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

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a Java Engineer in the United States is $109,096 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,998
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $98,894 to $117,943
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $89,606
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Key Factors That Influence Java Engineer Salaries

A 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 Java Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 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): $105,001
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,314
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $109,096
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $112,739
  • Expert (over 8 years): $112,999
Levels Salary
Entry Level Java Engineer$105,001
Intermediate Level Java Engineer$105,314
Senior Level Java Engineer$109,096
Specialist Level Java Engineer$112,739
Expert Level Java Engineer$112,999

Top Paying Cities for 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: $137,603
  • San Francisco: $136,096
  • Oakland: $133,228

What Skills Can Increase a Java Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Team Development (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Building and developing effective teams to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.41% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Business Requirements (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Also known as stakeholder requirements specifications , describe the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of the system's end user. Often discussed in the context of developing or procuring software or other systems.
Skills Demand Percentage
Team Development 2.34%
Agile 3.41%
Business Requirements 2.12%

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 Java Engineer's salary.

  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Hard Working $111,278
2%
Python $111,278
2%
AWS $110,187
1%

Java Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Java Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Java Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Java Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Java Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$163,644$79.050%
Financial Services$136,370$66.025%
Internet$130,915$63.020%
Telecom$130,915$63.020%
Pharmaceuticals$125,460$60.015%

How Education impacts a Java Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many 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 Java Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,148 and $106,616).

Java Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Java Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.7%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 60.1%
Masters 31.8%
Doctorate 1.3%

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

Understanding how a 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
$98,894
Average $109,096/year
$117,943
$8,241
Average $9,091/month
$9,829
$1,902
Average $2,098/week
$2,268
$48
Average $52/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $117,943 $9,829 $2,268 $57
Average $109,096 $9,091 $2,098 $52
25th Percentile $98,894 $8,241 $1,902 $48

Most common benefits for Java Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Java Engineer

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

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FAQ about Java Engineer

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Java Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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