How Much Money Can I Make with a Software Engineering Degree?

 

According to PayScale, the typical early career salary for someone with a software engineering bachelor’s degree, and between one and four years of experience in the field, is $73,469.

By the time they’ve been in the workforce for five to nine years, the average salary climbs to $78,000 per year.

To earn these salaries as a software engineer, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree. Our rankings for the Best Online Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Degrees and Best Online Master’s in Software Engineering Degrees can help you get started.

Of course, there are plenty of variables that affect how much money you’ll make with a software engineering degree. For example, if you continue your education past a bachelor’s degree, your earning potential grows significantly. PayScale data shows that earning a master’s degree in software engineering increases the average salary well beyond the figures for a bachelor’s degree.

At one to four years of experience, the average software engineer with a graduate degree earns $85,000. For employees with five to nine years of experience, typical salary increases to $92,000. And for software engineers who stick around in the industry for 10 or more years, the expected annual pay jumps up to $114,965.

Education level isn’t the only thing that will affect salary. Your employer, your job title, and your area of specialization all play a major role in how much you earn.

Getting a software engineering degree doesn’t necessarily mean that your job title will be Software Engineer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data on the average annual salaries for software engineers and a number of related occupations. The following breakdown should give you a more complete overview of all the job and salary possibilities in this field.

Software Developer

Job responsibilities: Design, test, and develop software according to users’ needs; perform maintenance and testing on existing applications and systems; work in a team with other computer specialists

Average salary: $102,280 per year

Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 24 percent

 

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Job responsibilities: Coordinate and manage the work of other IT and computer science personnel; oversee the installation and maintenance of hardware and software at the organization level

Average salary: $135,800 per year

Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 12 percent

 

Computer Network Architects

Job responsibilities: Upgrade and install routers, adaptors, and network drivers; design and implement data communication networks; implement information security measures

Average salary: $101,210 per year

Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 6 percent

 

Computer Systems Analysts

Job responsibilities: Analyze costs and benefits of IT systems and computing infrastructure upgrades; present recommendations to upper management; install and configure new systems; provide technical training to personnel and staff

Average salary: $87,220 per year

Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 9 percent

 

Database Administrators

Job responsibilities: Back up and restore critical data; design, test, modify, and maintain database systems and structures; merge outdated databases into upgraded databases as needed

Average salary: $84,950 per year

Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 11 percent

Rankings



25 Best Master’s in Software Engineering Degrees for 2017



25 Best Online Master’s in Software Engineering Degrees for 2017



15 Best Online Software Engineering Degrees for 2017

FAQs



What Are the Requirements for a Career in Software Engineering?



What Are the Specializations Within Software Engineering?



What Kinds of Degrees Can I Earn in Software Engineering?



How Much Money Can I Make with a Software Engineering Degree?



What Is Software Engineering?

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