What are the main factors that influence a Software Systems Engineer II's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Software Systems Engineer 's salary?

A Software Systems Engineer 's salary grows with experience: a Software Systems Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $82,732, a Software Systems Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $101,588, a Software Systems Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $117,848, a Software Systems Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $144,250, a Software Systems Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $165,276,

What are the highest paying states for a Software Systems Engineer II?

Software Systems Engineer II salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Systems Engineer II roles are District of Columbia $112,478, California $112,052, Massachusetts $110,558. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Systems Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Software Systems Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Software Systems Engineer IV: $144,250; Software Systems Engineer III: $117,848; Software Systems Developer II: $109,710; Software Engineer II: $105,084; Enterprise Systems Engineer II: $101,600.

How do different companies affect a Software Systems Engineer II's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Software Systems Engineer II roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Software Systems Engineer II Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Systems Engineer II make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Systems Engineer II in the United States is $101,588 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

However, a Software Systems Engineer II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,870
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,061 to $110,634
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,208

10% $87,208

50% (Median) $101,588

90% $118,870

Software Systems Engineer II Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$110,634	$9,220	$2,128	$53
Average	$101,588	$8,466	$1,954	$49
25th Percentile	$94,061	$7,838	$1,809	$45

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Key Factors That Influence Software Systems Engineer II Salaries

A Software Systems Engineer II'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 II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Systems Engineer II'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): $82,732
Software Systems Engineer II (2-4 years): $101,588
Software Systems Engineer III (4-7 years): $117,848
Software Systems Engineer IV (7+ years): $144,250
Software Systems Engineer V (7-10 years): $165,276

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Software Systems Engineer I	0-2 years	$82,732
Software Systems Engineer II	2-4 years	$101,588
Software Systems Engineer III	4-7 years	$117,848
Software Systems Engineer IV	7+ years	$144,250
Software Systems Engineer V	7-10 years	$165,276

View as Graph

How Do Software Systems Engineer IIs 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 IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $112,478.
California: $112,052.
Massachusetts: $110,558.

District of Columbia $112,478 California $112,052 Massachusetts $110,558 Washington $110,152 New Jersey $110,111 Alaska $109,969 Connecticut $108,567 New York $107,998

Hawaii $106,180 Rhode Island $105,326 Maryland $104,747 Minnesota $103,955 Colorado $103,650 Illinois $103,549 Oregon $103,163 Delaware $102,878

New Hampshire $102,699 Virginia $102,299 Pennsylvania $101,131 Nevada $100,542 North Dakota $100,349 Michigan $100,044 Wisconsin $99,932 Vermont $99,709

Texas $99,089 Maine $99,048 Arizona $98,987 Ohio $98,916 Georgia $97,982 Indiana $97,514 Wyoming $97,423 Utah $97,281

Iowa $97,220 Kansas $96,732 Louisiana $96,590 North Carolina $96,539 Missouri $96,519 Florida $96,123 Montana $95,909 Nebraska $95,706

Kentucky $95,594 South Carolina $95,188 Tennessee $94,934 Idaho $94,832 New Mexico $94,091 Oklahoma $93,928 Alabama $93,329 South Dakota $92,323

Arkansas $91,775 West Virginia $91,480 Mississippi $90,596

Top Paying Cities for Software Systems Engineer II

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: $128,133
San Francisco: $126,730
Oakland: $124,059

San Jose, CA $128,133

San Francisco, CA $126,730

Oakland, CA $124,059

New York, NY $116,967

Paramus, NJ $115,545

Queens Village, NY $115,540

Passaic, NJ $115,444

Bergenfield, NJ $115,434

Stamford, CT $115,211

Huntington, NY $115,169

Newark, NJ $114,419

Bridgeport, CT $114,204

Vallejo, CA $114,002

New Brunswick, NJ $113,961

Petaluma, CA $113,900

Middlesex, NJ $113,707

Somerset, NJ $113,636

Santa Cruz, CA $113,504

Boston, MA $112,885

Monterey, CA $112,528

Seattle, WA $112,295

Santa Rosa, CA $112,275

Los Angeles, CA $112,245

Juneau, AK $111,980

Washington, DC $111,869

Orange, CA $111,507

Santa Ana, CA $111,239

Long Beach, CA $111,137

Anaheim, CA $111,117

Anchorage, AK $111,066

Santa Maria, CA $110,761

Everett, WA $110,741

Danbury, CT $110,383

Bremerton, WA $110,243

Tacoma, WA $109,878

New Suffolk, NY $109,876

Sacramento, CA $109,847

Santa Barbara, CA $109,735

Trenton, NJ $109,624

San Diego, CA $109,624

Brockton, MA $109,512

Fairbanks, AK $109,263

Lompoc, CA $109,004

Lowell, MA $108,922

Ventura, CA $108,902

Nashua, NH $108,882

Stockton, CA $108,872

Modesto, CA $108,130

Poughkeepsie, NY $107,907

Olympia, WA $107,714

Kennewick, WA $107,714

New Haven, CT $107,673

Lawrence, MA $107,307

Hartford, CT $107,206

Riverside, CA $107,185

New Bedford, MA $107,084

Richland, WA $107,084

Bakersfield, CA $106,942

San Bernardino, CA $106,901

New Britain, CT $106,891

Atlantic City, NJ $106,891

New London, CT $106,850

Norwich, CT $106,820

Portsmouth, NH $106,799

Boulder, CO $106,584

Portland, OR $106,444

Worcester, MA $106,434

Minneapolis, MN $106,119

Philadelphia, PA $105,977

Honolulu, HI $105,641

Saint Paul, MN $105,593

Vineland, NJ $105,570

Providence, RI $105,276

Chicago, IL $104,981

Bellingham, WA $104,859

Springfield, MA $104,778

Baltimore, MD $104,747

Chico, CA $104,493

Pittsfield, MA $104,219

Manchester, NH $104,026

Spokane, WA $103,579

Denver, CO $103,569

Albany, NY $103,092

Troy, NY $103,051

Nassau, NY $102,942

Schenectady, NY $102,838

Wilmington, DE $102,756

Burlington, VT $102,614

Salem, OR $102,573

Portland, ME $102,258

Yakima, WA $102,157

Rochester, MN $101,842

Reno, NV $101,791

Fresno, CA $101,791

Milwaukee, WI $101,700

Detroit, MI $101,598

Ann Arbor, MI $101,581

Allentown, PA $101,568

Colorado Springs, CO $101,395

Syracuse, NY $101,344

Carson City, NV $101,344

Houston, TX $101,202

Eugene, OR $101,151

Gary, IN $101,029

Springfield, OR $100,948

Bismarck, ND $100,928

Galveston, TX $100,857

Medford, OR $100,704

Fort Collins, CO $100,664

Concord, NH $100,613

Austin, TX $100,582

Mesa, AZ $100,369

Reading, PA $100,359

Phoenix, AZ $100,349

Dallas, TX $100,318

Saint Cloud, MN $100,221

Madison, WI $100,084

Utica, NY $99,810

Rochester, NY $99,648

Des Moines, IA $99,638

Raleigh, NC $99,627

Atlanta, GA $99,475

Battle Creek, MI $99,444

Salt Lake City, UT $99,414

Lancaster, PA $99,262

Harrisburg, PA $99,119

Kansas City, MO $99,018

Champaign, IL $98,998

Kansas City, KS $98,998

Fort Worth, TX $98,987

Columbus, OH $98,970

Boca Raton, FL $98,947

Pittsburgh, PA $98,906

Richmond, VA $98,865

Indianapolis, IN $98,845

Cleveland, OH $98,835

Las Vegas, NV $98,713

Cincinnati, OH $98,713

Petersburg, VA $98,561

Huntsville, AL $98,408

Lansing, MI $98,340

Lebanon, PA $98,327

Pueblo, CO $98,317

Appleton, WI $98,286

Buffalo, NY $98,246

Dayton, OH $98,215

Racine, WI $98,195

Charlotte, NC $98,185

Saint Louis, MO $98,154

York, PA $98,093

Elkhart, IN $98,093

Gastonia, NC $98,074

Billings, MT $98,050

Beaumont, TX $98,022

Lorain, OH $98,002

Benton Harbor, MI $97,982

Toledo, OH $97,961

Binghamton, NY $97,911

Rock Hill, SC $97,900

Rockford, IL $97,850

Springfield, IL $97,809

Elyria, OH $97,799

Fargo, ND $97,799

Flagstaff, AZ $97,728

Fort Lauderdale, FL $97,667

Duluth, MN $97,606

Miami, FL $97,606

Cheyenne, WY $97,535

Grand Forks, ND $97,535

Bangor, ME $97,311

Cedar Rapids, IA $97,199

Durham, NC $97,157

Louisville, KY $97,149

Grand Rapids, MI $97,128

Hialeah, FL $97,118

Casper, WY $96,976

Scranton, PA $96,854

New Orleans, LA $96,824

Virginia Beach, VA $96,813

Akron, OH $96,763

Peoria, IL $96,631

Sarasota, FL $96,610

Nashville, TN $96,539

Omaha, NE $96,539

Green Bay, WI $96,539

Baton Rouge, LA $96,488

Charleston, SC $96,468

Jamestown, NY $96,417

Davenport, IA $96,417

Tucson, AZ $96,366

Saint Petersburg, FL $96,305

Tampa, FL $96,285

Evansville, IN $96,224

Port Arthur, TX $96,224

Bradenton, FL $96,184

Santa Fe, NM $96,001

Orlando, FL $95,818

Clearwater, FL $95,787

Canton, OH $95,574

La Crosse, WI $95,574

Albuquerque, NM $95,513

Newport News, VA $95,503

High Point, NC $95,472

Ogden, UT $95,432

Corpus Christi, TX $95,350

Norfolk, VA $95,290

Laramie, WY $95,290

Rock Island, IL $95,229

Saginaw, MI $95,208

Jacksonville, FL $95,198

Salisbury, NC $95,178

Boise, ID $95,157

Moline, IL $95,107

Fort Myers, FL $95,076

Memphis, TN $95,056

Tulsa, OK $95,005

Waterloo, IA $94,944

Spartanburg, SC $94,843

Lincoln, NE $94,792

Fort Wayne, IN $94,771

Provo, UT $94,761

Cedar Falls, IA $94,639

San Antonio, TX $94,599

Greensboro, NC $94,558

South Bend, IN $94,548

Savannah, GA $94,436

Muskegon, MI $94,396

Birmingham, AL $94,385

Winston Salem, NC $94,336

Lake Charles, LA $94,091

Anderson, IN $94,070

Lexington, KY $94,040

Augusta, GA $94,010

Greenville, SC $94,010

Lima, OH $93,928

Wichita, KS $93,918

Tuscaloosa, AL $93,918

Columbia, SC $93,827

Springfield, OH $93,806

Asheville, NC $93,644

Bloomington, IN $93,573

Knoxville, TN $93,207

Shreveport, LA $93,197

Wilmington, NC $93,065

Roanoke, VA $93,065

Topeka, KS $92,882

Frankfort, KY $92,871

Oklahoma City, OK $92,801

Chillicothe, OH $92,760

Longview, TX $92,750

Melbourne, FL $92,740

Sioux Falls, SD $92,577

Mobile, AL $92,567

Terre Haute, IN $92,526

Altoona, PA $92,465

Amarillo, TX $92,394

Killeen, TX $92,364

Fayetteville, AR $92,283

Chattanooga, TN $92,252

Sioux City, IA $92,161

Idaho Falls, ID $92,140

Lynchburg, VA $92,059

Gainesville, FL $91,927

Portsmouth, OH $91,876

Little Rock, AR $91,856

Lafayette, LA $91,815

Youngstown, OH $91,815

Daytona Beach, FL $91,754

Clarksville, TN $91,744

Pensacola, FL $91,734

Temple, TX $91,727

Hopkinsville, KY $91,429

Erie, PA $91,409

Florence, SC $91,368

Charleston, WV $91,206

Great Falls, MT $91,155

Macon, GA $91,013

Tallahassee, FL $91,003

Fayetteville, NC $90,982

Waco, TX $90,962

Helena, MT $90,891

Pine Bluff, AR $90,852

Vincennes, IN $90,728

Lubbock, TX $90,688

Alamogordo, NM $90,627

Twin Falls, ID $90,535

Rapid City, SD $90,505

Jackson, MS $90,322

Huntington, WV $90,315

Greenville, MS $90,312

Parkersburg, WV $90,208

Montgomery, AL $90,190

Wichita Falls, TX $90,088

Springfield, MO $90,088

Biloxi, MS $90,037

Monroe, LA $89,936

Johnstown, PA $89,865

Sumter, SC $89,824

Columbus, GA $89,814

Pascagoula, MS $89,621

Abilene, TX $89,621

Kingsport, TN $89,357

Albany, GA $89,357

Gulfport, MS $89,326

Alexandria, LA $88,991

Fort Smith, AR $88,737

El Paso, TX $88,463

Las Cruces, NM $88,006

Harlingen, TX $87,748

Pocatello, ID $87,731

Florence, AL $87,599

Brownsville, TX $87,579

Mcallen, TX $87,366

Dothan, AL $87,223

Columbus, MS $86,620

Altus, OK $86,147

Lawton, OK $85,954

Pierre, SD $85,588

What Skills Can Increase a Software Systems Engineer II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 8.46% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Active Directory (Mentioned in 2.21% Job Postings): Active Directory (AD) is Microsoft's proprietary directory service. It runs on Windows Server and enables administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources.
Installation (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	8.46%
Active Directory	2.21%
Installation	1.8%

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 Systems Engineer II's salary.

Open Source: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Open Source	$106,667	5%
Commitment	$106,667	5%
Team Development	$105,652	4%

Get Latest Data

Software Systems Engineer II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Software Systems Engineer II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $113,722. While startup companies pay approximate $96,206.

Software Systems Engineer II Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$96,206
Growth Stage	51~500	$101,749
Established	501~5000	$109,819
Enterprise	5000+	$113,722

Software Systems Engineer II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Systems Engineer II 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 Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 24% above the average. In contrast, Software Systems Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Systems Engineer II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Software Systems Engineer II

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services	$125,969	$61.0	24%
Software & Networking	$123,937	$60.0	22%
Biotechnology	$121,906	$59.0	20%
Pharmaceuticals	$119,874	$58.0	18%
Internet	$116,826	$56.0	15%

How Education impacts an Software Systems Engineer II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Systems Engineer II 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 Systems Engineer II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $90,831 and $96,707.

Software Systems Engineer II Salaries by Degree Level

$97,800
$96,500
$95,200
$93,900
$92,600
$91,300
$90,000
$88,600

Typical Education for Software Systems Engineer II
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	3.8%
High School	9.4%
Associates	9.4%
Bachelors	66.0%
Masters	11.3%
Doctorate	0.0%

View as Graph

Software Systems Engineer II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Systems Engineer II'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.

$94,061

Average $101,588/year

$110,634

$7,838

Average $8,466/month

$9,220

$1,809

Average $1,954/week

$2,128

$45

Average $49/hour

$53

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$110,634	$9,220	$2,128	$53
Average	$101,588	$8,466	$1,954	$49
25th Percentile	$94,061	$7,838	$1,809	$45

Software Systems Engineer II Salary Growth & Career Path

Software Systems Engineer II

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Software Systems Engineer II, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Software Systems Engineer II Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Software Systems Developer III	$128,725	27%
ERP Configuration Specialist III	$128,725	27%
Software Systems Engineer III	$117,848	16%
Software Systems Programmer III	$118,410	17%

Salary Trends for Software Systems Engineer II

Salaries for a Software Systems Engineer II can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $102,627 in 2023 to around $102,912 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Systems Engineer II salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Systems Engineer II Over Time

$???
$102,627
$104,196
$102,912
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$102,627
2024	$104,196
2025	$102,912
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Software Systems Engineer II

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

Common company salaries for Software Systems Engineer II

Here are companies hiring for Software Systems Engineer II 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 II

1. Where can a Software Systems Engineer II earn the most?

A Software Systems Engineer II'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 Systems Engineer II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Systems Engineer II is $128,133.

2. What is the highest pay for Software Systems Engineer II?

The highest pay for Software Systems Engineer II is $118,870.

3. What is the lowest pay for Software Systems Engineer II?

The lowest pay for Software Systems Engineer II is $87,208.

4. What are the responsibilities of Software Systems Engineer II?

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. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Systems Engineer II?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Systems Engineer II roles, with salaries approximately 24% 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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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