Software Engineer
Job Demand
growth projected
Work from Home
of roles are remote
Getting In
Some prep needed
Some background helps
Your Timeline
4-8 months
to land your first role
National salary distribution
Annual salary percentiles for Software Engineer roles across the US
Median Salary
$133,080
Top 10% Earn
$200K
Job Growth
+15%
US Employment
1795K
Salary by location
Where software engineers earn the most
Certifications that boost this salary
How specific certifications impact earning potential for software engineers
AWS Solutions Architect
Holders earn 17% more on average
Without
$130,000
With cert
$152,000
Key skills
Education
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field (or equivalent experience)
Want to earn this salary?
See the step-by-step roadmap to becoming a software engineer, including courses, certifications, and timeline.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, supplemented with Levels.fyi and Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025.