of candidates without overpaying for entry-level talent.
Software engineer salary in the US (2026)
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Software engineer salary in the US (2026)
The average software engineer salary in the US is $148,100. The median of $82,460 is the more reliable anchor for most hiring decisions, because it reflects what the typical software engineer earns rather than being pulled upward by high earners at the top of the market. Geographic location and specialization drive wide variation in software engineer compensation, so your offer strategy should account for where your role sits relative to the national median.
Software engineer salary in the US (2026)
Metric | Value |
Average annual salary | $148,100 |
Median annual salary | $82,460 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,687,890 employed software engineers across the US.
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Software engineer salary percentiles
Percentile | Annual salary |
10th percentile | $50,000 |
25th percentile | $65,000 |
75th percentile | — |
90th percentile | $103,000 |
For most software engineer roles, anchoring your offer between $65,000 and $103,000 will cover the bulk of the market. The national average of $148,100 exceeds the 90th percentile of $103,000, which means a small number of very high earners are pulling the average up sharply — use the median and percentile range, not the average, when setting competitive offers for most positions.
How software engineer salaries compare across states
State | Average annual salary | Median annual salary |
California | $186,770 | $105,060 |
Washington | $171,040 | $96,810 |
New York | $163,820 | $97,430 |
Massachusetts | $161,730 | $102,810 |
Colorado | $150,940 | $96,480 |
Virginia | $146,340 | $83,350 |
Florida | $137,010 | $80,050 |
Illinois | $136,540 | $80,980 |
Texas | $136,450 | $82,600 |
Georgia | $132,150 | $80,110 |
If you are hiring software engineers remotely or across multiple states, your budget needs to flex significantly depending on where candidates are located. California commands the highest median at $105,060, while Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Georgia all cluster near $80,000 at the median — meaning a location-based pay strategy can produce real budget differences without sacrificing market competitiveness.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in the US
What is the salary range for a software engineer in the US?
What is the average software engineer salary in the US?
The average software engineer salary nationally is $148,100, but this figure sits well above the 90th percentile of $103,000. That gap tells you the average is being pulled up by a small number of very high earners. For most hiring decisions, the median of $82,460 is a more practical starting point for setting offers.
What do the top-earning software engineers make nationally?
Software engineers at the 90th percentile earn $103,000 annually. The national average of $148,100 exceeds that figure, which means when you compete for senior or specialized talent, you should expect compensation demands that go well beyond the 90th percentile threshold. Budget accordingly if your role requires deep expertise or targets candidates in high-cost markets like California or Washington.
Which states pay the most for software engineers?
California, Washington, New York, and Massachusetts pay the most for software engineers, with average annual salaries of $186,770, $171,040, $163,820, and $161,730 respectively. If you are hiring in any of these states, your compensation budget should reflect a meaningful premium over the national median of $82,460. Benchmarking against state-level medians rather than the national figure will help you build offers that are locally competitive.
More salary data
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, for Software Developers (SOC 15-1252).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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