The salary range for a software engineer in New York runs from $97,430 at the 10th percentile to $224,590 at the 90th percentile. The middle half of the market falls between $127,160 and $205,540, which is the most useful band for setting offers on mid-level roles. Use the seniority and specialization of your open position to decide where within that range to anchor your offer.
Software engineer salary in New York (2026)
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The average software engineer salary in New York is $163,820 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $166,180 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New York employs 113,510 software engineers, and the $2,360 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior software engineers in New York typically earn around $97,430, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $224,590 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a software engineer hire in New York, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $166,180 |
Average Annual Salary | $163,820 |
vs. National Average | 10.6% above the national mean of $148,100 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 113,510 employed software engineers across New York.
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Software engineer salary percentiles in New York
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $97,430 |
25th Percentile | $127,160 |
75th Percentile | $205,540 |
90th Percentile | $224,590 |
When setting an offer for a software engineer in New York, the $127,160 to $205,540 band covers the middle half of the market and gives you a defensible range for most mid-level hires. Senior specialists in New York regularly reach $224,590 and beyond, so budget accordingly if the role demands deep technical expertise.
Software engineer salary by city in New York
City | Average Annual Salary |
New York City | $165,870 |
Syracuse | $130,980 |
Albany | $129,180 |
Buffalo | $128,580 |
Rochester | $123,620 |
Location has a meaningful impact on what you will need to offer a software engineer in New York. New York City commands an average of $165,870, while Rochester sits at $123,620, a difference of more than $42,000 per year. If your role is remote or based outside the metro area, you have room to set a lower anchor without falling outside market norms.
How New York compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New York | $163,820 | $166,180 |
California | $186,770 | $174,410 |
Massachusetts | $161,730 | $165,210 |
New Jersey | $143,800 | $135,940 |
Texas | $136,450 | $132,150 |
Pennsylvania | $128,110 | $126,550 |
Hiring a software engineer in New York puts you in a high-cost market, but not the highest in the region. California leads at $186,770 mean annual salary, while New York sits at $163,820 and Massachusetts trails closely at $161,730. New Jersey, Texas, and Pennsylvania all come in meaningfully lower, so if your team is distributed, those states offer room to reduce your compensation budget without sacrificing access to talent.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in New York
What is the salary range for a software engineer in New York?
What is the average software engineer salary in New York?
The average software engineer salary in New York is $163,820 per year. The median sits slightly higher at $166,180, which means a small number of high earners pull the average down relative to the midpoint. For most hiring decisions, the median is the more reliable benchmark to use when building your compensation offer.
How does New York compare to other states for software engineer salary?
New York pays software engineers above the national mean of $148,100 by 10.6%, placing it among the higher-paying states in the country. California leads comparable states at $186,770, while Massachusetts is close to New York at $161,730. If you are hiring remotely and considering candidates in Texas or Pennsylvania, you may be able to offer $136,450 or $128,110 respectively and remain competitive in those local markets.
What do the top-earning software engineers make in New York?
Software engineers at the 90th percentile in New York earn $224,590 per year. Senior specialists in highly competitive roles regularly reach and exceed that level, so treat it as a threshold rather than a ceiling when budgeting for top-tier talent. If you are competing for candidates with deep specialization or leadership experience, plan for offers that push into or beyond that range.
Software Engineer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers).
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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