What are the main factors that influence a Software Design Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Software Design Engineer's salary?

A Software Design Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $127,685 for beginners, reaching about $130,028 at mid-level, and approach $138,839 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Software Design Engineer?

Software Design Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Design Engineer roles are District of Columbia $143,870, California $143,324, Massachusetts $141,414. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Design Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Software Design Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Software Release Engineer Expert: $171,990; Software Release Engineer Specialist: $139,290; Software Release Engineer Senior: $123,090; Electronics Design Engineer III: $120,800; Software Design: $110,924.

Software Design Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Software Design Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Design Engineer in Delaware is $131,590 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,941
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,344 to $142,243
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,105

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Software Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$142,243	$11,854	$2,735	$68
Average	$131,590	$10,966	$2,531	$63
25th Percentile	$120,344	$10,029	$2,314	$58

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Software Design Engineer Salaries

A Software Design 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 Software Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Design 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): $127,685
Early Career (1-2 years): $128,466
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $130,028
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $135,775
Expert (over 8 years): $138,839

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Software Design Engineer	$127,685
Intermediate Level Software Design Engineer	$128,466
Senior Level Software Design Engineer	$130,028
Specialist Level Software Design Engineer	$135,775
Expert Level Software Design Engineer	$138,839

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $143,870.
California: $143,324.
Massachusetts: $141,414.

District of Columbia $143,870 California $143,324 Massachusetts $141,414 Washington $140,894 New Jersey $140,842 Alaska $140,660 Connecticut $138,867 New York $138,139

Hawaii $135,813 Rhode Island $134,722 Maryland $133,981 Minnesota $132,968 Colorado $132,578 Illinois $132,448 Oregon $131,954 Delaware $131,590

New Hampshire $131,362 Virginia $130,850 Pennsylvania $129,355 Nevada $128,602 North Dakota $128,355 Michigan $127,965 Wisconsin $127,822 Vermont $127,536

Texas $126,743 Maine $126,692 Arizona $126,614 Ohio $126,523 Georgia $125,327 Indiana $124,729 Wyoming $124,612 Utah $124,431

Iowa $124,353 Kansas $123,729 Louisiana $123,547 North Carolina $123,482 Missouri $123,456 Florida $122,949 Montana $122,676 Nebraska $122,416

Kentucky $122,274 South Carolina $121,754 Tennessee $121,429 Idaho $121,299 New Mexico $120,350 Oklahoma $120,143 Alabama $119,376 South Dakota $118,089

Arkansas $117,388 West Virginia $117,011 Mississippi $115,880

Top Paying Cities for Software Design 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:

Lincoln: $136,190
Little Creek: $134,930
Magnolia: $135,488

Lincoln, DE $136,190 Little Creek, DE $134,930 Magnolia, DE $135,488 Milford, DE $136,190 Marydel, DE $134,423 Millsboro, DE $136,190 Millville, DE $137,100 Milton, DE $136,190

Nassau, DE $136,190 Ocean View, DE $137,100 Rehoboth Beach, DE $137,100 Seaford, DE $134,761 Selbyville, DE $137,100 Smyrna, DE $134,267 Viola, DE $135,488 Woodside, DE $135,099

Bear, DE $133,279 Newark, DE $133,331 Claymont, DE $133,435 Delaware City, DE $133,331 Hockessin, DE $133,435 Kirkwood, DE $133,331 Middletown, DE $133,994 Montchanin, DE $133,435

New Castle, DE $133,435 Odessa, DE $134,176 Port Penn, DE $132,968 Rockland, DE $133,435 Saint Georges, DE $133,331 Townsend, DE $133,981 Winterthur, DE $133,435 Lewes, DE $136,190

Wilmington, DE $133,435 Dover, DE $134,865 Dover Afb, DE $135,177 Bethany Beach, DE $137,100 Bethel, DE $134,761 Bridgeville, DE $136,190 Camden Wyoming, DE $135,008 Cheswold, DE $134,553

Clayton, DE $134,215 Dagsboro, DE $137,100 Delmar, DE $134,761 Ellendale, DE $136,190 Felton, DE $136,190 Fenwick Island, DE $137,100 Frankford, DE $137,100 Frederica, DE $136,190

Georgetown, DE $136,190 Greenwood, DE $136,190 Harbeson, DE $136,190 Harrington, DE $136,190 Hartly, DE $134,150 Houston, DE $136,190 Kenton, DE $134,215 Laurel, DE $134,761

Yorklyn, DE $133,435

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

Understanding how a Software Design 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 January 01, 2026

$120,344

Average $131,590/year

$142,243

$10,029

Average $10,966/month

$11,854

$2,314

Average $2,531/week

$2,735

$58

Average $63/hour

$68

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$142,243	$11,854	$2,735	$68
Average	$131,590	$10,966	$2,531	$63
25th Percentile	$120,344	$10,029	$2,314	$58

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