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Home/Software Engineer Salaries

Software Engineer Salaries in 2026

Comprehensive compensation data for FAANG, Big Tech, and top startups. Compare base salary, equity, and total compensation by level and company.

Avg Entry Salary (US)

$180K–$250K

Avg Senior Salary (US)

$370K–$550K

Avg Entry Salary (India)

₹20L–₹35L

Avg Senior (India)

₹50L–₹1Cr

FAANG & Big Tech Salaries (US)

Google

LevelBase SalaryEquity/yrTotal Comp
L3 (Entry)$130K–$158K$40K–$80K/yr$190K–$260K
L4 (Mid)$155K–$185K$80K–$150K/yr$270K–$380K
L5 (Senior)$185K–$230K$150K–$250K/yr$380K–$550K
L6 (Staff)$230K–$280K$250K–$450K/yr$550K–$850K

Meta

LevelBase SalaryEquity/yrTotal Comp
E3 (Entry)$125K–$152K$40K–$75K/yr$185K–$250K
E4 (Mid)$152K–$185K$75K–$140K/yr$260K–$370K
E5 (Senior)$185K–$230K$140K–$280K/yr$370K–$570K
E6 (Staff)$230K–$280K$280K–$500K/yr$570K–$900K

Amazon

LevelBase SalaryEquity/yrTotal Comp
SDE I$120K–$148K$20K–$40K/yr$160K–$220K
SDE II$148K–$185K$40K–$100K/yr$220K–$340K
SDE III (Senior)$170K–$210K$100K–$200K/yr$320K–$480K
Principal$200K–$260K$200K–$400K/yr$480K–$780K

Apple

LevelBase SalaryEquity/yrTotal Comp
ICT2 (Entry)$130K–$155K$30K–$60K/yr$175K–$240K
ICT3 (Mid)$155K–$190K$60K–$120K/yr$245K–$350K
ICT4 (Senior)$185K–$230K$120K–$230K/yr$350K–$520K
ICT5 (Staff)$230K–$270K$230K–$400K/yr$520K–$800K

Microsoft

LevelBase SalaryEquity/yrTotal Comp
59–60 (Entry)$115K–$140K$20K–$45K/yr$150K–$210K
61–62 (Mid)$140K–$175K$45K–$90K/yr$210K–$300K
63–64 (Senior)$170K–$215K$90K–$180K/yr$300K–$450K
65–67 (Principal)$215K–$270K$180K–$350K/yr$450K–$700K

Netflix

LevelBase SalaryEquity/yrTotal Comp
Engineer$200K–$300KChoice (salary or options)$250K–$400K
Senior Engineer$300K–$450KChoice (salary or options)$400K–$650K
Staff Engineer$400K–$550KChoice (salary or options)$550K–$800K

Top Tech Salaries (India)

Google India

LevelTotal Comp (Annual)
L3 (Entry)₹25L–₹40L
L4 (Mid)₹40L–₹65L
L5 (Senior)₹65L–₹1.1Cr

Amazon India

LevelTotal Comp (Annual)
SDE I₹18L–₹30L
SDE II₹30L–₹50L
SDE III₹50L–₹85L

Microsoft India

LevelTotal Comp (Annual)
59–60₹18L–₹28L
61–62₹28L–₹48L
63–64₹48L–₹80L

Flipkart

LevelTotal Comp (Annual)
SDE 1₹18L–₹28L
SDE 2₹28L–₹45L
SDE 3₹45L–₹70L

Want to Maximize Your Offer?

The first step to a top-tier salary is acing the technical interview. PhantomCodeAI gives you real-time AI assistance during coding interviews to help you perform at your best and land the highest possible offer.

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Understanding Software Engineer Compensation

Software engineer compensation at top tech companies typically consists of three components: base salary, equity (RSUs or stock options), and annual bonuses. At FAANG companies, equity often makes up the largest portion of total compensation for senior and above levels.

Key Factors Affecting Salary

  • Level/Seniority — The biggest factor. A Staff engineer at Google can earn 3-4x what an entry-level engineer makes.
  • Location — Bay Area and NYC command the highest salaries, with Seattle and Austin close behind. Remote positions may have location-based adjustments.
  • Company — Netflix and hedge funds typically offer the highest compensation, while startups may offer lower base with higher equity upside.
  • Negotiation — Competing offers can increase total comp by 10-30%. Always negotiate.
  • Specialization — ML/AI, infrastructure, and security roles often command premium compensation.

How to Land a Top-Paying Offer

The interview is the gateway to these salaries. Companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon have rigorous technical interviews including data structures and algorithms, system design, and behavioral rounds. Preparing thoroughly and performing well is the single most impactful thing you can do to maximize your compensation.

Tools like PhantomCodeAI can help you practice and perform better during technical interviews with real-time AI assistance, giving you the confidence to target higher-level positions and negotiate stronger offers.

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