Associate Software Engineering Salary in the United States

How much does an Associate Software Engineering make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Associate Software Engineering in the United States is $169,385 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

However, an Associate Software Engineering's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $195,606
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $159,501 to $183,110
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $150,502
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View as table View as graph 25% $159,501 10% $150,502 90% $195,606 75% $183,110 $169,385 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Associate Software Engineering Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $183,110 $15,259 $3,521 $88
Average $169,385 $14,115 $3,257 $81
25th Percentile $159,501 $13,292 $3,067 $77
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Key Factors That Influence Associate Software Engineering Salaries

An Associate Software Engineering'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 Associate Software Engineering Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Associate Software Engineering'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): $164,739
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $165,175
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,194
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $167,358
  • Expert (over 8 years): $169,789
Levels Salary
Entry Level Associate Software Engineering$164,739
Intermediate Level Associate Software Engineering$165,175
Senior Level Associate Software Engineering$166,194
Specialist Level Associate Software Engineering$167,358
Expert Level Associate Software Engineering$169,789
$164,739 0 yr
$165,175 < 2 yrs
$166,194 2-4 yrs
$167,358 5-8 yrs
$169,789 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Associate Software Engineering 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 Associate Software Engineerings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $187,543.
  • California: $186,832.
  • Massachusetts: $184,342.

Top Paying Cities for Associate Software Engineerings

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: $213,645
  • San Francisco: $211,545
  • Oakland: $206,853

What Skills Can Increase an Associate Software Engineering'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 an Associate Software Engineering'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
$176,160
4%
Experimenting
$176,160
4%
Mentoring Others
$176,160
4%
Diversity and Inclusion
$174,467
3%
Docker
$174,467
3%
People Management
$174,467
3%
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How Education impacts an Associate Software Engineering's Salary?

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

Associate Software Engineering Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Associate Software Engineering
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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Associate Software Engineering Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Associate Software Engineering'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Associate Software Engineering

Salaries for an Associate Software Engineering can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $150,449 in 2023 to around $149,564 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Associate Software Engineering salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Associate Software Engineering Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$150,449
2024
$150,933
2025
$149,564
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $150,449
2024 $150,933
2025 $149,564
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Associate Software Engineering

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Associate Software Engineering

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

Find Your Next Associate Software Engineering Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Associate Software Engineering job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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