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Hourly Wage for Software Engineer IV Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Software Engineer IV?

As of September 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Engineer IV in the United States is $72, which translates to an annual salary of about $148,884.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67 to $76 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Software Engineer IV Salaries

A Software Engineer IV'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 IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Engineer IV'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 II (2-4 years): $105,084
  • Software Engineer III (4-7 years): $128,688
  • Software Engineer IV (7+ years): $148,884
  • Software Engineer V (7-10 years): $171,158
  • Software Engineering Manager (10+ years): $169,542
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Engineer II2-4 years$105,084
Software Engineer III4-7 years$128,688
Software Engineer IV7+ years$148,884
Software Engineer V7-10 years$171,158
Software Engineering Manager10+ years$169,542
View as Graph

How Do Software Engineer IV 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 IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $164,844.
  • California: $164,219.
  • Massachusetts: $162,030.

Top Paying Cities for Software Engineer IVs

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: $187,787
  • San Francisco: $185,731
  • Oakland: $181,817

What Skills Can Increase a Software Engineer IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 2.83% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Open Source (Mentioned in 3.66% Job Postings): Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit
  • Programming (Mentioned in 2.62% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 2.83%
Open Source 3.66%
Programming 2.62%
See More Skills

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 IV's salary.

  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Solution Design: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management $154,839
4%
Flexibility $153,351
3%
Solution Design $151,862
2%
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Software Engineer IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Engineer IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $166,384. While startup companies pay approximate $140,744.

Software Engineer IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $140,744
Growth Stage 51~500 $148,851
Established 501~5000 $160,665
Enterprise 5000+ $166,384

Software Engineer IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Engineer IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 49% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Software Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Engineer IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Engineer IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$186,105$89.025%
Pharmaceuticals$178,661$86.020%
Financial Services$171,217$82.015%
Insurance$171,217$82.015%
Biotechnology$163,772$79.010%

How Education impacts a Software Engineer IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Engineer IV enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Software Engineer IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $143,573 and $150,375.

Software Engineer IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Engineer IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.0%
Associates 1.5%
Bachelors 45.8%
Masters 44.0%
Doctorate 6.5%
View as Graph

Software Engineer IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Engineer IV'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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$138,339
Average $148,884/year
$158,821
$11,528
Average $12,407/month
$13,235
$2,660
Average $2,863/week
$3,054
$67
Average $72/hour
$76
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $158,821 $13,235 $3,054 $76
Average $148,884 $12,407 $2,863 $72
25th Percentile $138,339 $11,528 $2,660 $67

Most common benefits for Software Engineer IV

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Software Engineer IV

Here are companies hiring for Software Engineer IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Software Engineer IV

1. What are the responsibilities of Software Engineer IV?

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 highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Software Engineer IV

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Open Source: Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit

3.)

Programming: Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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