Salary for Entry-level / Junior Software Engineer in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average entry-level / junior Software Engineer salary lies between USD 92,100 and USD 150,000 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Jan. 12, 2025

Top 20 Job Tags for Entry-level / Junior Software Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with entry-level / junior Software Engineer job listings are Python, Engineering and Computer Science. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Python | 700 jobs Engineering | 662 jobs Computer Science | 597 jobs Machine Learning | 525 jobs Java | 347 jobs Architecture | 288 jobs Research | 266 jobs Testing | 239 jobs JavaScript | 208 jobs Security | 197 jobs Agile | 179 jobs AWS | 169 jobs Kubernetes | 166 jobs SQL | 164 jobs APIs | 160 jobs Linux | 159 jobs Pipelines | 159 jobs Mathematics | 156 jobs LLMs | 147 jobs Privacy | 143 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Entry-level / Junior Software Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with entry-level / junior Software Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Startup environment. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 636 jobs Health care | 285 jobs Startup environment | 247 jobs Equity / stock options | 214 jobs Team events | 202 jobs Flex hours | 183 jobs Medical leave | 180 jobs Flex vacation | 147 jobs Competitive pay | 142 jobs Insurance | 135 jobs Parental leave | 104 jobs 401(k) matching | 100 jobs Salary bonus | 73 jobs Flexible spending account | 59 jobs Wellness | 52 jobs Transparency | 49 jobs Relocation support | 48 jobs Conferences | 41 jobs Fertility benefits | 25 jobs Gear | 23 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for an entry-level or junior software engineer in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a base salary, performance bonuses, and sometimes additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary is the fixed component and usually constitutes the majority of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company’s policy and individual performance, often ranging from 5% to 15% of the base salary. Additional remuneration like stock options is more common in larger tech companies or startups, where they are used as an incentive to align employee interests with company growth. Regional differences also play a role; for instance, salaries in tech hubs like San Francisco or New York City tend to be higher due to the cost of living and competitive job market. Industry-wise, tech companies generally offer higher salaries compared to sectors like finance or healthcare for similar roles.

Next Steps for Salary Increase

To increase your salary from an entry-level position, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously upgrade your technical skills, especially in high-demand areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or big data technologies.
• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree or specialized certifications can make you more competitive.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network through industry conferences, meetups, and online platforms like LinkedIn.
• Performance Excellence: Consistently exceed performance expectations to position yourself for promotions and salary raises.
• Role Transition: Consider transitioning to roles with higher responsibility, such as a data scientist or machine learning engineer, which typically offer higher salaries.

Educational Requirements

Most entry-level positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, or a related field. Some companies may prefer candidates with a master's degree, especially for roles that require more specialized knowledge. A strong foundation in programming, statistics, and machine learning principles is essential.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Some popular certifications include:

• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

These certifications can provide a structured learning path and validate your skills to potential employers.

Required Experience

For entry-level roles, employers typically look for candidates with some practical experience, which can be gained through internships, co-op programs, or relevant projects. Experience with programming languages like Python or R, and familiarity with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch, is often expected. Demonstrating experience through personal projects or contributions to open-source projects can also be beneficial.

Related salaries

Want to contribute?