Hiring a software engineer: the market today
The short answer ·
5,657 open postings ask for a software engineer as of Oct 10, 2026, from 409 employers. The median advertised pay is $167,500, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 2,845 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
5,657open postings
409employers hiring
$167,500median advertised pay
2,845new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-10-10
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 4,353 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Aug 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a software engineer?
Hard. 409 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Lockheed Martin with 468 open postings.
What should I pay a software engineer?
Advertised pay centers on $167,500. Federal staff in series 2210 average $147,543 in actual pay.