SOFTWARE ENGINEER SALARIES
Thinking of becoming a software engineer? Here's what you can expect to earn in this top job.
By Jennifer Wegerer
Jobs in computer software engineering continue to experience outstanding growth. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 26% job growth for software developers through 2031. But exceptional job growth is just one of the many reasons to start a career in software engineering. Autonomy, creativity, cutting-edge technology—all of these draw students to software engineering as a profession. And a software engineer salary isn't too bad either.
Software Engineer Salary Analysis
| Engineering Job Title | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Developers | $120,730 |
| Computer Network Architects | $120,520 |
| Web Developers | $77,030 |
| Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $98,220 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, 2021.
The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors. National long-term projections of employment growth may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.
Location may not matter as much to future software engineers as does using their creativity and technical expertise to make their mark at a particular company. Among the most popular employers for software engineers, Google takes first place when it comes to software engineer salaries, according to PayScale.com. Next in line are IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel Corporation, Cisco Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Salary Prospects Match Your Creativity and Innovation
If a career in software engineering is in your future, you can anticipate strong salary prospects to match the technology expertise, creativity, and innovation that you can bring to the table. With so many professions suffering through tough economic times, the fact that software engineering jobs continue to experience outstanding growth indicates the long-term rewards of joining this exciting and dynamic profession.