▼27%
$178,226
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$129k
MEDIAN
$178k
90%
$226k
The average salary for a Staff Software Engineer is $178,226 in 2026
Base Salary
$129k - $226k
Bonus
$8k - $38k
Profit Sharing
$7k - $54k
Total Pay
$141k - $244k
Is Average Experienced Staff Software Engineer with Python Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Staff Software Engineers?
What Do Staff Software Engineers Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Staff Software Engineer
Medical
93%
Dental
87%
Vision
80%
None
7%
Gender Breakdown for Staff Software Engineers
Male
95.2%
Female
4.8%
This data is based on 21 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Staff Software Engineers
What is the highest pay for Staff Software Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Staff Software Engineer is $226k / year
What is the lowest pay for Staff Software Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Staff Software Engineer is $129k / year
How can Staff Software Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Staff Software Engineer 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 Staff Software Engineer that oversees more junior Staff Software Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.