Hiring a software engineer: the market today
The short answer ·
5,000 open postings ask for a software engineer as of Sep 25, 2026, from 229 employers. The median advertised minimum is $130,000. 2,323 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
5,000open postings
229employers hiring
$130,000median advertised minimum
2,323new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, 2026-09-25
What it pays
Advertised minimum, 3,490 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Jul 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire a software engineer?
Hard. 229 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Leidos with 415 open postings.
What should I pay a software engineer?
Advertised minimums center on $130,000. Federal staff in series 2210 average $147,509 in actual pay.