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Automotive Software Engineer Salary in District of Columbia

How much does an Automotive Software Engineer make in District of Columbia?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Automotive Software Engineer in District of Columbia is $144,169 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $166,209
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $131,679 to $155,706
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $120,309
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $131,679 10% $120,309 90% $166,209 75% $155,706 $144,169 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Automotive Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $155,706 $12,975 $2,994 $75
Average $144,169 $12,014 $2,772 $69
25th Percentile $131,679 $10,973 $2,532 $63
Check out Automotive Software Engineer Job Openings in District of Columbia
Software Engineer

IQUASAR LLC - Washington, DC

Software Engineer

Z FEDERAL - Washington, DC

Software Engineer

LoVasco Consulting Group - Washington, DC

Software Engineer

Saxon Global - Washington, DC

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Key Factors That Influence Automotive Software Engineer Salaries

An Automotive 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 Automotive Software Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Automotive 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): $92,028
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $118,432
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $145,036
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $167,800
  • Expert (over 8 years): $192,899
Levels Salary
Software ... Level Automotive Software Engineer$92,028
Software ... Level Automotive Software Engineer$118,432
Automotiv... Level Automotive Software Engineer$145,036
Software ... Level Automotive Software Engineer$167,800
Software ... Level Automotive Software Engineer$192,899
$92,028 0 yr
$118,432 < 2 yrs
$145,036 2-4 yrs
$167,800 5-8 yrs
$192,899 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Automotive 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:

  • Parcel Return Service: $143,386
  • Washington: $143,387
  • Naval Anacost Annex: $143,381

Automotive Software Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Automotive Software Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 27% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 14% above the average. In contrast, Automotive Software Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Automotive Software Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Automotive Software Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$164,352$79.014%
Aerospace & Defense$161,469$78.012%
Internet$160,027$77.011%
Biotechnology$158,585$76.010%
Software & Networking$157,144$76.09%

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

Understanding how an Automotive 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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$131,679
Average $144,169/year
$155,706
$10,973
Average $12,014/month
$12,975
$2,532
Average $2,772/week
$2,994
$63
Average $69/hour
$75
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $155,706 $12,975 $2,994 $75
Average $144,169 $12,014 $2,772 $69
25th Percentile $131,679 $10,973 $2,532 $63

Salaries of jobs related to Automotive Software Engineer

Find Your Next Automotive Software Engineer Job

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

United States

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    Job Description. Job Description. We’re looking for a Senior Software Engineer to lead software development initiatives for enterprise AI platforms, provid... more

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    Job Description. Job Description. We’re looking for a Software Engineer to develop and maintain full stack software applications and services supporting AI... more

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    Washington, DC

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    6 Days Ago

  • Bow Wave LLC

    Washington, DC

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    Bow Wave LLC | Washington, DC

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    10 Days Ago

  • Bow Wave LLC

    Washington, DC

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    Job Description. Job Description. The Software Engineer is responsible for the design, development, testing, and management of application development proj... more

    10 Days Ago

  • Computational Physics, Inc.

    Washington, DC

    Software Engineer DevSecOps Engineer

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    Job Description. Job Description. Computational Physics, Inc. (CPI) is looking for a Full-Time Software Engineer / DevSecOps Engineer to support our custom... more

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Cost of Living In District of Columbia

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