Senior Software Development Lead Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Software Development Lead make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Software Development Lead in the United States is $167,666 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $81.

However, a Senior Software Development Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $191,422
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $157,189 to $180,101
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $147,650
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View as table View as graph 25% $157,189 10% $147,650 90% $191,422 75% $180,101 $167,666 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Senior Software Development Lead Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $180,101 $15,008 $3,463 $87
Average $167,666 $13,972 $3,224 $81
25th Percentile $157,189 $13,099 $3,023 $76
Check out Senior Software Development Lead Job Openings in the United States
Software Development Manager

TherapyNotes.com - HORSHAM, PA

System Software Engineer

FUSE Engineering - FORT MEADE, MD

Sr Software Engineer Team Lead

Dynamic Animation Systems Inc - BETHESDA, MD

Software Engineer II

Shadow Strategies, LLC - COLUMBIA, MD

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Key Factors That Influence Senior Software Development Lead Salaries

A Senior Software Development Lead'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 Senior Software Development Lead Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Software Development Lead'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): $164,755
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $165,192
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,211
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $167,375
  • Expert (over 8 years): $169,806
Levels Salary
Entry Level Senior Software Development Lead$164,755
Intermediate Level Senior Software Development Lead$165,192
Senior Level Senior Software Development Lead$166,211
Specialist Level Senior Software Development Lead$167,375
Expert Level Senior Software Development Lead$169,806
$164,755 0 yr
$165,192 < 2 yrs
$166,211 2-4 yrs
$167,375 5-8 yrs
$169,806 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Senior Software Development Lead 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 Senior Software Development Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $185,640.
  • California: $184,936.
  • Massachusetts: $182,471.

Top Paying Cities for Senior Software Development Leads

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: $211,477
  • San Francisco: $209,398
  • Oakland: $204,754

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Software Development Lead's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.75% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.66% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Docker (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.75%
Agile 3.66%
Docker 2.33%
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 Senior Software Development Lead's salary.
  • Employment Authorization: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Experimenting: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Mentoring Others: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Employment Authorization
 $174,373
4%
Experimenting
 $174,373
4%
Mentoring Others
 $174,373
4%
Diversity and Inclusion
 $172,696
3%
Docker
 $172,696
3%
People Management
 $172,696
3%
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How Education impacts a Senior Software Development Lead's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Senior Software Development Leads 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 Senior Software Development Lead with a Bachelor's Degree is between $154,371 and $162,936).

Senior Software Development Lead Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Senior Software Development Lead
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.6%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 45.9%
Masters 45.3%
Doctorate 4.6%
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Senior Software Development Lead Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Software Development Lead'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 January 01, 2026
$157,189
Average $167,666/year
$180,101
$13,099
Average $13,972/month
$15,008
$3,023
Average $3,224/week
$3,463
$76
Average $81/hour
$87
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $180,101 $15,008 $3,463 $87
Average $167,666 $13,972 $3,224 $81
25th Percentile $157,189 $13,099 $3,023 $76

Salaries of jobs related to Senior Software Development Lead

Salary Trends for Senior Software Development Lead

Salaries for a Senior Software Development Lead can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $150,464 in 2023 to around $149,579 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Senior Software Development Lead salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Senior Software Development Lead Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$150,464
2024
$150,949
2025
$149,579
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $150,464
2024 $150,949
2025 $149,579
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Senior Software Development Lead

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

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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