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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 January 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Engineering Manager in the United States is $81, which translates to an annual salary of about $169,512.

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
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $77 10% $72 90% $94 75% $88 $81 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Engineering Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $183,126 $15,261 $3,522 $88
Average $169,512 $14,126 $3,260 $81
25th Percentile $159,698 $13,308 $3,071 $77
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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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $165,850
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $166,289
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $167,315
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $168,487
  • Expert (over 8 years): $170,934
Levels Salary
Entry Level Software Engineering Manager$165,850
Intermediate Level Software Engineering Manager$166,289
Senior Level Software Engineering Manager$167,315
Specialist Level Software Engineering Manager$168,487
Expert Level Software Engineering Manager$170,934
$165,850 0 yr
$166,289 < 2 yrs
$167,315 2-4 yrs
$168,487 5-8 yrs
$170,934 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Engineering Manager 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: $187,684.
  • California: $186,972.
  • Massachusetts: $184,480.

Top Paying Cities for Software Engineering Managers

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: $213,805
  • San Francisco: $211,704
  • Oakland: $207,008

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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.75%
Agile 3.66%
Docker 2.33%
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
 $176,292
4%
Experimenting
 $176,292
4%
Mentoring Others
 $176,292
4%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $174,597
3%
Docker
 $174,597
3%
People Management
 $174,597
3%
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How Education impacts a Software Engineering Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Engineering Managers 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 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%
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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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$159,698
Average $169,512/year
$183,126
$13,308
Average $14,126/month
$15,261
$3,071
Average $3,260/week
$3,522
$77
Average $81/hour
$88
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $183,126 $15,261 $3,522 $88
Average $169,512 $14,126 $3,260 $81
25th Percentile $159,698 $13,308 $3,071 $77

Salaries of jobs related to Software Engineering Manager

Salary Trends for Software Engineering Manager

Salaries for a Software Engineering Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $151,464 in 2023 to around $150,573 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Engineering Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Engineering Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$151,464
2024
$151,952
2025
$150,573
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $151,464
2024 $151,952
2025 $150,573
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Engineering Manager

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