The honest answer to “how much does a software engineer make?” requires separating two numbers that most articles conflate. BLS reports a median base salary of ~$130,160. Levels.fyi reports a median total compensation of ~$191,000. Both are correct — BLS measures base salary across all employers; Levels.fyi measures total comp at top-tier companies. The difference is equity, bonuses, and selection bias.
The real distribution is bimodal: FAANG and Big Tech cluster at $300,000–$800,000+ TC for senior and staff engineers. Everyone else clusters at $100,000–$200,000. This article breaks down both worlds honestly.
BLS vs Levels.fyi: why the numbers differ
BLS surveys all employers including small companies, government, and non-tech industries. Levels.fyi is self-reported by people at top companies. Neither is wrong; they measure different populations. If you want to know what a typical SWE earns nationwide, use BLS. If you want to know what a FAANG SWE earns, use Levels.fyi.
By level
| Level | Years | FAANG TC | Non-FAANG TC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / New Grad | 0–2 | $120k–$180k | $75k–$110k |
| Mid-level | 2–5 | $180k–$320k | $100k–$160k |
| Senior | 5–8 | $300k–$500k | $140k–$220k |
| Staff | 8–12 | $400k–$700k | $180k–$300k |
| Principal+ | 12+ | $500k–$800k+ | $220k–$400k |
By company
| Company | SWE TC range | Median TC |
|---|---|---|
| $180k (L3) — $1,200k+ (L8) | ~$310k | |
| Meta | $180k (E3) — $1,500k+ (E8) | ~$380k |
| Apple | $160k (ICT2) — $800k+ (ICT6) | ~$280k |
| Microsoft | $140k (L59) — $900k+ (L69) | ~$240k |
| Amazon | $150k (L4) — $1,000k+ (L8) | ~$260k |
By city
- San Francisco Bay Area: Top of the market. Mid-level: $150k–$250k. Senior at Big Tech: $300k–$500k+.
- Seattle: Microsoft, Amazon, Meta. 90–95% of Bay Area.
- New York City: Strong market across finance, tech, and startups. 90–95% of Bay Area.
- Austin, Denver, Chicago: Growing markets. 75–85% of Bay Area.
- Remote: 70–90% depending on company policy and your location.
The FAANG vs non-FAANG split
The single biggest variable in SWE comp is not your years of experience, your city, or your stack. It’s whether you work at a company that pays in the FAANG/Big Tech tier or doesn’t. A senior SWE at Google earning $400k and a senior SWE at a mid-market enterprise earning $170k may have the same skills and the same years of experience. The comp difference is the company.
If you’re a senior SWE earning $150k–$180k and you have the skills to pass a Big Tech interview loop, the single highest-ROI career move available to you is to interview at FAANG. The comp jump from mid-market senior ($170k) to FAANG senior ($350k+) is life-changing.
The equity reality check
At Big Tech, equity is 40–60% of total comp for mid-to-senior SWEs. This is liquid RSUs at public companies. At startups, equity is options with speculative value. When comparing offers, treat startup equity at a heavy discount and Big Tech RSUs at face value (minus taxes).
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software engineer make in 2026?
BLS median base ~$130,160. Levels.fyi median TC ~$191,000. FAANG senior: $300k–$500k+ TC. Non-FAANG senior: $140k–$220k.
How much does a Google software engineer make?
$180k (L3) to $1,200k+ (L8) TC, median ~$310k. Base: $140k–$300k; RSUs vest quarterly and make up 40–60% of senior comp.
What’s the difference between BLS and Levels.fyi salary data?
BLS measures base salary across all employers. Levels.fyi measures total comp (base + equity + bonus) at top companies. Both are correct for different populations.
How much does an entry-level software engineer make?
$75k–$110k base nationally. At FAANG: $120k–$180k TC. Entry-level hiring is down 25–50% from peak, making these roles highly competitive.
Is the FAANG pay premium worth it?
In pure comp terms, yes. A senior SWE at FAANG earns 2–3x what the same engineer earns at a mid-market company. The trade-offs are higher performance bars, more structured leveling, and sometimes larger organizations with less individual impact.