The U.S. tech job market keeps hiring entry-level talent. Software engineers just starting pull in anywhere from $65,000 to $120,000 a year, though most land between $74,500 and $104,800. Your location and company size matter here. Total comp packages throw in bonuses, stock options, and benefits worth another $15,000 to $35,000 yearly. Smaller companies in cheaper areas might start you at $40,000, while major tech firms go up to $138,000.
Geography makes a huge difference in your paycheck. California, Washington, and Maryland offer entry-level salaries running from $81,000 to $99,500. San Francisco starts around $119,700, and New York City averages $106,000 for new developers. Austin and Seattle hit that sweet spot at $85,000 to $95,000—decent pay without crushing rent. Places like Kansas City usually range from $65,000 to $86,000. Cost-of-living adjustments mean mid-tier locations often give you an equivalent quality of life.
What you specialize in changes what companies offer you. Entry-level machine learning, cloud infrastructure, and AI roles hit $110,000 to $140,000 at top-tier companies. Full-stack developers make more than front-end-only folks, usually starting at $80,000 to $100,000. DevOps positions begin around $75,000 to $90,000 and climb fast from there. Finance and healthcare pay 15-25% more than regular tech companies.
Landing your first software engineering job takes technical chops, portfolio projects, and smart job hunting. You can skip the four-year degree—plenty of successful developers learn through coding bootcamps, online courses, or just grinding it out solo. Master core languages like Python or JavaScript first, get solid on data structures and algorithms, then build 3-5 portfolio projects showing what you can actually do. Most employers care about your skills, not where you picked them up. That makes bootcamps like TripleTen a real alternative to traditional college.
Build out your GitHub profile, meet other developers, and apply to junior jobs even when you're missing some requirements. Job descriptions list a lot of "nice to have" stuff that isn't actually required. Your first 1-2 years on the job build the foundation for serious salary jumps later. Bootcamp grads earn around $70,700 in their first role and see that climb to $80,900 by their second job. Focus on learning, contributing to your team, and tracking your wins for when you negotiate next time.
All salary information pulls directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics API, giving you accurate, real-time comp data you can trust for career planning. Explore 30+ industries including AI, blockchain, SaaS, healthcare, and finance. Each sector pays differently, helping you match your interests with earning potential.
Armed with accurate salary information, you can negotiate confidently, plan strategically, and make informed decisions about job opportunities. Stop guessing what you should earn and start using real market data to position yourself for success in your software engineering career.