The annual average software engineer salary in the US is $117,847 (Indeed.com, Jan 2022). This figure represents the base annual average salary in the US for software engineers, excluding total compensation components, such as cash, bonuses, stock options, and allowances.
Given the rising demand for software engineer professionals, software engineering salaries in the US will continue to be attractive in 2022. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected employment for software developers, QA analysts, and testers to grow by 22% in 2020-2030.
Software engineering makes for a gratifying career, especially in the US, where the average salary in the US for software engineers beats the average salaries earned in most other professions. It’s also well known that the average software engineering salaries paid in the US are higher than average software engineering salaries paid in different countries worldwide.
In this article, we bring you insights on average software engineer salaries at FAANG+ companies at different levels, how software engineering salaries differ by location, foresight on software engineering salary trends in 2022, and top software engineering salary drivers.
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Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
- What Is the Average Salary in the US for Software Engineers at FAANG?
- Average Salary of Software Engineer in the US Based on Levels
- Average Salary of Software Engineer in the US Based on Location
- Will the Average Salary of Software Engineers in the US Increase in 2022?
- In-demand Tech Skills to Earn a Higher-Than-Average Software Engineer Salary in the US in 2022
- FAQs on the Average Salary in the US for Software Engineers
What Is the Average Salary for Software Engineers at FAANG in the US?
FAANG software engineering jobs are among the most sought after by software engineering professionals, evidenced by the high volume of applications FAANG companies receive annually. For example, Google gets approximately 3 million applications a year (cnbc.com).
Landing a job at FAANG or a tier-1 tech company is the best way to beat the average. FAANG+ firms in the US are among the highest-paying global tech corporations, in addition to being among the top places to work for software engineers.
Take a look at the 10 Highest Paying Tech Jobs in FAANG Companies here.
Let’s also look at the average salary for software engineers that you can expect to earn at Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google.
Average Software Engineer Salary in the US in 2022
(Source: Comparably.com, Jan 2022)
Average Salary of Software Engineer in the US Based on Levels
Tech companies use a system of levels to identify software engineers of varying degrees of experience, skill, and responsibility. Generally, the higher the level, the higher the total compensation. Thus, upskilling and gunning for more senior positions can help you achieve your salary goals.
For example, Google software engineer salaries range from $138,000 - $330,000 based on levels at the company.
(Source: Levels.fyi)
Levels.fyi’s “End of Year Pay Report 2021” provides insights on annual software engineer salaries based on levels. The report ranks top-paying companies by software engineer salaries at a particular level. Every company has a different way of leveling employees, broadly classified based on seniority.
Average Salary of Software Engineer in the US Based on Location
The average salary in the US for software engineers differs based on location, with some US cities paying more than others. Levels.fyi’s “End of Year Pay Report 2021” ranks top-paying US metros by median pay for software engineers.
When comparing average software engineer salaries in the US based on location, consider the cost of living to gain a more realistic understanding of how lucrative an offer appears.
Will the Average Salary of Software Engineers in the US Increase in 2022?
Robert Half, a leading HR consulting firm, published the ‘Salary Guide 2022’ which indicates a rise in average software engineering salaries for those software engineers with specialized, in-demand skills.
For example, front-end developers and database administrators may see average salaries rise over 6% compared to the average salary hike of 3.8%.
Senior software engineers will also continue to enjoy increases in average salaries driven by a high demand for software professionals with deep experience. Senior software engineers with managerial experience and soft skills, in addition to expertise in hard skills, are sought after in the tech industry to drive large teams and lead new, competitive, complex projects.
Here’s how you can Triple Your Salary as a Software Engineer in Three Years.
In-demand Tech Skills to Beat the Average Software Engineering Salary in the US in 2022
Tech is constantly evolving with new technologies creating new business opportunities. Software professionals with the right skills can command higher salaries as tech companies face a gross shortage of skilled software engineers for new and advanced technologies.
Based on the Robert Half Salary Guide 2022, Cision PR Newswire indicates a shortage of skilled software engineers to such an extent that half the companies hiring new talent will hire developers that are not a perfect fit for the skillset they seek.
In the coming years, some of the most in-demand tech fields are data science, data analysis, data privacy, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.
Below are the average salaries* for software engineers in the US in in-demand tech fields:
- Cloud Engineer - $118,870
- Machine Learning Engineer - $130,800
- Network Security Engineer - $114,555
- Data Engineer - $116,901
- Data Warehouse Architect - $123,322
(*Indeed.com, Jan 2022)
Get detailed insights on the Highest Paying Tech Jobs and Skills in 2022.
It is clear that tech companies in the US offer the most lucrative opportunities for software engineers to earn higher salaries, especially with upcoming technologies gaining popularity and widespread adoption. A shortage of skilled software engineers coupled with rising demand for specialized software skills is a major factor in driving average software engineering salaries upwards in 2022 and beyond.
FAQs on the Average Salary in the US for Software Engineers
Q1. What is the highest salary a software engineer can earn in the US?
Software engineer salaries vary based on levels, experience, skill or expertise, and location. The highest salary a software engineer can earn can go up to approximately $181,249.
Q2. What is the highest Google software engineering salary?
Based on information on Levels.fyi, the highest Google software engineer salary is about $330,000 for a Principal Engineer at level L8. The highest total compensation for a Google software engineer at this position and level is about $996,000 (comprises base salary, stock, and bonus figures).
Q3. What is the average senior software engineer salary in the US for a software professional with 10 years of experience?
Salaries reported on Indeed indicate an average salary of $148,380 for a senior software engineer with over 10 years of experience. This figure varies between companies based on each company’s system of leveling.
Q4. Where in the US is the average software engineer salary the highest?
Levels.fyi’s “End of Year Pay Report 2021” indicates tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and New York offer the highest software engineering salaries.
Q5. Which software engineering roles pay the highest salaries?
Roles that are in-demand and for which there is a shortage of skilled professionals offer the highest software engineer salaries than those with adequate supply. For example, full-stack developers earn more than software engineers with single-area specializations; data scientists are offered higher salaries being in short supply when compared to QA engineers.
How to Crack Tech Interviews and Get Top Software Engineering Salary Offers
Upskilling to stay relevant in an ever-changing tech field is the key to maintaining the ability to command higher software engineering salaries.
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Our pioneering domain-specific courses can help you develop skills in in-demand tech fields of your choice. Combined with our interview and career guidance, you can now navigate new and advanced tech fields to land the software engineering salary offer of your dreams.
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