Software Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Associate make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Associate in the United States is $55,841 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,218
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,998 to $61,796
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,678
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View as table View as graph 25% $49,998 10% $44,678 90% $67,218 75% $61,796 $55,841 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,796 $5,150 $1,188 $30
Average $55,841 $4,653 $1,074 $27
25th Percentile $49,998 $4,166 $961 $24
Check out Software Associate Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Software Associate Salaries

A Software Associate'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 Software Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Associate'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): $53,812
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $54,218
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,247
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,638
  • Expert (over 8 years): $59,882
Levels Salary
Entry Level Software Associate$53,812
Intermediate Level Software Associate$54,218
Senior Level Software Associate$56,247
Specialist Level Software Associate$58,638
Expert Level Software Associate$59,882
$53,812 0 yr
$54,218 < 2 yrs
$56,247 2-4 yrs
$58,638 5-8 yrs
$59,882 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Associate 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 Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $61,827.
  • California: $61,592.
  • Massachusetts: $60,772.

Top Paying Cities for Software Associates

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: $70,432
  • San Francisco: $69,740
  • Oakland: $68,193

What Skills Can Increase a Software Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.96% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Painting (Mentioned in 6.31% Job Postings): Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and airbrushes, can be used. The final work is also called a painting. Painting is an important form in the visual arts, bringing in elements such as drawing, gesture (as in gestural painting), composition, narration (as in narrative art), or abstraction (as in abstract art). Paintings can be naturalistic and representational (as in a still life or landscape painting), photographic, abstract, narrative, symbolistic (as in Symbolist art), emotive (as in Expressionism), or political in nature (as in Artivism). A portion of the history of painting in both Eastern and Western art is dominated by religious art. Examples of this kind of painting range from artwork depicting mythological figures on pottery, to Biblical scenes Sistine Chapel ceiling, to scenes from the life of Buddha or other images of Eastern religious origin.
  • Repairing (Mentioned in 2.48% Job Postings): To put something that is damaged, broken, or not working correctly, back into good condition or make it work again.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.96%
Painting 6.31%
Repairing 2.48%
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 Software Associate's salary.
  • Packaging: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Packaging
$57,516
3%
Innovation
$57,516
3%
Leadership
$57,516
3%
Pneumatics
$56,958
2%
Verbal Communication
$56,958
2%
Standard Operating Procedures
$56,958
2%
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Software Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Associate'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 Software Associate

Salaries for a Software Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $52,504 in 2023 to around $51,898 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$52,504
2024
$52,270
2025
$51,898
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $52,504
2024 $52,270
2025 $51,898
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Associate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Associate

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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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