The salary of a Senior Software Engineer in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Senior Software Engineer in the United States is $131,400. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $119,400 to $144,200, with most professionals earning between $108,475 and $155,854.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $144,200 | $12,017 | $2,773 | $69 |
| Average | $131,400 | $10,950 | $2,527 | $63 |
| 25th Percentile | $119,400 | $9,950 | $2,296 | $57 |
An entry-level Senior Software Engineer with less than 1 year of experience earns about $121,719. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $122,533. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $124,160. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $130,093, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $133,236.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Senior Software Engineer | $121,719 |
| Intermediate Level Senior Software Engineer | $122,533 |
| Senior Level Senior Software Engineer | $124,160 |
| Specialist Level Senior Software Engineer | $130,093 |
| Expert Level Senior Software Engineer | $133,236 |
| Entry Level | 7% |
| Mid Level | 7% |
| Senior Level | 6% |
| Top Level | 1% |
| Experienced | 1% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Senior Software Engineer compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $126,969 in 2023 to approximately $127,220 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Senior Software Engineer salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Senior Software Engineer information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Senior Software Engineer job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Senior Software Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $131,400 | 69.3% | ||
| Bonus | $6,400 | 3.4% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $10,542 | 5.6% | ||
| 401K/403B | $5,788 | 3.1% | ||
| Disability | $2,756 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 4.4% | ||
| Pension | $7,441 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $16,960 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $189,639 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 2.0% |
| Associates | 1.4% |
| Bachelors | 46.1% |
| Masters | 44.2% |
| Doctorate | 6.0% |
What Am I Worth?
The salary for a Senior Software Engineer with around 10 years of experience typically ranges from $118,700 to $143,500, with a midpoint of $130,700. This reflects the competitive compensation in the industry for experienced professionals in this role.
Do software engineers make 300K a year? While some software engineers can earn high salaries, the typical range for a Senior Software Engineer is between $118,700 and $143,500 annually. Achieving a salary of $300K usually requires advancing to executive-level positions, such as vice president or senior vice president, within a company.
The percentage of Americans making $70,000 is relatively low compared to the salary range for Senior Software Engineers, which starts at $118,700. This indicates that a significant portion of the workforce earns below the entry-level salary for this profession, highlighting the disparity in earnings across different job sectors.
While the salary data for a Senior Software Engineer shows a range from $118,700 to $143,500, it's important to note that in certain high-demand areas and at top tech companies, salaries can exceed $200k. Major cities and successful startups often offer competitive compensation packages that can push total earnings beyond that threshold.
The Senior Software Engineer position offers competitive salaries, with a minimum of $118,700, a mid-range salary of $130,700, and a maximum of $143,500. This role typically commands higher compensation compared to many other engineering positions, making it one of the most lucrative fields in the engineering sector.
A Senior Software Engineer with 7 years of experience in the US typically earns between $118,700 and $143,500, with a mid-salary of around $130,700. This reflects the competitive nature of the industry and the value placed on experienced professionals.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
