Salary for Senior-level / Expert Backend Engineer in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Backend Engineer salary lies between USD 145,600 and USD 240,000 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. 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

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert Backend Engineer in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a combination of base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity. The base salary is often the largest component, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or company-wide, usually make up about 10-20%. Additional remuneration, such as stock options or equity, can vary significantly depending on the company size and industry. For instance, tech giants and startups in Silicon Valley might offer substantial equity packages, whereas companies in other regions or industries might focus more on cash bonuses.

Increasing Salary Further

To increase your salary beyond the median of USD 190,800, consider the following strategies:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas of AI/ML, such as natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning, which are in high demand.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as a Technical Lead or Engineering Manager, which typically offer higher compensation.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML by attending workshops, conferences, and online courses.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.
• Negotiation Skills: Enhance your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher compensation during job offers or performance reviews.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level or 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. is often preferred, especially for roles that involve complex algorithm development or research. Advanced degrees can provide a deeper understanding of machine learning theories and practices, which is highly valued in this field.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise in AI/ML:

• Certified Machine Learning Professional (CMLP)
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

These certifications can validate your skills and knowledge, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level or 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 focused on backend engineering and AI/ML projects. Experience with large-scale data processing, distributed systems, and cloud platforms is often required. Additionally, a proven track record of successfully deploying machine learning models in production environments is highly desirable.

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