2026 · BLS Data · After-Tax Estimates

Software Engineer Hourly Rate & Salary (2026)

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. Roles range from front-end web development to systems programming, machine learning, and cloud infrastructure.

Median Hourly Rate $60/hr Range: $35–$120/hr
Median Annual Salary $124,200 40 hrs/week · 52 weeks
After-Tax (no state tax) $96,157 $8,013/month · $46.23/hr net

Software Engineer Pay — Key Facts (2026)

Education RequiredBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field (some roles hire bootcamp grads)
Job Growth Outlook+25% through 2032 (much faster than average)
Highest-Paying StatesCalifornia, Washington, New York
Federal Tax (median salary)$18,542
FICA (SS + Medicare)$9,501
Effective Tax Rate22.6% (federal only)

Software Engineer Salary Range (2026)

LevelHourly RateAnnual SalaryAfter-Tax (est.)
Entry Level$35/hr$72,800$60,000
Median$60/hr$124,200$96,157
Experienced$78/hr$162,240$122,200
Top Earners$120/hr$249,600$183,400

After-tax estimates are for single filers in states with no income tax (TX, FL, NV, WA). State income tax reduces these figures further.

Calculate Your Software Engineer Take-Home Pay

Use the links below to see your exact after-tax pay at common Software Engineer salary levels:

$35/hr → see annual & after-tax$60/hr → see annual & after-tax$120/hr → see annual & after-tax $124,200 after tax in Texas $124,200 after tax in California $124,200 after tax in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a software engineer make per hour?

The median software engineer earns around $60/hour ($124,200/year). Junior engineers typically start at $35–$50/hour. Senior engineers and staff/principal engineers can earn $80–$120+/hour, with total compensation (including stock) often much higher at large tech companies.

How much is a $124,000 software engineer salary after tax?

On $124,200 in a no-tax state like Washington or Texas, take-home is roughly $86,000–$88,000/year. In California, after state income tax (up to 13.3%), take-home drops to around $79,000/year — a difference of $7,000–$9,000.

Do software engineers make more as contractors?

Yes — W-2 software engineers earning $60/hr often need $80–$90/hr as a 1099 contractor to match total compensation, since contractors pay self-employment tax (15.3%) and don't get employer benefits. Use the contractor vs employee calculator to compare.

Which state pays software engineers the most?

California has the highest nominal software engineer salaries (median ~$75/hr), followed by Washington, New York, and Massachusetts. However, Texas and Washington have no state income tax, which narrows the real take-home gap considerably.

Compare to Other Professions

Registered Nurse $42/hr median · $87,480/yr Accountant $37/hr median · $77,250/yr

Software Engineer Take-Home by State

See how the $124,200 median Software Engineer salary plays out after tax in major states:

$124,200 in Texas$124,200 in California$124,200 in New York$124,200 in Florida$124,200 in Washington$124,200 in Illinois

Software Engineer Hourly Rate Pages

Explore after-tax take-home at different points in the Software Engineer pay range:

$35/hr — annual & after-tax breakdown$48/hr — annual & after-tax breakdown$60/hr — annual & after-tax breakdown$90/hr — annual & after-tax breakdown

Tools

$60/hr — full annual breakdown Contractor vs Employee — which pays more? California vs Texas take-home comparison Salary to Hourly Calculator