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

A Software Development Engineer's salary grows with experience: a Software Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $82,060, a Software Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $105,601, a Software Development Engineer (4-7 years)earns $129,329, a Software Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $149,634, a Software Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $172,002,

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

Software Development Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Development Engineer roles are District of Columbia $142,292, California $141,752, Massachusetts $139,863. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

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

Salaries for Software Development Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Principal Software Development Engineer: $169,310; Senior Software Development Engineer: $153,177; Lead Software Development Engineer: $150,809; Embedded Software Development Engineer: $132,699; Software Development Engineer III: $129,189.

Software Development Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Software Development Engineer make in Delaware?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Development Engineer in Delaware is $130,147 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,419
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,903 to $141,282
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,576

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Software Development Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$141,282	$11,773	$2,717	$68
Average	$130,147	$10,846	$2,503	$63
25th Percentile	$119,903	$9,992	$2,306	$58

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Software Development Engineer Salaries

A Software Development 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 Development Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Development 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): $82,060
Early Career (1-2 years): $105,601
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $129,329
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $149,634
Expert (over 8 years): $172,002

Levels	Salary
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer	$82,060
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer	$105,601
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer	$129,329
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer	$149,634
Software ... Level Software Development Engineer	$172,002

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $142,292.
California: $141,752.
Massachusetts: $139,863.

District of Columbia $142,292 California $141,752 Massachusetts $139,863 Washington $139,349 New Jersey $139,297 Alaska $139,117 Connecticut $137,344 New York $136,624

Hawaii $134,324 Rhode Island $133,244 Maryland $132,512 Minnesota $131,509 Colorado $131,124 Illinois $130,995 Oregon $130,507 Delaware $130,147

New Hampshire $129,921 Virginia $129,415 Pennsylvania $127,937 Nevada $127,191 North Dakota $126,947 Michigan $126,562 Wisconsin $126,420 Vermont $126,137

Texas $125,354 Maine $125,302 Arizona $125,225 Ohio $125,135 Georgia $123,953 Indiana $123,362 Wyoming $123,246 Utah $123,066

Iowa $122,989 Kansas $122,372 Louisiana $122,192 North Carolina $122,128 Missouri $122,102 Florida $121,601 Montana $121,331 Nebraska $121,074

Kentucky $120,933 South Carolina $120,419 Tennessee $120,097 Idaho $119,969 New Mexico $119,031 Oklahoma $118,825 Alabama $118,067 South Dakota $116,794

Arkansas $116,100 West Virginia $115,728 Mississippi $114,610

Top Paying Cities for Software Development 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: $134,697
Little Creek: $133,450
Magnolia: $134,003

Lincoln, DE $134,697 Little Creek, DE $133,450 Magnolia, DE $134,003 Milford, DE $134,697 Marydel, DE $132,949 Millsboro, DE $134,697 Millville, DE $135,596 Milton, DE $134,697

Nassau, DE $134,697 Ocean View, DE $135,596 Rehoboth Beach, DE $135,596 Seaford, DE $133,283 Selbyville, DE $135,596 Smyrna, DE $132,795 Viola, DE $134,003 Woodside, DE $133,617

Bear, DE $131,818 Newark, DE $131,869 Claymont, DE $131,972 Delaware City, DE $131,869 Hockessin, DE $131,972 Kirkwood, DE $131,869 Middletown, DE $132,525 Montchanin, DE $131,972

New Castle, DE $131,972 Odessa, DE $132,705 Port Penn, DE $131,509 Rockland, DE $131,972 Saint Georges, DE $131,869 Townsend, DE $132,512 Winterthur, DE $131,972 Lewes, DE $134,697

Wilmington, DE $131,972 Dover, DE $133,386 Dover Afb, DE $133,694 Bethany Beach, DE $135,596 Bethel, DE $133,283 Bridgeville, DE $134,697 Camden Wyoming, DE $133,527 Cheswold, DE $133,077

Clayton, DE $132,743 Dagsboro, DE $135,596 Delmar, DE $133,283 Ellendale, DE $134,697 Felton, DE $134,697 Fenwick Island, DE $135,596 Frankford, DE $135,596 Frederica, DE $134,697

Georgetown, DE $134,697 Greenwood, DE $134,697 Harbeson, DE $134,697 Harrington, DE $134,697 Hartly, DE $132,679 Houston, DE $134,697 Kenton, DE $132,743 Laurel, DE $133,283

Yorklyn, DE $131,972

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

Understanding how a Software Development 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 April 01, 2026

$119,903

Average $130,147/year

$141,282

$9,992

Average $10,846/month

$11,773

$2,306

Average $2,503/week

$2,717

$58

Average $63/hour

$68

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$141,282	$11,773	$2,717	$68
Average	$130,147	$10,846	$2,503	$63
25th Percentile	$119,903	$9,992	$2,306	$58

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