Hourly Wage for Software Systems Engineer I Salary in the United States
What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Software Systems Engineer I?
As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Software Systems Engineer I in the United States is
$40, which translates to an annual salary of about $82,728.
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): $48 per hour
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36 to $44 per hour
Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Engineer I Salaries
A Software Systems 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 Systems Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Software Systems 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 Systems Engineer I (0-2 years): $82,728
Software Systems Engineer II (2-4 years): $101,584
Software Systems Engineer III (4-7 years): $117,848
Software Systems Engineer IV (7+ years): $144,243
Software Systems Engineer V (7-10 years): $165,276
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Software Systems Engineer I
0-2 years
$82,728
Software Systems Engineer II
2-4 years
$101,584
Software Systems Engineer III
4-7 years
$117,848
Software Systems Engineer IV
7+ years
$144,243
Software Systems Engineer V
7-10 years
$165,276
$82,728Software ...
$101,584Software ...
$117,848Software ...
$144,243Software ...
$165,276Software ...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Software Systems 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 Systems Engineer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Software Systems 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: $104,345
San Francisco: $103,202
Oakland: $101,027
San Jose, CA$104,345
San Francisco, CA$103,202
Oakland, CA$101,027
New York, NY$95,252
Paramus, NJ$94,094
Queens Village, NY$94,090
Passaic, NJ$94,011
Bergenfield, NJ$94,004
Stamford, CT$93,822
Huntington, NY$93,788
Newark, NJ$93,177
Bridgeport, CT$93,002
Vallejo, CA$92,837
New Brunswick, NJ$92,804
Petaluma, CA$92,755
Middlesex, NJ$92,597
Somerset, NJ$92,540
Santa Cruz, CA$92,432
Boston, MA$91,927
Monterey, CA$91,637
Seattle, WA$91,448
Santa Rosa, CA$91,431
Los Angeles, CA$91,406
Juneau, AK$91,191
Washington, DC$91,100
Orange, CA$90,806
Santa Ana, CA$90,587
Long Beach, CA$90,504
Anaheim, CA$90,488
Anchorage, AK$90,447
Santa Maria, CA$90,198
Everett, WA$90,182
Danbury, CT$89,891
Bremerton, WA$89,776
Tacoma, WA$89,479
New Suffolk, NY$89,477
Sacramento, CA$89,454
Santa Barbara, CA$89,363
Trenton, NJ$89,272
San Diego, CA$89,272
Brockton, MA$89,181
Fairbanks, AK$88,978
Lompoc, CA$88,767
Lowell, MA$88,700
Ventura, CA$88,684
Nashua, NH$88,668
Stockton, CA$88,660
Modesto, CA$88,056
Poughkeepsie, NY$87,874
Olympia, WA$87,716
Kennewick, WA$87,716
New Haven, CT$87,683
Lawrence, MA$87,386
Hartford, CT$87,303
Riverside, CA$87,286
New Bedford, MA$87,204
Richland, WA$87,204
Bakersfield, CA$87,088
San Bernardino, CA$87,055
New Britain, CT$87,046
Atlantic City, NJ$87,046
New London, CT$87,013
Norwich, CT$86,988
Portsmouth, NH$86,972
Boulder, CO$86,797
Portland, OR$86,682
Worcester, MA$86,674
Minneapolis, MN$86,418
Philadelphia, PA$86,302
Honolulu, HI$86,029
Saint Paul, MN$85,989
Vineland, NJ$85,971
Providence, RI$85,731
Chicago, IL$85,491
Bellingham, WA$85,392
Springfield, MA$85,326
Baltimore, MD$85,301
Chico, CA$85,094
Pittsfield, MA$84,871
Manchester, NH$84,713
Spokane, WA$84,349
Denver, CO$84,341
Albany, NY$83,952
Troy, NY$83,919
Nassau, NY$83,831
Schenectady, NY$83,746
Wilmington, DE$83,679
Burlington, VT$83,564
Salem, OR$83,530
Portland, ME$83,274
Yakima, WA$83,191
Rochester, MN$82,935
Reno, NV$82,893
Fresno, CA$82,893
Milwaukee, WI$82,819
Detroit, MI$82,736
Ann Arbor, MI$82,722
Allentown, PA$82,711
Colorado Springs, CO$82,571
Syracuse, NY$82,529
Carson City, NV$82,529
Houston, TX$82,414
Eugene, OR$82,372
Gary, IN$82,273
Springfield, OR$82,207
Bismarck, ND$82,190
Galveston, TX$82,132
Medford, OR$82,008
Fort Collins, CO$81,975
Concord, NH$81,934
Austin, TX$81,909
Mesa, AZ$81,735
Reading, PA$81,727
Phoenix, AZ$81,719
Dallas, TX$81,694
Saint Cloud, MN$81,614
Madison, WI$81,504
Utica, NY$81,280
Rochester, NY$81,148
Des Moines, IA$81,140
Raleigh, NC$81,131
Atlanta, GA$81,007
Battle Creek, MI$80,982
Salt Lake City, UT$80,958
Lancaster, PA$80,834
Harrisburg, PA$80,718
Kansas City, MO$80,635
Champaign, IL$80,618
Kansas City, KS$80,618
Fort Worth, TX$80,610
Columbus, OH$80,596
Boca Raton, FL$80,577
Pittsburgh, PA$80,544
Richmond, VA$80,511
Indianapolis, IN$80,494
Cleveland, OH$80,486
Las Vegas, NV$80,387
Cincinnati, OH$80,387
Petersburg, VA$80,263
Huntsville, AL$80,139
Lansing, MI$80,083
Lebanon, PA$80,072
Pueblo, CO$80,064
Appleton, WI$80,039
Buffalo, NY$80,006
Dayton, OH$79,981
Racine, WI$79,965
Charlotte, NC$79,957
Saint Louis, MO$79,932
York, PA$79,882
Elkhart, IN$79,882
Gastonia, NC$79,866
Billings, MT$79,847
Beaumont, TX$79,824
Lorain, OH$79,808
Benton Harbor, MI$79,791
Toledo, OH$79,775
Binghamton, NY$79,733
Rock Hill, SC$79,725
Rockford, IL$79,684
Springfield, IL$79,651
Elyria, OH$79,642
Fargo, ND$79,642
Flagstaff, AZ$79,584
Fort Lauderdale, FL$79,535
Duluth, MN$79,485
Miami, FL$79,485
Cheyenne, WY$79,427
Grand Forks, ND$79,427
Bangor, ME$79,245
Cedar Rapids, IA$79,154
Durham, NC$79,119
Louisville, KY$79,113
Grand Rapids, MI$79,096
Hialeah, FL$79,088
Casper, WY$78,972
Scranton, PA$78,873
New Orleans, LA$78,848
Virginia Beach, VA$78,840
Akron, OH$78,798
Peoria, IL$78,691
Sarasota, FL$78,674
Nashville, TN$78,616
Omaha, NE$78,616
Green Bay, WI$78,616
Baton Rouge, LA$78,575
Charleston, SC$78,559
Jamestown, NY$78,517
Davenport, IA$78,517
Tucson, AZ$78,476
Saint Petersburg, FL$78,426
Tampa, FL$78,410
Evansville, IN$78,360
Port Arthur, TX$78,360
Bradenton, FL$78,327
Santa Fe, NM$78,178
Orlando, FL$78,029
Clearwater, FL$78,004
Canton, OH$77,831
La Crosse, WI$77,831
Albuquerque, NM$77,781
Newport News, VA$77,773
High Point, NC$77,748
Ogden, UT$77,715
Corpus Christi, TX$77,649
Norfolk, VA$77,599
Laramie, WY$77,599
Rock Island, IL$77,549
Saginaw, MI$77,533
Jacksonville, FL$77,524
Salisbury, NC$77,508
Boise, ID$77,491
Moline, IL$77,450
Fort Myers, FL$77,425
Memphis, TN$77,409
Tulsa, OK$77,367
Waterloo, IA$77,318
Spartanburg, SC$77,235
Lincoln, NE$77,193
Fort Wayne, IN$77,177
Provo, UT$77,169
Cedar Falls, IA$77,069
San Antonio, TX$77,036
Greensboro, NC$77,003
South Bend, IN$76,995
Savannah, GA$76,904
Muskegon, MI$76,871
Birmingham, AL$76,863
Winston Salem, NC$76,822
Lake Charles, LA$76,623
Anderson, IN$76,606
Lexington, KY$76,581
Augusta, GA$76,556
Greenville, SC$76,556
Lima, OH$76,490
Wichita, KS$76,482
Tuscaloosa, AL$76,482
Columbia, SC$76,408
Springfield, OH$76,391
Asheville, NC$76,259
Bloomington, IN$76,201
Knoxville, TN$75,903
Shreveport, LA$75,895
Wilmington, NC$75,787
Roanoke, VA$75,787
Topeka, KS$75,638
Frankfort, KY$75,629
Oklahoma City, OK$75,572
Chillicothe, OH$75,539
Longview, TX$75,531
Melbourne, FL$75,522
Sioux Falls, SD$75,390
Mobile, AL$75,382
Terre Haute, IN$75,349
Altoona, PA$75,299
Amarillo, TX$75,241
Killeen, TX$75,216
Fayetteville, AR$75,150
Chattanooga, TN$75,125
Sioux City, IA$75,051
Idaho Falls, ID$75,034
Lynchburg, VA$74,968
Gainesville, FL$74,861
Portsmouth, OH$74,819
Little Rock, AR$74,803
Lafayette, LA$74,770
Youngstown, OH$74,770
Daytona Beach, FL$74,720
Clarksville, TN$74,712
Pensacola, FL$74,703
Temple, TX$74,698
Hopkinsville, KY$74,455
Erie, PA$74,439
Florence, SC$74,406
Charleston, WV$74,273
Great Falls, MT$74,232
Macon, GA$74,116
Tallahassee, FL$74,108
Fayetteville, NC$74,091
Waco, TX$74,075
Helena, MT$74,017
Pine Bluff, AR$73,985
Vincennes, IN$73,884
Lubbock, TX$73,851
Alamogordo, NM$73,802
Twin Falls, ID$73,727
Rapid City, SD$73,702
Jackson, MS$73,553
Huntington, WV$73,548
Greenville, MS$73,545
Parkersburg, WV$73,461
Montgomery, AL$73,446
Wichita Falls, TX$73,363
Springfield, MO$73,363
Biloxi, MS$73,322
Monroe, LA$73,239
Johnstown, PA$73,181
Sumter, SC$73,148
Columbus, GA$73,140
Pascagoula, MS$72,983
Abilene, TX$72,983
Kingsport, TN$72,768
Albany, GA$72,768
Gulfport, MS$72,743
Alexandria, LA$72,470
Fort Smith, AR$72,263
El Paso, TX$72,040
Las Cruces, NM$71,667
Harlingen, TX$71,457
Pocatello, ID$71,444
Florence, AL$71,336
Brownsville, TX$71,320
Mcallen, TX$71,146
Dothan, AL$71,030
Columbus, MS$70,539
Altus, OK$70,153
Lawton, OK$69,996
Pierre, SD$69,698
What Skills Can Increase a Software Systems Engineer I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 7.02% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Azure (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Microsoft Azure, often referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing service operated by Microsoft for application management via Microsoft-managed data centers.
Cisco (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American-based multinational technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
7.02%
Azure
2.71%
Cisco
1.62%
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 Systems Engineer I's salary.
IT Infrastructure: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Python: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
IT Infrastructure
$91,001
10%
Python
$91,001
10%
AWS
$91,001
10%
Risk Management
$91,001
10%
Team Development
$90,174
9%
Collaboration
$90,174
9%
Get Latest Data
Software Systems Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Software Systems Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $92,531.
While startup companies pay approximate $78,253.
Software Systems Engineer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$78,253
Growth Stage
51~500
$82,765
Established
501~5000
$89,356
Enterprise
5000+
$92,531
Software Systems Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Software Systems Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average.
In contrast, Software Systems Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Software Systems Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Software Systems Engineer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services
$103,410
$50.0
25%
Biotechnology
$99,274
$48.0
20%
Pharmaceuticals
$99,274
$48.0
20%
Internet
$95,137
$46.0
15%
Energy & Utilities
$91,001
$44.0
10%
How Education impacts a Software Systems Engineer I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Software Systems Engineer Is enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Systems Engineer I with a No Diploma is between
$68,885
and $75,174).
Software Systems Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Software Systems Engineer I
No Diploma1.3%
High School14.3%
Associates10.4%
Bachelors61.0%
Masters13.0%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
1.3%
High School
14.3%
Associates
10.4%
Bachelors
61.0%
Masters
13.0%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Software Systems Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Software Systems 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.
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Hourly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$75,611
Average$82,728/year
$91,672
$6,301
Average$6,894/month
$7,639
$1,454
Average$1,591/week
$1,763
$36
Average$40/hour
$44
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$91,672
$7,639
$1,763
$44
Average
$82,728
$6,894
$1,591
$40
25th Percentile
$75,611
$6,301
$1,454
$36
Salaries of jobs related to Software Systems Engineer I
Salaries for a Software Systems Engineer I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $83,494 in 2023
to around $83,274 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Software Systems Engineer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Software Systems Engineer I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$83,494
2024
$83,765
2025
$83,274
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$83,494
2024
$83,765
2025
$83,274
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Software Systems 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 Systems Engineer I
Here are companies hiring for Software Systems 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 Systems Engineer I
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Systems Engineer I?
The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Systems Engineer I roles,
with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.
2. What are the responsibilities of Software Systems Engineer I?
Designs, develops, supports, and maintains the organization's systems infrastructure. Writes code that ensures functionality of operating systems, drivers, and utility tools. Updates system related installation documentation and performs end-user support. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. 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.
3. What are the skills of Software Systems Engineer I
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.)
Azure:
Microsoft Azure, often referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing service operated by Microsoft for application management via Microsoft-managed data centers.
3.)
Cisco:
Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American-based multinational technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California.
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.
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