Systems Software Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Software Engineer in the United States is $79,065 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,491
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,520 to $85,569
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,562
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,520 10% $66,562 90% $91,491 75% $85,569 $79,065 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Systems Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $85,569 $7,131 $1,646 $41
Average $79,065 $6,589 $1,520 $38
25th Percentile $72,520 $6,043 $1,395 $35
Check out Systems Software Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Software Engineer

Liberty Information Technology Limited - Columbus, OH

Software Engineer

Loop - Columbus, OH

Software Engineer

Impact.com - Columbus, OH

Software Engineer - W2

Donato Technologies Inc - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Systems Software Engineer Salaries

A Systems Software 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Systems Software Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems Software 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): $78,587
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $107,988
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $126,704
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,929
  • Expert (over 8 years): $163,362
Levels Salary
Systems S... Level Systems Software Engineer$78,587
Software ... Level Systems Software Engineer$107,988
Software ... Level Systems Software Engineer$126,704
Software ... Level Systems Software Engineer$140,929
Software ... Level Systems Software Engineer$163,362
$78,587 0 yr
$107,988 < 2 yrs
$126,704 2-4 yrs
$140,929 5-8 yrs
$163,362 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Systems Software 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: $99,724
  • San Francisco: $98,633
  • Oakland: $96,554

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 4.09% Job Postings): Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from various sources including uncertainty in financial markets, threats from project failures (at any phase in design, development, production, or sustainment life-cycles), legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters, deliberate attack from an adversary, or events of uncertain or unpredictable root-cause. There are two types of events i.e. negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Several risk management standards have been developed including the Project Management Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, actuarial societies, and ISO standards. Methods, definitions and goals vary widely according to whether the risk management method is in the context of project management, security, engineering, industrial processes, financial portfolios, actuarial assessments, or public health and safety.
  • Operating System (Mentioned in 2.44% Job Postings): Maintaining software that runs on a computer that serves as an interface between computer hardware components and the user.
  • ISO (Mentioned in 2.05% Job Postings): The International Organization for Standardization is an international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 4.09%
Operating System 2.44%
ISO 2.05%
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 Systems Software Engineer's salary.
  • Application Security: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Virtualization: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Information Security: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Application Security
$101,994
29%
Virtualization
$89,343
13%
Information Security
$87,762
11%
ISO
$84,599
7%
Operating System
$83,809
6%
Program Management
$83,809
6%
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Systems Software Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Systems Software Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Systems Software Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Systems Software Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Systems Software Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$94,878$46.020%
Biotechnology$94,878$46.020%
Energy & Utilities$94,878$46.020%
Financial Services$94,878$46.020%
Pharmaceuticals$94,878$46.020%

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

Understanding how a Systems Software 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Systems Software Engineer

Salaries for a Systems Software Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,792 in 2023 to around $75,616 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Systems Software Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Systems Software Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$75,792
2024
$76,089
2025
$75,616
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $75,792
2024 $76,089
2025 $75,616
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Systems Software Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Systems Software Engineer Job

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

United States
  • Thomas &amp; Reed, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Thomas &amp; Reed, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Responsible for planning, designing, developing, and validating software systems and applications focused on user experie... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Astute Technology Management LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Astute Technology Management LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Systems Engineer. Location. Columbus, OH / Hybrid. Regular Hour. s: 40/week, M-F, 8am-5pm EST. Employment Type. Full-time... more

    5 Days Ago

  • People Driven Technology Inc

    Columbus, OH

    People Driven Technology Inc | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. People Driven Technology, Inc. is a fast-growing, family-owned technology integrator delivering innovative IT outcomes ac... more

    6 Days Ago

  • MRINetwork Jobs

    Columbus, OH

    MRINetwork Jobs | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Lead Robotics Software Engineer - Architecture & Systems. . In this position, you will guide the architecture, developmen... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Staffing the Universe

    Columbus, OH

    Staffing the Universe | Columbus, OH

    Senior Software Engineer (TACL HPE Nonstop)Location:Jersey City, NJ OR Tampa, FL OR Plano, TX OR Columbus, OHDuration:12Months (Possibility of Extension)Jo... more

    4 Days Ago

  • SynergisticIT

    Columbus, OH

    SynergisticIT | Columbus, OH

    Synergisticit Job OpportunitySynergisticIT for the past 15 years has helped jobseekers differentiate themselves by providing the clients with candidates wh... more

    4 Days Ago

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FAQ about Systems Software Engineer

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Systems Software 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.)

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