Entry-Level Software Engineer Salary (2026)
Entry-Level software engineers (0–2 years) earn a global median of $47,195/yr in 2026. That is 30% below the mid-level median of $67,421/yr, and the gap to the senior level ($94,389/yr) is roughly 2× — the largest single jump in most tech career paths.
Last updated · Annual USD unless noted
Junior vs mid vs senior software engineer pay
Junior
$47,195
0–2 yrs
Mid-level
$67,421
3–5 yrs
Senior
$94,389
6+ yrs
Highlighted card = entry-level. Annual mid-level USD across 10+ countries.
What "entry-level" means for software engineers
Entry-level software engineers are typically professionals with 0–2 years of post-graduation experience. They work under supervision, focus on well-defined tasks, and rely on senior teammates for design decisions. In tech, junior pay scales heavily with location and employer reputation — a junior at a top-tier firm can earn what a mid-level at a smaller employer makes.
Entry-Level Software Engineer salary by country
Estimated entry-level salary derived from each country's mid-level median × 0.70 (typical junior ratio).
| # | Country | Entry-Level (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | $101,501 |
| 2 | Switzerland | $91,001 |
| 3 | Canada | $77,000 |
| 4 | Australia | $75,600 |
| 5 | Singapore | $61,600 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | $59,500 |
| 7 | Netherlands | $59,500 |
| 8 | Germany | $54,600 |
| 9 | France | $50,400 |
| 10 | United Arab Emirates | $49,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Global median is $47,195/yr (0–2 years).
Related pages
Data sources: aggregated public salary surveys, official labor statistics and crowdsourced reports. See our methodology. Canonical URL: https://salarybyrole.com/salary/entry-level-software-engineer-salary