Cognitive Software Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cognitive Software Engineer in the United States is $111,942 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $126,093
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,813 to $119,349
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,502
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $102,813 10% $94,502 90% $126,093 75% $119,349 $111,942 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cognitive Software Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $119,349 $9,946 $2,295 $57
Average $111,942 $9,329 $2,153 $54
25th Percentile $102,813 $8,568 $1,977 $49
Check out Cognitive Software Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Software Engineer

Loop - Columbus, OH

Software Engineer

Thomas & Reed, LLC - Columbus, OH

Senior Software Engineer

giftHEALTH Inc - Columbus, OH

Senior Software Engineer

The Piada Group - Columbus, OH

Search More Cognitive Software Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Cognitive Software Engineer Salaries

A Cognitive 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Cognitive Software Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cognitive 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): $137,426
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,316
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,576
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $123,349
  • Expert (over 8 years): $174,278
Levels Salary
Internal ... Level Cognitive Software Engineer$137,426
Auditing ... Level Cognitive Software Engineer$93,316
Cognitive... Level Cognitive Software Engineer$112,576
Auditing ... Level Cognitive Software Engineer$123,349
Auditing ... Level Cognitive Software Engineer$174,278
$137,426 0 yr
$93,316 < 2 yrs
$112,576 2-4 yrs
$123,349 5-8 yrs
$174,278 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Cognitive Software Engineer 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 Cognitive Software Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $123,942.
  • California: $123,472.
  • Massachusetts: $121,826.

Top Paying Cities for Cognitive 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: $141,192
  • San Francisco: $139,647
  • Oakland: $136,704

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.76% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Housekeeping (Mentioned in 2.65% Job Postings): Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.
  • Operating System (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Maintaining software that runs on a computer that serves as an interface between computer hardware components and the user.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.76%
Housekeeping 2.65%
Operating System 1.61%
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 Cognitive Software Engineer's salary.
  • Facilities Management: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Guest Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Facilities Management
$134,330
20%
Guest Relations
$129,853
16%
Coordination
$125,375
12%
Teamwork
$125,375
12%
Front Office
$123,136
10%
Commitment
$122,017
9%
Get Latest Data

Cognitive Software Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cognitive Software Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 95% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Cognitive Software Engineer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cognitive Software Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cognitive Software Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$139,928$67.025%
Software & Networking$136,569$66.022%
Internet$134,330$65.020%
Pharmaceuticals$132,092$64.018%
Insurance$128,733$62.015%

How Education impacts a Cognitive Software Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cognitive Software Engineers enter the field with a Associate'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 Cognitive Software Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $115,043 and $120,933).

Cognitive Software Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cognitive Software Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 2.8%
Associates 0.9%
Bachelors 48.1%
Masters 46.2%
Doctorate 0.9%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Cognitive 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 Cognitive Software Engineer

Salaries for a Cognitive Software Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $101,469 in 2023 to around $101,026 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cognitive Software Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cognitive Software Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$101,469
2024
$101,494
2025
$101,026
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $101,469
2024 $101,494
2025 $101,026
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Cognitive Software Engineer

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Cognitive Software Engineer

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

Find Your Next Cognitive Software Engineer Job

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

United States
  • giftHEALTH Inc

    Columbus, OH

    giftHEALTH Inc | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. About Us. At Gifthealth, we're revolutionizing the way people experience healthcare by simplifying the proce... more

    5 Days Ago

  • MRINetwork Jobs

    Columbus, OH

    MRINetwork Jobs | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Are you a forward-thinking engineer, read to step into a. Senior Robotics Software Engineer. role with our premier client... more

    5 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

    6 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

    6 Days Ago

  • SynergisticIT

    Columbus, OH

    SynergisticIT | Columbus, OH

    Synergisticit Job OpportunityFor more than 12 years Synergisticit has helped jobseekers stand out from other jobseekers by providing candidates the requisi... more

    6 Days Ago

  • NetJets

    Columbus, OH

    NetJets | Columbus, OH

    Software Engineer, Cybersecurity (NJUS)NetJets, the global private aviation leader for more than 60 years, provides the pinnacle of private travel, defined... more

    6 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Cognitive Software Engineer

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Cognitive Software Engineer 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.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst