How much does a Software Engineer I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Engineer I in the United States is $81,657 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.
However, a Software Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,383
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,751 to $87,795
Key Factors That Influence Software Engineer I Salaries
A Software Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Software Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Software Engineer I's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Software Engineer I (0-2 years): $81,657
Software Engineer II (2-4 years): $105,085
Software Engineer III (4-7 years): $128,692
Software Engineer IV (7+ years): $148,892
Software Engineer V (7-10 years): $171,160
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Software Engineer I
0-2 years
$81,657
Software Engineer II
2-4 years
$105,085
Software Engineer III
4-7 years
$128,692
Software Engineer IV
7+ years
$148,892
Software Engineer V
7-10 years
$171,160
$81,657Software ...
$105,085Software ...
$128,692Software ...
$148,892Software ...
$171,160Software ...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Software Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Software Engineer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $90,411.
California: $90,068.
Massachusetts: $88,867.
District of Columbia$90,411
California$90,068
Massachusetts$88,867
Washington$88,541
New Jersey$88,508
Alaska$88,394
Connecticut$87,267
New York$86,810
Hawaii$85,348
Rhode Island$84,662
Maryland$84,197
Minnesota$83,560
Colorado$83,315
Illinois$83,233
Oregon$82,923
Delaware$82,694
New Hampshire$82,550
Virginia$82,229
Pennsylvania$81,290
Nevada$80,816
North Dakota$80,661
Michigan$80,416
Wisconsin$80,326
Vermont$80,146
Texas$79,648
Maine$79,616
Arizona$79,567
Ohio$79,509
Georgia$78,758
Indiana$78,383
Wyoming$78,309
Utah$78,195
Iowa$78,146
Kansas$77,754
Louisiana$77,639
North Carolina$77,599
Missouri$77,582
Florida$77,264
Montana$77,092
Nebraska$76,929
Kentucky$76,839
South Carolina$76,513
Tennessee$76,308
Idaho$76,227
New Mexico$75,631
Oklahoma$75,500
Alabama$75,018
South Dakota$74,210
Arkansas$73,769
West Virginia$73,532
Mississippi$72,822
Top Paying Cities for Software Engineer Is
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $102,994
San Francisco: $101,866
Oakland: $99,720
San Jose, CA$102,994
San Francisco, CA$101,866
Oakland, CA$99,720
New York, NY$94,019
Paramus, NJ$92,876
Queens Village, NY$92,872
Passaic, NJ$92,794
Bergenfield, NJ$92,787
Stamford, CT$92,607
Huntington, NY$92,574
Newark, NJ$91,970
Bridgeport, CT$91,798
Vallejo, CA$91,635
New Brunswick, NJ$91,603
Petaluma, CA$91,554
Middlesex, NJ$91,399
Somerset, NJ$91,342
Santa Cruz, CA$91,235
Boston, MA$90,737
Monterey, CA$90,451
Seattle, WA$90,264
Santa Rosa, CA$90,247
Los Angeles, CA$90,223
Juneau, AK$90,011
Washington, DC$89,921
Orange, CA$89,630
Santa Ana, CA$89,414
Long Beach, CA$89,333
Anaheim, CA$89,316
Anchorage, AK$89,276
Santa Maria, CA$89,031
Everett, WA$89,014
Danbury, CT$88,727
Bremerton, WA$88,614
Tacoma, WA$88,320
New Suffolk, NY$88,319
Sacramento, CA$88,296
Santa Barbara, CA$88,206
Trenton, NJ$88,116
San Diego, CA$88,116
Brockton, MA$88,026
Fairbanks, AK$87,826
Lompoc, CA$87,618
Lowell, MA$87,552
Ventura, CA$87,536
Nashua, NH$87,520
Stockton, CA$87,512
Modesto, CA$86,916
Poughkeepsie, NY$86,736
Olympia, WA$86,581
Kennewick, WA$86,581
New Haven, CT$86,548
Lawrence, MA$86,254
Hartford, CT$86,173
Riverside, CA$86,156
New Bedford, MA$86,075
Richland, WA$86,075
Bakersfield, CA$85,960
San Bernardino, CA$85,928
New Britain, CT$85,919
Atlantic City, NJ$85,919
New London, CT$85,887
Norwich, CT$85,862
Portsmouth, NH$85,846
Boulder, CO$85,673
Portland, OR$85,560
Worcester, MA$85,552
Minneapolis, MN$85,299
Philadelphia, PA$85,185
Honolulu, HI$84,915
Saint Paul, MN$84,876
Vineland, NJ$84,858
Providence, RI$84,621
Chicago, IL$84,384
Bellingham, WA$84,286
Springfield, MA$84,221
Baltimore, MD$84,197
Chico, CA$83,992
Pittsfield, MA$83,772
Manchester, NH$83,617
Spokane, WA$83,257
Denver, CO$83,249
Albany, NY$82,866
Troy, NY$82,833
Nassau, NY$82,745
Schenectady, NY$82,661
Wilmington, DE$82,596
Burlington, VT$82,482
Salem, OR$82,449
Portland, ME$82,196
Yakima, WA$82,114
Rochester, MN$81,861
Reno, NV$81,820
Fresno, CA$81,820
Milwaukee, WI$81,747
Detroit, MI$81,665
Ann Arbor, MI$81,651
Allentown, PA$81,641
Colorado Springs, CO$81,502
Syracuse, NY$81,461
Carson City, NV$81,461
Houston, TX$81,347
Eugene, OR$81,306
Gary, IN$81,208
Springfield, OR$81,143
Bismarck, ND$81,126
Galveston, TX$81,069
Medford, OR$80,947
Fort Collins, CO$80,914
Concord, NH$80,873
Austin, TX$80,849
Mesa, AZ$80,677
Reading, PA$80,669
Phoenix, AZ$80,661
Dallas, TX$80,636
Saint Cloud, MN$80,558
Madison, WI$80,448
Utica, NY$80,228
Rochester, NY$80,097
Des Moines, IA$80,089
Raleigh, NC$80,081
Atlanta, GA$79,959
Battle Creek, MI$79,934
Salt Lake City, UT$79,910
Lancaster, PA$79,787
Harrisburg, PA$79,673
Kansas City, MO$79,591
Champaign, IL$79,575
Kansas City, KS$79,575
Fort Worth, TX$79,567
Columbus, OH$79,553
Boca Raton, FL$79,534
Pittsburgh, PA$79,501
Richmond, VA$79,469
Indianapolis, IN$79,452
Cleveland, OH$79,444
Las Vegas, NV$79,346
Cincinnati, OH$79,346
Petersburg, VA$79,224
Huntsville, AL$79,101
Lansing, MI$79,046
Lebanon, PA$79,036
Pueblo, CO$79,028
Appleton, WI$79,003
Buffalo, NY$78,970
Dayton, OH$78,946
Racine, WI$78,930
Charlotte, NC$78,921
Saint Louis, MO$78,897
York, PA$78,848
Elkhart, IN$78,848
Gastonia, NC$78,832
Billings, MT$78,813
Beaumont, TX$78,791
Lorain, OH$78,775
Benton Harbor, MI$78,758
Toledo, OH$78,742
Binghamton, NY$78,701
Rock Hill, SC$78,693
Rockford, IL$78,652
Springfield, IL$78,619
Elyria, OH$78,611
Fargo, ND$78,611
Flagstaff, AZ$78,554
Fort Lauderdale, FL$78,505
Duluth, MN$78,456
Miami, FL$78,456
Cheyenne, WY$78,399
Grand Forks, ND$78,399
Bangor, ME$78,219
Cedar Rapids, IA$78,129
Durham, NC$78,095
Louisville, KY$78,089
Grand Rapids, MI$78,072
Hialeah, FL$78,064
Casper, WY$77,950
Scranton, PA$77,852
New Orleans, LA$77,827
Virginia Beach, VA$77,819
Akron, OH$77,778
Peoria, IL$77,672
Sarasota, FL$77,656
Nashville, TN$77,599
Omaha, NE$77,599
Green Bay, WI$77,599
Baton Rouge, LA$77,558
Charleston, SC$77,541
Jamestown, NY$77,501
Davenport, IA$77,501
Tucson, AZ$77,460
Saint Petersburg, FL$77,411
Tampa, FL$77,395
Evansville, IN$77,346
Port Arthur, TX$77,346
Bradenton, FL$77,313
Santa Fe, NM$77,166
Orlando, FL$77,019
Clearwater, FL$76,994
Canton, OH$76,823
La Crosse, WI$76,823
Albuquerque, NM$76,774
Newport News, VA$76,766
High Point, NC$76,741
Ogden, UT$76,709
Corpus Christi, TX$76,643
Norfolk, VA$76,594
Laramie, WY$76,594
Rock Island, IL$76,545
Saginaw, MI$76,529
Jacksonville, FL$76,521
Salisbury, NC$76,504
Boise, ID$76,488
Moline, IL$76,447
Fort Myers, FL$76,423
Memphis, TN$76,406
Tulsa, OK$76,366
Waterloo, IA$76,317
Spartanburg, SC$76,235
Lincoln, NE$76,194
Fort Wayne, IN$76,178
Provo, UT$76,170
Cedar Falls, IA$76,072
San Antonio, TX$76,039
Greensboro, NC$76,006
South Bend, IN$75,998
Savannah, GA$75,908
Muskegon, MI$75,876
Birmingham, AL$75,868
Winston Salem, NC$75,828
Lake Charles, LA$75,631
Anderson, IN$75,614
Lexington, KY$75,590
Augusta, GA$75,565
Greenville, SC$75,565
Lima, OH$75,500
Wichita, KS$75,492
Tuscaloosa, AL$75,492
Columbia, SC$75,418
Springfield, OH$75,402
Asheville, NC$75,271
Bloomington, IN$75,214
Knoxville, TN$74,920
Shreveport, LA$74,912
Wilmington, NC$74,806
Roanoke, VA$74,806
Topeka, KS$74,659
Frankfort, KY$74,650
Oklahoma City, OK$74,594
Chillicothe, OH$74,561
Longview, TX$74,553
Melbourne, FL$74,545
Sioux Falls, SD$74,414
Mobile, AL$74,406
Terre Haute, IN$74,373
Altoona, PA$74,324
Amarillo, TX$74,267
Killeen, TX$74,243
Fayetteville, AR$74,177
Chattanooga, TN$74,153
Sioux City, IA$74,079
Idaho Falls, ID$74,063
Lynchburg, VA$73,998
Gainesville, FL$73,891
Portsmouth, OH$73,851
Little Rock, AR$73,834
Lafayette, LA$73,802
Youngstown, OH$73,802
Daytona Beach, FL$73,753
Clarksville, TN$73,744
Pensacola, FL$73,736
Temple, TX$73,731
Hopkinsville, KY$73,491
Erie, PA$73,475
Florence, SC$73,442
Charleston, WV$73,312
Great Falls, MT$73,271
Macon, GA$73,157
Tallahassee, FL$73,148
Fayetteville, NC$73,132
Waco, TX$73,116
Helena, MT$73,059
Pine Bluff, AR$73,027
Vincennes, IN$72,928
Lubbock, TX$72,895
Alamogordo, NM$72,846
Twin Falls, ID$72,773
Rapid City, SD$72,748
Jackson, MS$72,601
Huntington, WV$72,596
Greenville, MS$72,593
Parkersburg, WV$72,510
Montgomery, AL$72,495
Wichita Falls, TX$72,413
Springfield, MO$72,413
Biloxi, MS$72,373
Monroe, LA$72,291
Johnstown, PA$72,234
Sumter, SC$72,201
Columbus, GA$72,193
Pascagoula, MS$72,038
Abilene, TX$72,038
Kingsport, TN$71,825
Albany, GA$71,825
Gulfport, MS$71,801
Alexandria, LA$71,532
Fort Smith, AR$71,327
El Paso, TX$71,107
Las Cruces, NM$70,739
Harlingen, TX$70,532
Pocatello, ID$70,519
Florence, AL$70,413
Brownsville, TX$70,396
Mcallen, TX$70,225
Dothan, AL$70,111
Columbus, MS$69,626
Altus, OK$69,245
Lawton, OK$69,090
Pierre, SD$68,796
What Skills Can Increase a Software Engineer I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 2.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Python (Mentioned in 4.66% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
Linux (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Managing a system's hardware and resources using a Unix-like open-source operating system.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
2.82%
Python
4.66%
Linux
2.71%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Software Engineer I's salary.
Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Code Review: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Kubernetes: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Coaching
$98,805
21%
Code Review
$90,639
11%
Kubernetes
$90,639
11%
Project Management
$90,639
11%
API
$90,639
11%
AWS
$90,639
11%
Get Latest Data
Software Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Software Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $91,333.
While startup companies pay approximate $77,240.
Software Engineer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$77,240
Growth Stage
51~500
$81,694
Established
501~5000
$88,199
Enterprise
5000+
$91,333
Software Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Software Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Biotechnology and Insurance
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average.
In contrast, Software Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Software Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Software Engineer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$102,071
$49.0
25%
Insurance
$97,988
$47.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$93,906
$45.0
15%
Internet
$93,906
$45.0
15%
Energy & Utilities
$89,823
$43.0
10%
How Education impacts a Software Engineer I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Software Engineer Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Software Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$78,103
and $82,080).
Software Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Software Engineer I
No Diploma0.3%
High School1.8%
Associates2.5%
Bachelors58.4%
Masters34.0%
Doctorate3.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.3%
High School
1.8%
Associates
2.5%
Bachelors
58.4%
Masters
34.0%
Doctorate
3.0%
view as graph
Software Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Software Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$74,751
Average$81,657/year
$87,795
$6,229
Average$6,805/month
$7,316
$1,438
Average$1,570/week
$1,688
$36
Average$39/hour
$42
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$87,795
$7,316
$1,688
$42
Average
$81,657
$6,805
$1,570
$39
25th Percentile
$74,751
$6,229
$1,438
$36
Software Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Software Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Software Engineer II role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$105,085 - a projected growth of
29%
over your current level.
Salaries for a Software Engineer I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $84,785 in 2023
to around $84,199 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Software Engineer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Software Engineer I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$84,785
2024
$84,887
2025
$84,199
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$84,785
2024
$84,887
2025
$84,199
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Software Engineer I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Software Engineer I
Here are companies hiring for Software Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Software Engineer I
1. Where can a Software Engineer I earn the most?
A Software Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Software Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Engineer I is $102,994.
2. What is the highest pay for Software Engineer I?
The highest pay for Software Engineer I is $93,383.
3. What is the lowest pay for Software Engineer I?
The lowest pay for Software Engineer I is $68,463.
4. What are the responsibilities of Software Engineer I?
Designs and develops software applications. Gathers and evaluates end-user requirements. Develops build plans. Performs coding, debugging, testing, code review, and troubleshooting throughout the software development lifecycle. Requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Engineer I?
The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Engineer I roles,
with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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