Salary for Senior-level / Expert Software Development Engineer during 2024

💰 The median Salary for Senior-level / Expert Software Development Engineer during 2024 is USD 183,600

✏️ This salary info is based on 176 individual salaries reported during 2024

Submit your salary Download the data

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Software Development Engineer salary lies between USD 130,000 and USD 239,190 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.

Job title
Software Development Engineer
Experience
Senior-level / Expert
Region
global/worldwide
Salary year
2024
Sample size
176
Top 10%
$ 294,000
Top 25%
$ 239,190
Median
$ 183,600
Bottom 25%
$ 130,000
Bottom 10%
$ 114,400

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

Last updated:

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

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Software Development 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 | 185 jobs Engineering | 181 jobs Machine Learning | 169 jobs Computer Science | 148 jobs Testing | 114 jobs Architecture | 112 jobs Java | 112 jobs AWS | 78 jobs Agile | 76 jobs Security | 75 jobs APIs | 73 jobs Research | 72 jobs Azure | 62 jobs Kubernetes | 59 jobs SQL | 56 jobs Docker | 56 jobs Pipelines | 54 jobs JavaScript | 52 jobs CI/CD | 50 jobs Distributed Systems | 48 jobs

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

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Software Development Engineer job listings are Career development, Equity / stock options and Health care. 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 | 189 jobs Equity / stock options | 102 jobs Health care | 87 jobs Startup environment | 70 jobs Medical leave | 68 jobs Insurance | 58 jobs Competitive pay | 56 jobs Salary bonus | 55 jobs Team events | 54 jobs Flex hours | 49 jobs Parental leave | 37 jobs Flex vacation | 37 jobs 401(k) matching | 23 jobs Flexible spending account | 20 jobs Relocation support | 15 jobs Transparency | 14 jobs Signing bonus | 12 jobs Conferences | 12 jobs Gear | 10 jobs Home office stipend | 8 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Senior-level or Expert Software Development 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 tied to company profits, usually make up 10-20%. Additional remuneration might include stock options, especially in tech companies, 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 giants in Silicon Valley might offer substantial stock options, while companies in other regions might focus more on cash bonuses.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from this position, consider the following strategies:

  • Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of AI/ML that is in high demand but has a limited supply of experts.
  • Leadership Roles: Transition into roles that involve leading teams or projects, such as a Technical Lead or Engineering Manager.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML, which can make you more valuable to your employer.
  • Networking: Build a strong professional network to learn about higher-paying opportunities and gain insights into industry trends.
  • Negotiation Skills: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher compensation during performance reviews or when switching jobs.

Educational Requirements

Most senior-level 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 problem-solving and research. Advanced degrees can provide a deeper understanding of machine learning algorithms, data analysis, and statistical modeling, which are crucial for this field.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise:

  • Certified Machine Learning Professional (CMLP)
  • TensorFlow Developer Certificate
  • AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate
  • Data Science Council of America (DASCA) Senior Data Scientist (SDS) Certification

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

Required Experience

Typically, a senior-level position in AI/ML/Data Science requires at least 5-10 years of experience in software development, with a significant portion of that time focused on AI/ML projects. Experience in leading projects, mentoring junior engineers, and a proven track record of successful AI/ML implementations are often expected. Familiarity with various programming languages, frameworks, and tools used in AI/ML is also crucial.

Related salaries

Software Development Engineer @ $ 125,846 (global) - Entry-level / Junior Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 140,200 (global) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 169,000 (global) Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 150,200 (United States) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 173,520 (United States) Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 125,846 (United States) - Entry-level / Junior Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 184,300 (United States) - Senior-level / Expert Details
Software Development Engineer @ $ 102,750 (Canada) Details

Want to contribute?

📝 Submit your salary info

Enter your own salary data for the current or past work year. It's quite simple and doesn't take more than a minute to fill out.

Go to salary survey

📢 Share our salary survey

Share our "in-less-than-a-minute survey" with others working in the field of AI, ML, Data Science. The more data we have the better for everyone.

💾 Download the data

All collected information will be updated into a public dataset regularly and provided as a download free for anyone to use.

Go to download page

🚀 Search for jobs & talent

If you're thinking about a career change or want to hire fresh talent quickly check out the jobs page.

Go to frontpage

About this project

We collect salary information anonymously from professionals and employers all over the world and make it publicly available for anyone to use, share and play around with.

Our goal is to have open salary data for everyone. So newbies, experienced pros, hiring managers, recruiters and also startup founders or people wanting to switch careers can make better decisions.