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Machine Learning Engineer
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If you’re a software engineer on the hunt for a new job, salary is one of the most important aspects. For software engineers, compensation often reflects not only years of experience but also technical depth, problem-solving ability, industry demand, and the economic value they create for organizations.
The software engineer position is expected to experience a high growth rate of 15% from 2024 to 2034, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In this guide, we’ll share what the average software engineer salary and typical ranges are, some key criteria that influence pay, and practical strategies to increase your salary as a software engineer over time.
Software Engineer Salary by Experience
First, let’s look at software engineer salaries by experience level.
Average software engineer salary
According to Indeed, the average total pay for software engineers in the U.S is $130,463 per year, ranging from $78,477 to $216,885.
As you would expect, entry-level roles start near the lower bound, mid-level engineers cluster around the average, and senior and staff engineers account for the upper tail of the range.
Junior software engineer salary
Junior software engineers usually have 0–2 years of professional experience. Their focus is on learning core tools, understanding existing codebases, and shipping features under supervision.
A junior software engineer's average base salary in the United States is lower, at $82,303 per year.
Common characteristics of junior salaries:
- Lower base pay but rapid growth potential
- Compensation is tied closely to location and company size
- Strong dependence on mentorship and training investment
Senior software engineer salary
Senior software engineers typically have 5–10+ years of experience and are expected to operate with minimal oversight.
A senior software engineer's average base salary in the United States is significantly higher, at $155,808 per year.
Senior-level compensation reflects:
- Ownership of system design and architecture
- Leadership in technical decision-making
- Direct impact on scalability, reliability, and performance
Software Engineer Salary by Location
Software engineer salaries vary widely by location due to cost of living, local demand, and concentration of technology companies.
Software engineer salary in the United States
The United States remains the highest-paying major market for software engineers.
Different sources report different US averages: Zippia reports a general average of about $100,000, while Indeed reports the higher number of roughly $130,000 mentioned above. The reason is that they use distinct datasets and methodologies, so any single figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a precise truth.
The software engineer’s average salary also highly differs based on the state in the US. In Alabama, the average salary according to Zippia is only $69,250, which is about 40% less than California’s average salary of $115,477.
Despite these discrepancies, the pattern of strong regional variation within the US is consistent across datasets. High-cost tech hubs offer significantly higher salaries than lower-cost regions.
Software engineer salary in the United Kingdom
In the UK, software engineer salaries are generally lower than in the US. According to Indeed, the average salary is £50,969 per year, which at the current conversion rate equals approximately $67,500.
Although senior engineers will be able to make more competitive salaries, they are still not as attractive as US-based engineers.
Average salaries often range from GBP 45,000 to GBP 75,000 depending on experience.
Software engineer salary in the European Union
The European Union shows significant variation across countries. Let’s look at some examples of salaries from a few selected countries.
Germany has one of the most attractive software engineer salaries in Europe. On average, a BA in Germany can expect to earn around €60,000 - €75,000 a year, which currently equals about $69,000 - $86,000. As a Senior, this goes up to €65,000 - €81,000 (or $75.000 - $93,000) on average per year.
Similarly, in the Netherlands, you can expect a higher pay of €60,000 - €86,000, which increases to almost €95,000 as a senior analyst, which translates to $109,000 currently.
In France, the average pay base is a little less at € 40,000 to €60,000 a year, with little difference in rate as an entry-level candidate.
General trends:
- Northern and Western Europe pay more than Southern and Eastern Europe
- Strong labor protections but lower salary ceilings
Software engineer salary in remote and global markets
Remote work has created a global labor market for software engineers. Common models include location-adjusted salaries and flat global pay bands. It depends on the specific company’s policies and the country of residence.
While remote roles may not always match top US salaries, they often exceed local compensation significantly, at $85,000 - $144,000 per year.
Software Engineer Salary by Job Title and Specialization
Job title and specialization strongly influence salary due to differences in scarcity, complexity, and business impact.
Frontend developer salary
Frontend developers focus on user interfaces and user experience. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $121,183.
Salary characteristics:
- Strong demand but larger talent pool
- Moderate salary compared to backend roles
Backend developer salary
Backend developers build APIs, databases, and core services. This requires deep technical expertise and can pay competitively. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $153,254.
Typical trends:
- Higher pay due to system complexity
- Strong demand across industries
Full-stack developer salary
Full-stack developers combine frontend and backend skills. Since they require a larger set of skills, they tend to pay competitive salaries. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $132,855.
DevOps engineer salary
DevOps engineers manage infrastructure, CI/CD, and reliability. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $129,444.
Salary drivers include:
- High responsibility for uptime
- Strong overlap with cloud skills
Mobile application developer salary
Mobile developers specialize in iOS or Android platforms. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $126,699.
Compensation reflects:
- Platform expertise
- Consumer-facing product impact
Cloud engineer salary
Cloud engineers design and operate scalable cloud systems. The demand for cloud skills is on the rise, and could lead to more competitive salaries. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $135,860.
High pay is driven by:
- Migration complexity
- Vendor-specific expertise
Machine learning engineer salary
Machine learning engineers work on data-driven and predictive systems.
These roles often command premium salaries due to:
- Advanced math and modeling skills
- Direct revenue and optimization impact
In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $186,067, which is the highest of all job titles we’re covering in this article.
Want to explore a career in machine learning engineering? Our Machine Learning Engineer track would be the perfect place to begin.
QA and test automation engineer salary
QA engineers ensure software quality and reliability. Automation skills significantly increase earning potential. This translates into better salaries. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $130,111.
Security engineer salary
Security engineers protect systems from threats. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $84,371. This job function has a lesser direct revenue impact, so they tend to earn lower salaries compared to other software engineer roles.
Embedded systems engineer salary
Embedded engineers work close to hardware. According to ZipRecruiter, they earn an average salary of $137,274 per year.
Pay reflects:
- Specialized knowledge
- Industry-specific demand
AI engineer salary
AI engineers build and deploy intelligent systems. The rise in demand for AI talent is reflected in a competitive average salary of $150,846 per year in the US.
This role often overlaps with machine learning, but focuses more on production deployment and integration.
For a full guide on AI engineer salaries, check out our AI Engineer Salary Guide.
If you want to explore a career in AI engineering, I recommend getting started with our Associate AI Engineer for Developers career track.
Software Engineer Salary for Freelancers
Freelance software engineering has grown rapidly alongside remote work adoption. In the US, freelance software engineers earn about $111,845 per year or $53.77 per hour.
Key characteristics:
- Hourly or project-based compensation
- Income variability and lower job security
- Higher potential upside
Software Engineer Salary Across Industries
Industry choice also affects compensation. Let’s take a look at some of the most relevant ones.
Technology
Technology companies often pay the highest salaries due to the high impact of the software development products the engineers build. According to Zippia, they earn an average annual salary of $111,876 in the US.
One distinction we have to make is between large companies and smaller startups. Large firms usually offer a high base pay plus equity, but startup positions sometimes even pay higher salaries.
The reported average startup salary across industries is at $122,617, so slightly higher than the tech industry average.
Finance
Finance values reliability and performance. Salaries often exceed technology averages, especially in trading and fintech. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $104,574.
Healthcare
Healthcare pays relatively well and offers some stability. Engineering roles focus on compliance and data security. In the US, they earn an average annual salary of $126,344, which even exceeds the average pay in tech and finance.
Retail
Retail salaries are lower on average at $83,178 per year. However, large-scale e-commerce platforms can potentially pay competitively.
Software Engineer Salary by Skills
In a highly technical role like a software engineer, specific skills can significantly influence salary. We’ll explore how these skills affect salary below.
Skills in system architecture, distributed systems, cloud computing, and operating systems correlate to above-average pay.
High-paying programming languages
Languages associated with infrastructure and systems tend to pay more. Two good examples for this are Python ($90,464) and Java ($88,532).
What You Can Do to Increase Your Software Engineer Salary
As we’ve seen, the salaries of software developers can have a huge range depending on technical skill level, position, and experience in developing software. This means you can choose several different paths to raise your salary:
- University degrees: Graduate degrees can unlock research and leadership roles.
- Upskilling with courses: Focused learning of concepts, tools, and programming languages accelerates career growth. For junior software engineers, I recommend enrolling in our Python Developer skill track.
- Specializing in AI: Machine learning and AI engineers are in demand. Consider acquiring skills in this future-proof area, for instance, with our Machine Learning Engineer and Associate AI Engineer for Developers career tracks.
- Technical certifications: Certifications validate expertise and signal commitment.
- Transitioning to management: Engineering managers often earn more by combining leadership and technical skills.
- Changing employers: Strategic job changes frequently result in salary jumps.
- Relocating to tech hubs: Geography still matters for top compensation.
- Contributing to open source: Open source work increases visibility and credibility.
Software Engineer Salary Future Trends
According to LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise list, many countries have stated that AI literacy is among the top skills to have. This means that software engineers of the future should be looking for ways to learn how to use AI to build better software or improve their portfolio.
Being well-equipped with the right AI skills to become an AI-native engineer could possibly set you up for more opportunities in this AI wave. Our AI for Software Engineering skill track covers all the best practices and teaches you how to get hands-on with tools such as GitHub Copilot or Replit.
Getting Started as a Software Engineer
If you are early in your journey, focus on building strong fundamentals, choosing in-demand skills, and practicing interview questions. With demand continuing to rise, software engineering remains one of the most rewarding technical careers available.
If you are considering starting or advancing your career as a software engineer, read more in our guide on How to Become a Software Engineer. If you’re currently interviewing for a new role, you might also want to check out our Top Software Engineering Interview Questions guide.
