The salary of a Software Engineer I in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Software Engineer I in the United States is $80,610. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $65,097 to a high of $95,110, with most professionals earning between $72,490 and $88,200.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $88,200 | $7,350 | $1,696 | $42 |
| Average | $80,610 | $6,718 | $1,550 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,490 | $6,041 | $1,394 | $35 |
An entry-level Software Engineer I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $80,004. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $80,837. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $82,536. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $82,876, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $83,102.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Software Engineer I | $80,004 |
| Intermediate Level Software Engineer I | $80,837 |
| Senior Level Software Engineer I | $82,536 |
| Specialist Level Software Engineer I | $82,876 |
| Expert Level Software Engineer I | $83,102 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 3% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Software Engineer I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $84,785 in 2023 to approximately $84,887 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Software Engineer I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Software Engineer I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Software Engineer I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Software Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $80,610 | 70.5% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $6,167 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,386 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $1,612 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 7.3% | ||
| Pension | $4,353 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $9,921 | 8.7% | ||
| Total Compensation | $114,401 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 1.8% |
| Associates | 2.5% |
| Bachelors | 58.4% |
| Masters | 34.0% |
| Doctorate | 3.0% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Software Engineer I is $80,610. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Software Engineer I is $39; the average weekly pay of Software Engineer I is $1,550; the average monthly pay of Software Engineer I is $6,718.
A Software Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Software Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Software Engineer I is $101,673.
The highest pay for Software Engineer I is $95,110.
The lowest pay for Software Engineer I is $65,097.
Designs and develops software applications. Performs coding, debugging, testing and troubleshooting throughout the application development process. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
JavaScript: Using JavaScript in the development and maintenance of Web-based application systems.
Linux: Managing a system's hardware and resources using a Unix-like open-source operating system.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
