Software Development Engineer in test Salary in the United States
How much does a Software Development Engineer in test make in the United States?
As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Development Engineer in test in the United States is $82,900 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.
However, a Software Development Engineer in test's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $94,910
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,089 to $89,187
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $69,888
10%$69,888
50% (Median)$82,900
90%$94,910
Software Development Engineer in test Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Software Development Engineer in test Salaries
A Software Development Engineer in test'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 Software Development Engineer in test Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Software Development Engineer in test'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): $82,438
Early Career (1-2 years): $108,375
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $129,921
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $150,309
Expert (over 8 years): $172,800
Levels
Salary
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer in test
$82,438
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer in test
$108,375
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer in test
$129,921
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer in test
$150,309
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer in test
How Do Software Development Engineer in test 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 Software Development Engineer in tests. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Top Paying Cities for Software Development Engineer in tests
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: $104,562
San Francisco: $103,417
Oakland: $101,238
San Jose, CA$104,562
San Francisco, CA$103,417
Oakland, CA$101,238
New York, NY$95,450
Paramus, NJ$94,290
Queens Village, NY$94,286
Passaic, NJ$94,207
Bergenfield, NJ$94,199
Stamford, CT$94,017
Huntington, NY$93,983
Newark, NJ$93,370
Bridgeport, CT$93,195
Vallejo, CA$93,030
New Brunswick, NJ$92,997
Petaluma, CA$92,948
Middlesex, NJ$92,790
Somerset, NJ$92,732
Santa Cruz, CA$92,624
Boston, MA$92,119
Monterey, CA$91,828
Seattle, WA$91,638
Santa Rosa, CA$91,621
Los Angeles, CA$91,596
Juneau, AK$91,381
Washington, DC$91,290
Orange, CA$90,994
Santa Ana, CA$90,776
Long Beach, CA$90,693
Anaheim, CA$90,676
Anchorage, AK$90,635
Santa Maria, CA$90,386
Everett, WA$90,369
Danbury, CT$90,078
Bremerton, WA$89,963
Tacoma, WA$89,665
New Suffolk, NY$89,663
Sacramento, CA$89,640
Santa Barbara, CA$89,549
Trenton, NJ$89,457
San Diego, CA$89,457
Brockton, MA$89,366
Fairbanks, AK$89,163
Lompoc, CA$88,952
Lowell, MA$88,885
Ventura, CA$88,869
Nashua, NH$88,852
Stockton, CA$88,844
Modesto, CA$88,239
Poughkeepsie, NY$88,056
Olympia, WA$87,899
Kennewick, WA$87,899
New Haven, CT$87,866
Lawrence, MA$87,567
Hartford, CT$87,484
Riverside, CA$87,468
New Bedford, MA$87,385
Richland, WA$87,385
Bakersfield, CA$87,269
San Bernardino, CA$87,236
New Britain, CT$87,227
Atlantic City, NJ$87,227
New London, CT$87,194
Norwich, CT$87,169
Portsmouth, NH$87,153
Boulder, CO$86,977
Portland, OR$86,863
Worcester, MA$86,854
Minneapolis, MN$86,597
Philadelphia, PA$86,481
Honolulu, HI$86,208
Saint Paul, MN$86,168
Vineland, NJ$86,150
Providence, RI$85,909
Chicago, IL$85,669
Bellingham, WA$85,569
Springfield, MA$85,503
Baltimore, MD$85,478
Chico, CA$85,271
Pittsfield, MA$85,047
Manchester, NH$84,890
Spokane, WA$84,525
Denver, CO$84,517
Albany, NY$84,127
Troy, NY$84,094
Nassau, NY$84,005
Schenectady, NY$83,920
Wilmington, DE$83,853
Burlington, VT$83,737
Salem, OR$83,704
Portland, ME$83,447
Yakima, WA$83,364
Rochester, MN$83,107
Reno, NV$83,066
Fresno, CA$83,066
Milwaukee, WI$82,991
Detroit, MI$82,908
Ann Arbor, MI$82,894
Allentown, PA$82,884
Colorado Springs, CO$82,743
Syracuse, NY$82,701
Carson City, NV$82,701
Houston, TX$82,585
Eugene, OR$82,544
Gary, IN$82,444
Springfield, OR$82,378
Bismarck, ND$82,361
Galveston, TX$82,303
Medford, OR$82,179
Fort Collins, CO$82,146
Concord, NH$82,104
Austin, TX$82,079
Mesa, AZ$81,905
Reading, PA$81,897
Phoenix, AZ$81,889
Dallas, TX$81,864
Saint Cloud, MN$81,784
Madison, WI$81,673
Utica, NY$81,449
Rochester, NY$81,317
Des Moines, IA$81,308
Raleigh, NC$81,300
Atlanta, GA$81,176
Battle Creek, MI$81,151
Salt Lake City, UT$81,126
Lancaster, PA$81,002
Harrisburg, PA$80,886
Kansas City, MO$80,803
Champaign, IL$80,786
Kansas City, KS$80,786
Fort Worth, TX$80,778
Columbus, OH$80,764
Boca Raton, FL$80,745
Pittsburgh, PA$80,712
Richmond, VA$80,678
Indianapolis, IN$80,662
Cleveland, OH$80,654
Las Vegas, NV$80,554
Cincinnati, OH$80,554
Petersburg, VA$80,430
Huntsville, AL$80,305
Lansing, MI$80,250
Lebanon, PA$80,239
Pueblo, CO$80,231
Appleton, WI$80,206
Buffalo, NY$80,173
Dayton, OH$80,148
Racine, WI$80,131
Charlotte, NC$80,123
Saint Louis, MO$80,098
York, PA$80,048
Elkhart, IN$80,048
Gastonia, NC$80,033
Billings, MT$80,013
Beaumont, TX$79,990
Lorain, OH$79,974
Benton Harbor, MI$79,957
Toledo, OH$79,941
Binghamton, NY$79,899
Rock Hill, SC$79,891
Rockford, IL$79,849
Springfield, IL$79,816
Elyria, OH$79,808
Fargo, ND$79,808
Flagstaff, AZ$79,750
Fort Lauderdale, FL$79,700
Duluth, MN$79,650
Miami, FL$79,650
Cheyenne, WY$79,592
Grand Forks, ND$79,592
Bangor, ME$79,410
Cedar Rapids, IA$79,319
Durham, NC$79,284
Louisville, KY$79,277
Grand Rapids, MI$79,261
Hialeah, FL$79,252
Casper, WY$79,136
Scranton, PA$79,037
New Orleans, LA$79,012
Virginia Beach, VA$79,004
Akron, OH$78,962
Peoria, IL$78,855
Sarasota, FL$78,838
Nashville, TN$78,780
Omaha, NE$78,780
Green Bay, WI$78,780
Baton Rouge, LA$78,739
Charleston, SC$78,722
Jamestown, NY$78,680
Davenport, IA$78,680
Tucson, AZ$78,639
Saint Petersburg, FL$78,589
Tampa, FL$78,573
Evansville, IN$78,523
Port Arthur, TX$78,523
Bradenton, FL$78,490
Santa Fe, NM$78,341
Orlando, FL$78,191
Clearwater, FL$78,167
Canton, OH$77,992
La Crosse, WI$77,992
Albuquerque, NM$77,943
Newport News, VA$77,934
High Point, NC$77,910
Ogden, UT$77,876
Corpus Christi, TX$77,810
Norfolk, VA$77,760
Laramie, WY$77,760
Rock Island, IL$77,711
Saginaw, MI$77,694
Jacksonville, FL$77,686
Salisbury, NC$77,669
Boise, ID$77,653
Moline, IL$77,611
Fort Myers, FL$77,586
Memphis, TN$77,570
Tulsa, OK$77,528
Waterloo, IA$77,478
Spartanburg, SC$77,396
Lincoln, NE$77,354
Fort Wayne, IN$77,338
Provo, UT$77,329
Cedar Falls, IA$77,230
San Antonio, TX$77,197
Greensboro, NC$77,163
South Bend, IN$77,155
Savannah, GA$77,064
Muskegon, MI$77,031
Birmingham, AL$77,022
Winston Salem, NC$76,982
Lake Charles, LA$76,782
Anderson, IN$76,765
Lexington, KY$76,741
Augusta, GA$76,716
Greenville, SC$76,716
Lima, OH$76,649
Wichita, KS$76,641
Tuscaloosa, AL$76,641
Columbia, SC$76,567
Springfield, OH$76,550
Asheville, NC$76,417
Bloomington, IN$76,359
Knoxville, TN$76,061
Shreveport, LA$76,053
Wilmington, NC$75,945
Roanoke, VA$75,945
Topeka, KS$75,796
Frankfort, KY$75,786
Oklahoma City, OK$75,729
Chillicothe, OH$75,696
Longview, TX$75,688
Melbourne, FL$75,680
Sioux Falls, SD$75,547
Mobile, AL$75,539
Terre Haute, IN$75,505
Altoona, PA$75,456
Amarillo, TX$75,398
Killeen, TX$75,373
Fayetteville, AR$75,306
Chattanooga, TN$75,282
Sioux City, IA$75,207
Idaho Falls, ID$75,190
Lynchburg, VA$75,124
Gainesville, FL$75,016
Portsmouth, OH$74,975
Little Rock, AR$74,958
Lafayette, LA$74,925
Youngstown, OH$74,925
Daytona Beach, FL$74,875
Clarksville, TN$74,867
Pensacola, FL$74,859
Temple, TX$74,853
Hopkinsville, KY$74,610
Erie, PA$74,594
Florence, SC$74,560
Charleston, WV$74,428
Great Falls, MT$74,386
Macon, GA$74,270
Tallahassee, FL$74,262
Fayetteville, NC$74,245
Waco, TX$74,229
Helena, MT$74,171
Pine Bluff, AR$74,139
Vincennes, IN$74,038
Lubbock, TX$74,005
Alamogordo, NM$73,955
Twin Falls, ID$73,881
Rapid City, SD$73,856
Jackson, MS$73,706
Huntington, WV$73,701
Greenville, MS$73,698
Parkersburg, WV$73,614
Montgomery, AL$73,599
Wichita Falls, TX$73,516
Springfield, MO$73,516
Biloxi, MS$73,474
Monroe, LA$73,391
Johnstown, PA$73,333
Sumter, SC$73,300
Columbus, GA$73,292
Pascagoula, MS$73,134
Abilene, TX$73,134
Kingsport, TN$72,919
Albany, GA$72,919
Gulfport, MS$72,894
Alexandria, LA$72,620
Fort Smith, AR$72,413
El Paso, TX$72,189
Las Cruces, NM$71,816
Harlingen, TX$71,606
Pocatello, ID$71,593
Florence, AL$71,485
Brownsville, TX$71,468
Mcallen, TX$71,294
Dothan, AL$71,178
Columbus, MS$70,686
Altus, OK$70,299
Lawton, OK$70,142
Pierre, SD$69,843
What Skills Can Increase a Software Development Engineer in test's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 2.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Python (Mentioned in 4.66% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
Linux (Mentioned in 2.71% Job Postings): Managing a system's hardware and resources using a Unix-like open-source operating system.
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 Software Development Engineer in test's salary.
Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Code Review: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Kubernetes: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Software Development Engineer in test Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Software Development Engineer in test roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Biotechnology and Insurance
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average.
In contrast, Software Development Engineer in test positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Software Development Engineer in test as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Software Development Engineer in test
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$103,625
$50.0
25%
Insurance
$99,480
$48.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$95,335
$46.0
15%
Internet
$95,335
$46.0
15%
Energy & Utilities
$91,190
$44.0
10%
How Education impacts a Software Development Engineer in test's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Software Development Engineer in tests 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 Software Development Engineer in test with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$78,103
and $82,080).
Software Development Engineer in test Salaries by Degree Level
$84,500
$83,600
$82,700
$81,800
$80,900
$80,000
$79,100
$78,200
No Diploma
High School
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Typical Education for Software Development Engineer in test
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.3%
High School
1.8%
Associates
2.5%
Bachelors
58.4%
Masters
34.0%
Doctorate
3.0%
Typical Education for Software Development Engineer in test
Software Development Engineer in test Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Software Development Engineer in test'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$76,089
Average$82,900/year
$89,187
$6,341
Average$6,908/month
$7,432
$1,463
Average$1,594/week
$1,715
$37
Average$40/hour
$43
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$89,187
$7,432
$1,715
$43
Average
$82,900
$6,908
$1,594
$40
25th Percentile
$76,089
$6,341
$1,463
$37
Salaries of Jobs related to Software Development Engineer in test
Salary Trends for Software Development Engineer in test
Salaries for a Software Development Engineer in test can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $85,599 in 2023
to around $85,007 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Software Development Engineer in test salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Software Development Engineer in test Over Time
$???
$85,599
$85,702
$85,007
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$85,599
2024
$85,702
2025
$85,007
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Software Development Engineer in test
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Software Development Engineer in test
Here are companies hiring for Software Development Engineer in test and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
Find Your Next Software Development Engineer in test Job
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Software Development Engineer in test 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 Software Development Engineer in test
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Software Development Engineer in test?
The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Development Engineer in test roles,
with salaries approximately 25% 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.
