Are you considering exploring software engineering careers in Utah, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of 451 software engineering positions across Utah to provide insights into the Software Engineer salary landscape.This article details the Software Engineer salary in Utah for 2025, exploring how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by our salary survey data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Utah
The median Utah software engineer salary is $148,650 USD per year or $71.47 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into software engineer earnings in Utah and serves as a benchmark for engineering salaries in the state. What’s particularly exciting is that tech industry wages are running 17% higher than the U.S. average, making Utah an increasingly attractive destination for tech professionals.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Software Engineer Pay
Educational Level
The data reveals some fascinating patterns about how education impacts your Software Engineer salary in Utah:
Software engineering roles in Utah predominantly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 78% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement. Interestingly, those with master’s degrees earn only marginally more than bachelor’s degree holders, suggesting that in Utah’s competitive market, practical skills and experience often matter more than advanced degrees.
What’s particularly noteworthy is that specialized certifications command salaries nearly identical to master’s degrees at $156,000 annually. This suggests that targeted technical certifications can be valuable alternatives to advanced degrees for boosting your Software Engineer earnings.
Remote Work
Here’s something that might surprise you about Utah’s tech market – remote and hybrid work arrangements actually pay more than traditional office roles:
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | $152,873 | 144 |
| Remote | $152,685 | 80 |
| Onsite | $143,330 | 226 |
This premium for remote work reflects Utah’s position as a thriving market where remote work roles pay up to $297,000. Companies are competing not just locally but globally for Utah talent, driving up total compensation packages for flexible work arrangements.
Years of Experience
The data shows steady salary progression with experience, with the most significant jumps occurring between the 0-2 year mark (50% increase) and again at the 8+ year level. This pattern suggests that Utah’s tech market rewards both early career development and senior expertise, making it an excellent place for long-term career growth in software engineering roles.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 1.88% | 6 |
| 1 year | 3.13% | 10 |
| 2 years | 14.38% | 46 |
| 3 years | 20.31% | 65 |
| 4 years | 11.25% | 36 |
| 5 years | 28.44% | 91 |
| 6 years | 7.50% | 24 |
| 8 years | 12.50% | 40 |
Seniority Level
The progression from internship to manager level represents a 441% increase in compensation, highlighting the exceptional value of experience and leadership capabilities in Utah’s software engineering field. This dramatic salary growth trajectory explains why many positions offer competitive salaries that can hit above $200K annually for top talent.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Heights | $184,000 | $88.46 |
| St George | $170,513 | $81.98 |
| Logan | $167,500 | $80.53 |
| Midvale | $165,000 | $79.33 |
| Lehi | $164,952 | $79.30 |
| Taylorsville | $156,000 | $75.00 |
| Davis County | $151,800 | $72.98 |
| Draper | $151,161 | $72.67 |
| American Fork | $150,411 | $72.31 |
| Orem | $150,000 | $72.12 |
| Salt Lake City | $147,615 | $70.97 |
| Roy | $147,232 | $70.78 |
| Clearfield | $142,400 | $68.46 |
| Murray | $138,600 | $66.64 |
| Hill Air Force Base | $136,046 | $65.41 |
Cottonwood Heights surprisingly leads with the highest software engineer salaries in Utah, offering significantly higher Software Engineer wages than even Salt Lake City. This may be attributed to the concentration of high-end tech companies and specialized firms in the area, which rely heavily on software engineering expertise.
What’s particularly interesting is that Lehi – the heart of Silicon Slopes – offers competitive compensation at $164,951.50 annually, reflecting the concentration of major tech employers in the region. The cost of living, while increasing, still beats other tech hubs like San Francisco or Seattle by a long shot, making these salaries even more attractive.
Top Paying Companies in Utah
Here’s the inside scoop on which companies consistently offer above-average salaries for software engineers in Utah, representing some of the highest paying software engineering jobs in the state:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| MasterControl | $225,000 | $108.17 |
| Microsoft | $205,475 | $98.79 |
| Jobot | $204,250 | $98.20 |
| GEICO | $195,000 | $93.75 |
| Adobe | $191,147 | $91.90 |
| TCGplayer (an eBay company) | $177,050 | $85.12 |
| Spring Health | $176,625 | $84.92 |
| Broadcom | $176,550 | $84.88 |
| Scribd | $174,250 | $83.77 |
| Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business | $170,000 | $81.73 |
| Addepar | $168,900 | $81.20 |
| Collective Health | $168,167 | $80.85 |
| Galileo Financial Technologies | $167,900 | $80.72 |
| Sunrun | $167,155 | $80.36 |
| Zions Bancorporation | $165,000 | $79.33 |
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including engineering consultancies, fintech, healthcare technology, and specialized technical services, indicating strong demand for software engineering expertise across multiple industries. The presence of both Silicon Valley giants (Microsoft, Adobe) and Utah-grown companies (MasterControl, Zions Bancorporation) shows how the local ecosystem has matured.
What’s particularly impressive is that MasterControl, a Utah-based company, leads the pack at $225,000 annually – proving that you don’t need to work for a traditional tech giant to earn top-tier compensation in Utah.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive data analysis and understanding of Utah’s unique market dynamics, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your Software Engineer salary in Utah:
- Target High-Paying Locations – Cities like Cottonwood Heights and St George offer premium compensation packages, often 20%+ above the state median
- Embrace Remote/Hybrid Opportunities – These arrangements command $9,000-$10,000 premiums over onsite roles while offering better work-life balance
- Focus on the 2-3 Year Experience Mark – The jump from entry-level ($77K) to mid-level ($121K) represents a 57% salary increase
- Consider Specialized Certifications – They command salaries equivalent to master’s degrees ($156K) with less time investment
Explore our article on the software engineering skills required in 2025
The Utah Tech Boom: Why Now is the Perfect Time
Utah’s tech scene isn’t just growing, it’s absolutely exploding. Salt Lake City’s tech industry is soaring in 2025 with 22.9% growth and over 67,500 jobs, and Utah ranks #1 for projected percentage change in tech occupation growth from 2024 to 2034, at a remarkable 33%.
But what does this mean for your software engineering career? Simple: there’s huge demand for specialized roles like Cloud Engineers, AI Specialists, and DevOps professionals, with many positions offering competitive salaries that can hit above $200K annually for top talent. The region known as “Silicon Slopes” – stretching along the Wasatch mountain range through cities like Draper, Lehi, and Provo – is crushing it with major players like Adobe, Microsoft, and Oracle setting up shop.
Future Trends in Software Engineering Salaries
Utah’s software engineering field continues to evolve rapidly, and engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium salaries as Utah industries compete for talent with specialised knowledge. Utah ranks #1 for projected percentage change in tech occupation growth from 2024 to 2034, at a remarkable 33%, highlighting significant opportunities for talent and sustained industry expansion.
The Utah Advantage: Why Software Engineers Are Flocking Here
Let’s be real – Utah isn’t just competing with other markets; it’s becoming the destination of choice for software engineers who want it all. Here’s why:
Economic Powerhouse: The Utah technology sector generated an estimated $22.5 billion in economic impact in 2023, representing a significant 10.0% of Utah’s overall economy, highlighting the industry’s central role in the state’s financial health.
Quality of Life: You can literally go from a morning coding session to hitting the slopes in the afternoon, and the city’s appeal comes from its low-cost business environment, educated workforce, and excellent work-life balance.
Growth Trajectory: 70% of venture capital in the city goes straight to tech, and we’re ranked #1 for projected tech employment growth.
Community Support: Groups like Women Tech Council and Utah Tech Council are always organizing events where you can connect with potential employers.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 451 publicly available software engineering salaries in Utah. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. The salary survey data provides the most up-to-date information on how much software engineers make in Utah.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential across Utah, with the median Software Engineer salary reaching $148,650 USD annually. While education provides a foundation, experience, specialization, and strategic career choices significantly influence salary levels. Location choices within Utah and company selection have equally important impacts on total compensation packages.
For those exploring software engineering careers and looking to maximize their earning potential, Utah presents a unique opportunity combining competitive compensation, career growth, and lifestyle benefits. Leading firms like Adobe and Microsoft offer competitive salaries averaging $120K+, especially in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, while the cost of living is way more manageable than other tech hubs, and the work culture here is actually balanced – you can crush your career goals and still have time to hit the slopes or explore the outdoors.
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