Salary for Senior-level / Expert Backend Engineer during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Backend Engineer salary lies between USD 145,000 and USD 223,000 globally. 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.

All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Jan. 19, 2025

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Backend Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Backend Engineer job listings are Python, Engineering and Machine Learning. 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 | 260 jobs Engineering | 248 jobs Machine Learning | 226 jobs APIs | 194 jobs AWS | 186 jobs Architecture | 181 jobs Kubernetes | 169 jobs Computer Science | 144 jobs Docker | 140 jobs Pipelines | 127 jobs Java | 126 jobs GCP | 110 jobs PostgreSQL | 107 jobs Security | 105 jobs Microservices | 90 jobs Testing | 88 jobs ML models | 83 jobs CI/CD | 82 jobs LLMs | 79 jobs Research | 78 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Backend Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Backend 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 | 231 jobs Health care | 133 jobs Startup environment | 128 jobs Equity / stock options | 127 jobs Flex hours | 103 jobs Competitive pay | 93 jobs Flex vacation | 72 jobs Team events | 72 jobs Parental leave | 68 jobs Insurance | 57 jobs Salary bonus | 54 jobs Medical leave | 46 jobs Home office stipend | 40 jobs Wellness | 29 jobs 401(k) matching | 21 jobs Gear | 21 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 20 jobs Transparency | 16 jobs Fitness / gym | 9 jobs Conferences | 9 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level/Expert Backend Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science typically comprises several components. The fixed base salary is the largest portion, often accounting for 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or company-wide, usually make up 10-20%. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies or startups, and other benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. The exact composition can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like Silicon Valley or New York might offer higher base salaries and stock options, while companies in other regions might focus more on bonuses and benefits.

Next Steps for Salary Increase

To increase your salary further from this position, consider pursuing leadership roles such as Engineering Manager or Director of Engineering. These positions often come with higher compensation packages. Additionally, specializing in a niche area of AI/ML, such as natural language processing or computer vision, can make you more valuable. Networking within the industry and attending conferences can also open up opportunities for higher-paying roles. Finally, consider negotiating your salary by leveraging offers from other companies or highlighting your contributions and achievements in your current role.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level/Expert Backend Engineer positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related field. However, a master's degree or Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially for roles that involve complex algorithm development or research. Advanced degrees can also provide a deeper understanding of machine learning models and data analysis techniques, which are crucial for this field.

Helpful Certifications

While not always required, certain certifications can enhance your qualifications and demonstrate your expertise. Certifications such as the Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer, AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, or Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate are well-regarded in the industry. These certifications validate your skills in deploying machine learning models and working with cloud-based AI services, which are increasingly important in modern data science roles.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level/Expert Backend Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science is expected to have at least 5-10 years of experience in software development, with a significant portion of that time spent working on backend systems. Experience with AI/ML projects, data pipelines, and distributed systems is crucial. Familiarity with programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala, and frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch, is often required. Experience in leading projects or teams can also be beneficial.

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