Hiring a senior software engineer: the market today
The short answer ·
818 open postings ask for a senior software engineer as of Oct 5, 2026, from 160 employers. The median advertised pay is $185,000, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 407 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
818open postings
160employers hiring
$185,000median advertised pay
407new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-10-05
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 461 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Jul 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a senior software engineer?
Hard. 160 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Anduril Industries with 112 open postings.
What should I pay a senior software engineer?
Advertised pay centers on $185,000. Federal staff in series 2210 average $147,509 in actual pay.