In the United States,the software engineer salary is between $56,380 and $124,539 per year. For software engineers in Canada, the pay range is C$48,720 ($36,268 USD) to C$97,908 ($72,934 USD) per year. Software engineers are paid between £24,237 ($30,261 USD) and £55,695 ($69,878 USD) in the United Kingdom, AU$50,742 ($37,961 USD) and AU$107,621 ($80,513 USD) in Australia, CHF53,597 ($52,955 USD) and CHF131,043 ($129,473 USD) in Switzerland, and NOK302,248 ($35,477 USD) and NOK902,727 ($105,957 USD) in Norway.
Learn below how the nature of the industry, location, and experience contribute to the earnings of software engineers.
Software Engineer Salary Influencers
Salaries of software engineers are shaped by geography, the type of employer and the experience and expertise of the engineer. Where populations are more tech savvy, software engineers will have better job and pay prospects. Experience can lead to senior positions and higher earnings.
1. Industry
Companies that provide software or application design services tend to employ more software engineers. For instance, in the United States, roughly one in three work in the computer systems design and related services sector. Other common employers include search engine companies, software and application publishers, and social media firms. Automotive companies rely on software engineers from component makers or in-house for features such as in-car navigation systems and apps.
2. Geographical Area
Software Engineer Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
Hourly Wage | $38.84 | C$33.03 | £16.32 | AU$35.49 | CHF44.02 | NOK294.83 |
Annual Wage | $80,778 | C$68,704 | £33,943 | AU$73,809 | CHF91,560 | NOK613,237 |
Software Engineer Salary in the US
According to PayScale, software engineers in the United States earn on average $80,778 per year. Pay runs between $56,280 and $125,539 per year.
Software Engineer Salary in Canada
PayScale states that Canadian software engineers are paid on average C$68,704 on an annual basis. Total earnings range between C$48,720 and C$97,908. Within the senior software engineer ranks, salaries run between C$67,301 and C$118,917 and the average salary is C$88,797.
Software Engineer Salary in the UK
According to PayScale, the average pay for software engineers in the United Kingdom is £33,943 per year. Earnings span between £24,237 and £55,695. For senior software engineers, the range is £33,070 to £67,439 per year, while the average stands at £44,499 per year.
Software Engineer Salary in Australia
In Australia, software engineer pay stands at an average of AU$73,809 annually. Software engineers make between AU$50,742 and AU$107,621. Among senior software engineers, earnings average AU$96,988 and range from AU$71,540 to AU$130,436.
Software Engineer Salary in Switzerland
According to PayScale, software engineers in Switzerland make on average CHF91,560 per year. Earnings run between CHF53,597 and CHF131,043 per year. For entry level software engineers, pay averages CHF87,761 and ranges from CHF50,571 to CHF124,280.
Software Engineer Salary in Norway
Software Engineers in Norway make, on average, $71,945 per year. Salaries range between $35,477 and $105,957 per year.
3. Experience
Software engineers generally start as entry-level software programmers or developers. Working in these positions or computer science or Internet technology affords necessary exposure to programming languages. Depending on the employer, experience as an information technology project manager also helps prepare would-be software engineers. With more experience comes the ability to become a software engineer and advance to a senior software engineer position.
For some employers, software engineers need experience or a background in the industry of work. For example, those who work on banking applications may need familiarity with finance, mortgages, certificates of deposit or other banking products. In the medical field, software engineers may need knowledge of medical and health terminology.
Students in computer science or related programs can gain experience through assignments and projects in their classes. Internships also afford another opportunity for experience.
Working Hours
As a general rule, software engineers log full-time hours. According to the Australian government, the average work week for software and applications programmers lasts 38.7 hours per week. In the United Kingdom, software engineers work 35 to 40 hours per week.
Deadlines for application or product rollouts may require these professionals to work longer hours, including evenings and weekends.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
According to PayScale, software engineers in the United States receive bonuses between $801 and $15,068, while those in Canada earn bonuses from C$304.10 to C$10,096. Bonuses in Australia have climbed as high as AU$10,648. In the United Kingdom, software engineers reportedly fetch bonuses from 339.35 to 7,167. Bonuses for software engineers in Switzerland range from CHF1,030 to CHF19,785 per year. For Norwegians, bonuses can reach $8,909 per year.
In countries such as Australia, Switzerland, and Norway, employees are entitled to pension benefits provided by employers. In Switzerland’s three-pillar retirement system, employers must contribute in pillar two. The first two pillars are intended to afford employees up to 60 percent of earnings for retirement. These countries also allow employees paid annual leave per year.
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers, which may include software engineers, should grow by 17 percent, or by 186,000 jobs, by 2024. The Australian government projects between 25,001 and 50,000 new positions for software and applications programmers, which include software engineers. In Canada, employment of software engineers bloomed by 60 percent between 2009 and 2015.
The use of computers and mobile devices for personal, business and entertainment have spurred demand for applications and professionals to develop them. According to the Pew Research Center, 46 percent of Americans, or nearly 114 million, pay bills via smartphones. Pew also says 90 percent of smartphone owners get directions via these devices in 2015.
Conclusion
Software engineers will continue to be in strong demand as applications and software find themselves in mobile devices, laptops, desktops, and vehicles. Pay prospects will rise with experience and seniority. Depending on the employer, software engineers also stand to enjoy generous bonuses. You should also check out the web developer salary to get a full overview of the field.