Systems Software Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Software Engineer in the United States is $79,036 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): $91,366
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,459 to $85,490
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,471
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,459 10% $66,471 90% $91,366 75% $85,490 $79,036 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Systems Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $85,490 $7,124 $1,644 $41
Average $79,036 $6,586 $1,520 $38
25th Percentile $72,459 $6,038 $1,393 $35
Check out Systems Software Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Software Engineer with Security Clearance

TEKsystems c/o Allegis Group - BELLEVUE, NE

Software Engineer with Security Clearance

FUSE Engineering - ANNAPOLIS, MD

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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): $78,061
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,751
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $80,175
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $80,459
  • Expert (over 8 years): $80,649
Levels Salary
Entry Level Systems Software Engineer$78,061
Intermediate Level Systems Software Engineer$78,751
Senior Level Systems Software Engineer$80,175
Specialist Level Systems Software Engineer$80,459
Expert Level Systems Software Engineer$80,649
$78,061 0 yr
$78,751 < 2 yrs
$80,175 2-4 yrs
$80,459 5-8 yrs
$80,649 > 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: $99,687
  • San Francisco: $98,707
  • Oakland: $96,518

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
$101,956
29%
Virtualization
$89,310
13%
Information Security
$87,729
11%
ISO
$84,568
7%
Operating System
$83,778
6%
Program Management
$83,778
6%
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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 January 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.

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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.)

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