Are you considering a career in software engineering in New York State, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 398 software engineering positions across New York State to provide insights into the software engineer salary landscape. This article details the software engineer salaries in New York for 2025, exploring how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by the data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in New York State
The median software engineer salary in New York State is $162,500 USD per year or $78.13 USD per hour. This figure represents the base salary for many software engineer jobs in the region. This figure provides insight into how much software engineers make in New York and serves as a benchmark for the software engineer pay in the state.
Salary Range Overview
How Software Engineers Salaries vary with
Required Educational Level and Software Engineer Qualifications
Average Salary by Education Level
The data reveals a compelling story about education’s impact on earning potential. While a bachelor’s degree remains the standard entry point for many software engineer jobs, pursuing advanced degrees can lead to significantly higher compensation. Master’s degree holders earn an average of $118,782.83 annually, which is 27% more than Bachelor’s degree holders, who earn $93,357.05 on average. PhD holders command the highest premiums, earning over $196,000 annually—a 38% increase over master’s degree holders.
Education Requirements Distribution
Software engineering positions in New York State predominantly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 69% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement. However, here’s where it gets interesting: Master’s degree positions make up just 18.10% of job postings. The higher compensation could make this additional education worth considering for engineers who want to maximise their earnings.
Required Years of Experience and Software Engineer Wage Progression
Software Engineer Salary by Years of Experience
The experience curve tells a fascinating story about work experience and its impact on software engineer salaries. Salaries jump significantly at the 2-year mark. Average compensation rises to $108,258.72 – a 33% increase that matches the shift from entry-level to mid-level positions we discussed earlier. The biggest jump happens at 4 years of experience.
This dramatic increase from $90,471 to $141,057 between years 0 and 1 represents a critical milestone—it’s when you transition from “new grad” to “software engineer” in the eyes of the industry. For a junior software engineer, this first year of work experience can be crucial for salary growth.
Experience Requirements Distribution
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 3.16% | 8 |
| 1 year | 11.07% | 28 |
| 2 years | 24.90% | 63 |
| 3 years | 34.78% | 88 |
| 4 years | 8.70% | 22 |
| 5 years | 13.83% | 35 |
| 6+ years | 3.56% | 9 |
But what if you’re already feeling stuck at the three-year mark? The data shows continued growth potential, with substantial jumps at 8 and 10+ years, suggesting that persistence and skill development pay off significantly.
Seniority Level and Total Pay
The progression from internship to lead software engineer represents a 284% increase in compensation, highlighting the tremendous value of leadership capabilities and deep technical expertise in the software engineering field. This data provides insights into the potential for career advancement and salary growth in the profession, including roles such as senior software engineer, engineering manager, and tech lead positions.
Cities with Highest Software Engineer Salary in New York State
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | $176,250 | $84.74 |
| New York City | $163,446 | $78.58 |
| Manhattan | $127,225 | $61.17 |
| Buffalo | $124,779 | $59.99 |
| Melville | $105,000 | $50.48 |
| Rochester | $87,292 | $41.97 |
Brooklyn surprisingly leads with the highest software engineer salaries in New York State, offering over $176,000 annually. Yes, New York City is a great place for software engineers. The area boasts a thriving job market with many startups and matured businesses where you can develop your career. You’ll have plenty of options regarding which industries are available to you, some of which pay better than their counterparts in Silicon Valley.
This geographic premium reflects several factors: the concentration of fintech companies in Brooklyn’s DUMBO area, the spillover effect from Manhattan’s high-paying tech sector, and potentially lower commercial real estate costs allowing companies to offer competitive salaries while maintaining better margins.
Top Paying Companies in New York State
Here’s where the numbers get really exciting. The top companies that consistently offer above-average salaries for software engineers in New York State represent some of the highest paying software engineering jobs in the region:
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Pinwheel | $355,000 | $170.67 |
| Magic | $325,000 | $156.25 |
| Saragossa | $286,000 | $137.50 |
| BioTalent | $265,818 | $127.80 |
| Decagon | $260,000 | $125.00 |
| Goliath Partners | $250,000 | $120.19 |
| Capital One | $242,750 | $116.71 |
| Roku | $237,500 | $114.18 |
| UBS | $230,000 | $110.58 |
| Notion | $215,500 | $103.60 |
| Vatic Labs | $212,500 | $102.16 |
| Duolingo | $211,700 | $101.78 |
| $198,250 | $95.31 |
These organisations span diverse industry sectors, including fintech, AI/ML, media technology, and traditional tech companies. The most surprising insight is that the Consumer Goods sector saw a 158% increase in software engineering roles, outpacing traditional tech and logistics. Legacy brands may be ramping up their AI, e-commerce, and supply chain tech investments in a significant way.
For a general insight on software engineering salaries for the United States, you can checkout 2025 Software Engineer Salary in US
How to Maximise Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis and current market trends, we recommend the following strategies to optimise your software engineer salary in New York:
- Target the 2-3 Year Experience Sweet Spot – The most significant salary increases occur at this career stage, representing your transition from junior software engineer to mid-level
- Pursue Strategic Education – While a bachelor’s degree opens doors, a master’s degree can increase earning potential by 27%
- Focus on Leadership Progression – The jump from senior to manager level offers a $58,000+ increase in base salary
Python (26,816 mentions) and SQL (25,886) top the list of most in-demand software engineering skills, underscoring the continued dominance of data-centric and backend roles. Artificial Intelligence, AWS, and troubleshooting are the top five, confirming the need for cutting-edge and foundational technical expertise.
Explore our detailed article on the in-demand software engineering skills required in 2025
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 398 publicly available software engineering salaries in New York State. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The data analysis was completed in 2025, providing the most up-to-date information on how much software engineers make in New York.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential across New York State, with the median software engineer salary reaching $162,500 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience and specialisation significantly influence salary levels. Location choices and industry selection have equally important impacts on total compensation, including base salary and potential cash bonuses.
For software engineers looking to maximise their earning potential, a strategic approach combining technical skill development, professional certification, and leadership capabilities is essential. As tech hiring expands into finance, automation, and security, engineers who can adapt to these changes will be best positioned to thrive in 2025 and beyond.
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