Salary AI Book a Demo

Backend Java Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Backend Java Engineer make in the United States?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a Backend Java Engineer in the United States is $130,720 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

However, a Backend Java Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,456
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,767 to $141,574
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $111,705
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs
Loading...

Key Factors That Influence Backend Java Engineer Salaries

A Backend Java Engineer'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 Backend Java Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Backend Java Engineer'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): $125,420
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $126,170
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $127,671
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,115
  • Expert (over 8 years): $135,988
Levels Salary
Entry Level Backend Java Engineer$125,420
Intermediate Level Backend Java Engineer$126,170
Senior Level Backend Java Engineer$127,671
Specialist Level Backend Java Engineer$133,115
Expert Level Backend Java Engineer$135,988
View as Graph

How Do Backend Java Engineer 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 Backend Java Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $144,733.
  • California: $144,184.
  • Massachusetts: $142,263.

Top Paying Cities for Backend Java Engineers

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: $164,877
  • San Francisco: $163,072
  • Oakland: $159,635

What Skills Can Increase a Backend Java Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 3% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Docker (Mentioned in 3.36% Job Postings): Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.
  • Prototyping (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Creating a sample product that may be tested to discover potential problems and avoid mistakes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 3%
Docker 3.36%
Prototyping 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 Backend Java Engineer's salary.

  • Data Privacy: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data Privacy $138,563
6%
Networking $137,256
5%
Presentation $135,949
4%
Get Latest Data

Backend Java Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Backend Java Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Backend Java Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Backend Java Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Backend Java Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$156,864$75.020%
Financial Services$150,328$72.015%
Healthcare$150,328$72.015%
Internet$146,406$70.012%
Energy & Utilities$143,792$69.010%

How Education impacts a Backend Java Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Backend Java Engineers 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 Backend Java Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $115,873 and $124,446).

Backend Java Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Backend Java Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.1%
Associates 1.5%
Bachelors 55.5%
Masters 39.1%
Doctorate 1.5%
View as Graph

Backend Java Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Backend Java Engineer'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 November 01, 2026
$120,767
Average $130,720/year
$141,574
$10,064
Average $10,893/month
$11,798
$2,322
Average $2,514/week
$2,723
$58
Average $63/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $141,574 $11,798 $2,723 $68
Average $130,720 $10,893 $2,514 $63
25th Percentile $120,767 $10,064 $2,322 $58

Most common benefits for Backend Java Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Backend Java Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Backend Java Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Backend Java Engineer Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Backend Java Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Backend Java Engineer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Backend Java Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst