Engineering · Salary Guide
Software Engineer Salary Guide (2026)
Software engineer compensation in the US ranges from about $95k for new grads at mid-tier companies to over $900k total comp for staff engineers at top AI labs. This guide breaks down the numbers by experience, city, and company — and shows where the real leverage sits in a negotiation.
US national median (base salary)
$160k
Total compensation typically runs 30–60% above base at public tech companies.
Salary by experience level
| Experience level | Base salary (US national) |
|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $95k – $145k |
| Mid (3–5 yrs) | $135k – $195k |
| Senior (6–9 yrs) | $180k – $270k |
| Staff / Principal (10+ yrs) | $250k – $420k |
Salary by city
Base salary ranges adjusted by local market multipliers. Click through for the full city guide with tax notes and cost-of-living context.
| City | Adjusted range | Market note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $182k – $365k | Highest base salaries in the US but COL roughly 2x national average. | Full guide |
| New York | $173k – $346k | Finance premium for quant/fintech roles. Strong Big Tech satellite offices. | Full guide |
| Seattle | $162k – $324k | No state income tax. Dominated by Amazon and Microsoft; AWS roles pay a premium. | Full guide |
| Austin | $142k – $284k | Lower base salaries but strong take-home due to zero state tax and ~40% lower housing costs than SF. | Full guide |
| Los Angeles | $155k – $311k | Strong media/entertainment tech market. Base salaries below SF but above most US markets. | Full guide |
| Remote (US) | $128k – $257k | Remote-first companies typically pay at 85–105% of SF rates regardless of employee location. | Full guide |
Top employers and their ranges
L5 target is roughly $380k TC
E5 target is roughly $440k TC
Sign-on bonuses offset lower year-1 RSU vest
Higher base ratio than Big Tech
PPU (profit participation units) rather than RSUs
Cloud/Azure roles run ~10% above average
Skills that boost salary
Negotiation tactics
- 1Never name the first number. If asked for expectations, deflect to 'I want to understand the scope before anchoring on a range' and ask what their band is.
- 2Negotiate total comp, not base. Base is the most inflexible number at large companies; sign-on, equity refresh, and level are where recruiters have latitude.
- 3Get competing offers in writing. Recruiters will move for a concrete number from a named company, not vague claims.
- 4Level matters more than salary. A level bump (L4 → L5) typically unlocks $60–120k/year and compounds across future raises.
- 5Ask for a 12-month equity refresh commitment. Initial grants cliff-vest; a refresh negotiated up front avoids a total-comp cliff in year 4.
FAQ
What is the average software engineer salary in the US?
As of 2026, the median base salary for a US software engineer is about $160,000, with a typical range of $135k–$195k for mid-level engineers. Total compensation (including equity and bonus) at public tech companies usually runs 30–60% above base.
How much do software engineers make in their first job?
New grad software engineer salaries in 2026 range from about $95k at smaller companies to $185k+ total compensation at top-tier Big Tech. The median new-grad offer at a brand-name tech company is around $145k base plus $40k–$80k/year in equity.
Is a software engineer salary higher in San Francisco or New York?
Base salaries are typically 5–10% higher in San Francisco for Big Tech roles. New York pulls ahead for fintech and quant roles, where hedge funds and prop shops pay 20–40% above equivalent tech positions. After tax, SF tends to come out ahead for standard software roles; NYC wins for finance-adjacent ones.
Do remote software engineers get paid less?
It depends on the company's remote policy. Remote-first companies (GitLab, Zapier, Automattic) typically pay location-agnostic at 85–95% of SF rates. Big Tech 'remote' offers apply geographic pay bands, discounting 15–30% for lower-COL locations. The biggest gains go to engineers who live in low-COL areas but work for companies that don't adjust.
Related Software Engineer Resources
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025 · Levels.fyi aggregated offer data (Q1 2026) · Built In salary reports (2026) · Gusto compensation data (April 2026)
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