How much do software engineers make?
Software developers earn a median of about $133,080 per year, which works out to roughly $64 per hour (BLS, May 2024). Pay ranges from under about $79,850 for entry-level roles to over $211,450 for the top 10 percent, and big-tech total compensation runs far higher.
Cost breakdown
| Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (lowest 10%) | Under ~$79,850 | About $38/hour; new graduates and lower-cost regions (BLS) |
| Median (national) | $133,080 | About $64/hour; median for software developers (BLS, May 2024) |
| Top earners (highest 10%) | Over ~$211,450 | About $102/hour; senior engineers and high-cost metros (BLS) |
| Big tech, entry level (total comp) | ~$170,000 - $280,000 | FAANG-tier new grads; base plus equity and signing bonus |
| Big tech, senior/staff (total comp) | $350,000 - $1,000,000+ | Driven mostly by stock grants; varies widely by company |
Typical software engineer pay
The median annual wage for software developers is about $133,080, or roughly $64 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). Median means half of developers earn more and half earn less, so it is a better midpoint than the higher averages some salary sites report.
Earnings span a wide range. The lowest 10 percent earn under about $79,850 per year, while the top 10 percent earn over about $211,450. Geography matters a lot: median wages in top tech metros can exceed $200,000, while smaller markets sit closer to or below the national median.
Big tech versus the average employer
The BLS figures reflect base wages across all employers, so they understate pay at large technology companies. At FAANG-tier firms, new-graduate total compensation commonly lands around $170,000 to $280,000 once base salary, annualized equity, and signing bonuses are combined.
The gap widens with seniority. Mid-level engineers at top firms often earn $250,000 to $350,000, and senior or staff engineers can reach $350,000 to over $1,000,000, largely because of stock grants. These packages are the exception, not the typical software job, which is why the national median is far lower.
What drives earnings
The biggest factors are the employer, location, years of experience, and specialization. Engineers at well-funded tech companies and in high-cost metros earn the most, while those at smaller firms, agencies, or in lower-cost regions earn closer to or below the national median.
Equity is the wild card. At public big-tech companies a large share of total compensation comes from stock that vests over several years, so reported pay rises and falls with share prices. Outside of those firms, most software engineers are paid mainly in salary plus a modest bonus.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median software engineer salary?
- About $133,080 per year, or roughly $64 per hour, for software developers according to BLS data (May 2024), with half earning more and half earning less.
- How much do big tech engineers make?
- FAANG-tier new grads often see $170,000 to $280,000 in total compensation, and senior or staff engineers can reach $350,000 to over $1,000,000, mostly because of stock grants.
- Why is the national median lower than big-tech pay?
- BLS tracks base wages across all employers, including smaller firms and lower-cost regions, while big-tech packages add large equity grants that only a minority of engineers receive.
Researched and edited by Calvin Lauderdale, Lead Researcher & Editor. Figures on this page were verified against the sources above as of June 23, 2026.