▼11%
$117,142
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$82k
MEDIAN
$117k
90%
$159k
The average salary for a Software Development Engineer (SDE) is $117,142 in 2025
Base Salary
$82k - $159k
Bonus
$2k - $32k
Profit Sharing
$2k - $31k
Total Pay
$81k - $171k
Is Average Software Development Engineer (SDE) Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
What Do Software Development Engineer (SDE)s Do?
Software Development Engineer (SDE) Tasks
- Work with designers and content producers.
- Write, modify, and debug software for server applications.
- Write code to create multi-threaded, networked server applications.
- Use source debuggers, program dumps, and performance monitoring tools.
- Test and document software for server applications.
Find your market worth – how it works:
How do Software Development Engineer (SDE)s Rate Their Jobs?
Based on 41 responses, the job of Software Development Engineer (SDE) has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.82 out of 5. On average, Software Development Engineer (SDE)s are highly satisfied with their job.
Common Health Benefits for a Software Development Engineer (SDE)
Medical
90%
Dental
82%
Vision
77%
None
10%
Gender Breakdown for Software Development Engineer (SDE)s
Male
79.5%
Female
20.5%
This data is based on 132 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Software Development Engineer (SDE)s
What is the highest pay for Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Software Development Engineer (SDE) is $159k / year
What is the lowest pay for Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Software Development Engineer (SDE) is $82k / year
How can Software Development Engineer (SDE)s increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Software Development Engineer (SDE) is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Software Development Engineer (SDE) that oversees more junior Software Development Engineer (SDE)s, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.