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Hourly Wage for Software Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Software Engineering Manager?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Engineering Manager in the United States is $82, which translates to an annual salary of about $169,538.

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): $94 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77 to $88 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $72 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Software Engineering Manager Salaries

A Software Engineering Manager'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 Engineering Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Engineering Manager'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 IV (7+ years): $148,888
  • Software Engineer V (7-10 years): $171,159
  • Software Engineering Manager (10+ years): $169,538
  • Software Engineering Director (10+ years): $214,158
  • VP of Software Engineering (10+ years): $241,484
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Software Engineer IV7+ years$148,888
Software Engineer V7-10 years$171,159
Software Engineering Manager10+ years$169,538
Software Engineering Director10+ years$214,158
VP of Software Engineering10+ years$241,484
View as Graph

How Do Software Engineering Managers 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 Engineering Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $187,712.
  • California: $187,000.
  • Massachusetts: $184,508.

Top Paying Cities for Software Engineering Manager

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: $213,838
  • San Francisco: $211,497
  • Oakland: $207,040

What Skills Can Increase a Software Engineering Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.75% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.66% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Docker (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.75%
Agile 3.66%
Docker 2.33%
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 Engineering Manager's salary.

  • Employment Authorization: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Experimenting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Mentoring Others: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Employment Authorization $176,320
4%
Experimenting $176,320
4%
Mentoring Others $176,320
4%
Get Latest Data

Software Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $189,788. While startup companies pay approximate $160,556.

Software Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $160,556
Growth Stage 51~500 $169,807
Established 501~5000 $183,274
Enterprise 5000+ $189,788

Software Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Software Engineering Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$211,922$102.025%
Aerospace & Defense$203,446$98.020%
Internet$203,446$98.020%
Energy & Utilities$194,969$94.015%
Pharmaceuticals$194,969$94.015%

How Education impacts an Software Engineering Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Engineering Manager 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 Engineering Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $154,371 and $162,936.

Software Engineering Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Engineering Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.6%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 45.9%
Masters 45.3%
Doctorate 4.6%
View as Graph

Software Engineering Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Engineering Manager'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 August 01, 2026
$159,706
Average $169,538/year
$183,384
$13,309
Average $14,128/month
$15,282
$3,071
Average $3,260/week
$3,527
$77
Average $82/hour
$88
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $183,384 $15,282 $3,527 $88
Average $169,538 $14,128 $3,260 $82
25th Percentile $159,706 $13,309 $3,071 $77

Most common benefits for Software Engineering Manager

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

Common company salaries for Software Engineering Manager

Here are companies hiring for Software Engineering Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Software Engineering Manager

1. What are the responsibilities of Software Engineering Manager?

Manages the design and development of software applications. Monitors the evaluations of user requirements and the development of build plans. Directs the work of engineers, including coding, debugging, testing, code review, and troubleshooting, to ensure best practices in software development. Requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

2. What are the skills of Software Engineering Manager

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.)

Leadership: Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.

2.)

Agile: Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.

3.)

Docker: Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.

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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