How to hire software engineers in the US in 2026
In 2026, a software engineer in the US earns a median of $135,980 a year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports for May 2025. Most US jobs are at-will, so there is usually no legal notice period. If you hire across states, Colorado, California, Washington and New York require pay information in job ads. H-1B visas are capped, and the selection rules changed for 2027.
This guide is for talent acquisition leaders, recruiting managers and hiring managers at US companies that hire engineers across several teams and states. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counts software engineers as software developers, so its figures use that name. Every figure links to its source, and the sources are listed at the end.
How much does a software engineer cost in the US in 2026?
The median US software developer earned $135,980 a year in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. The lowest 10 per cent earned less than $82,460. The highest 10 per cent earned more than $214,670. That spread is wide, so set your range from the level you need.
Pay also depends on the industry. The BLS reports that software publishers paid a median of $164,550 in May 2025, the highest of the top industries it lists. Benefits, payroll taxes and any equity come on top of salary, so compare total compensation bands, not salary alone.
| Industry | Share of US software developer jobs (2025) | Median annual wage (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer systems design and related services | 29% | $132,050 |
| Finance and insurance | 11% | $135,460 |
| Software publishers | 10% | $164,550 |
| Manufacturing | 8% | $136,330 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6% | $135,680 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
How many software engineers are there in the US?
Software developers held about 1.7 million US jobs in 2025, and the BLS projects 10 per cent growth by 2035. Its projections table shows 1,717,800 software developer jobs in 2025, rising to 1,892,600 in 2035. The wider group of software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers is projected to have about 106,100 openings each year.
Who are you competing with for software engineers in the US?
Mostly IT services firms, banks and insurers, and software companies. The BLS table above shows where software developers work. Computer systems design firms employ 29 per cent of them, and software publishers pay the highest median. Medians in that table run from $132,050 in computer systems design to $164,550 at software publishers. If you hire engineers away from software publishers, set your band against their median, whatever your own industry pays. Speed matters too, because a long approval chain gives faster employers time to make an offer.
Be specific about the work in the job ad. Name the stack, the product and who the engineer will work with. Engineers compare many ads, and a vague one is easy to skip.
Do you have to put a salary range in a US job ad?
In several states, yes. Colorado, California, Washington and New York State each require pay information in job postings. The rules differ on which employers are covered and what the ad must say.
| State | Who must comply | What the job ad must include |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Employers with at least one person employed in Colorado | Pay rate or range, a description of benefits and other compensation, and how and when to apply |
| California | Employers with 15 or more employees | The pay scale: a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage range |
| Washington | Employers with 15 or more employees | Wage scale or salary range, and a general description of benefits and other compensation |
| New York State | Employers with four or more employees | A compensation range from minimum to maximum, believed to be accurate at the time of posting |
Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment says the law covers all job postings and notices, both internal and public. California's Labor Code section 432.3 also bars employers from seeking an applicant's salary history. Washington's rules have applied since 1 January 2023. The New York State Department of Labor notes that jobs in New York City may also fall under the city's own law.
A remote role open to several states may be filled in a covered state. The simplest course is to publish a range in every ad. Colorado's rule covers internal postings too, which matters when you move people between teams.
Can you hire software engineers at will in the US?
Yes, in every state except Montana. USA.gov, the US government's official guide, says:
“All states, except Montana, allow "at-will" employment. This means that an employer or employee can end the employment at any time, for any reason.”
The same page adds that the reason cannot be illegal, such as discrimination or retaliation. Because there is usually no legal notice period, a US engineer can often start sooner than one in Sweden. Notice is set by contract and custom, so ask each candidate when they can start. Put the salary, start date and at-will status in a written offer letter.
How do H-1B visas work for software engineers in 2026?
The H-1B is the usual work visa for software engineers from abroad, and it is capped each year. USCIS says Congress set the regular cap at 65,000. Another 20,000 are for people with a master's degree or higher from a US institution. Each registration costs $215.
Two things changed for the fiscal year 2027 cap. First, USCIS replaced the plain random draw with a weighted selection that favours higher wage levels. Second, it announced on 17 July 2026 that it had received enough petitions to reach both caps. Cap petitions for 2027 must name a start date no earlier than 1 October 2026.
A proclamation of 19 September 2025 added a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions. On 8 June 2026 a federal court vacated the guidance that implements it. On 24 July 2026 an appeals court refused to pause that order. The USCIS H-1B FAQ, updated 28 July 2026, says DHS will comply with the court's order. It also says:
“If this order is later lifted, DHS still plans to collect the payment.”
Source: USCIS, H-1B FAQ
Read that page before you file, because the position may change. For workforce planning, the cap and the timing mean that sponsoring a new H-1B hire takes many months. Build that lead time into headcount plans for sponsored roles.
How should you interview software engineers in the US?
Keep the loop short, make every round test something different, and have every interviewer judge the same requirements. Good engineers in the US talk to several companies at once, and each extra week gives another employer a chance to make an offer.
- Write down what each round tests before you start, and cut any round that repeats another.
- Give every interviewer the same requirements and the same scoring guide, so teams in different offices judge candidates alike.
- Plan rounds across time zones so a candidate is not waiting days for the next slot.
- Share the pay range in the first conversation, even where the law does not require it.
- Have the engineers the candidate would work with run the technical rounds.
- Agree the approval chain before the last round, so the offer letter is ready when you decide.
If you are weighing AI tools for the early rounds, read why AI interviews don't work for hiring in 2026.
How does The Qualidex help you hire software engineers?
The Qualidex is a hiring platform headquartered in Stockholm. Each candidate has one application that grows with every interview, whichever company it was for. When you post a software engineering job, we show it to candidates matched on what they proved in interviews, and their CV. Next to every requirement in your ad, you see what the candidate proved and in which interview.
Your teams book and run interviews on the platform, so every interviewer's evidence lands in one place against the same requirements. Candidates, notes and stages sync to the ATS you already use, so your current systems stay in place. Posting a job is free. The fee is 5% of first-year salary when you hire, and there is no fee without a hire. You can also ask us about a custom monthly Enterprise plan instead. Teams that hire often can search the profiles themselves on a monthly subscription priced on hiring needs. See pricing and how it works for employers.
Related guides
- If you also hire in Sweden: How to hire software engineers in Stockholm in 2026
- How to hire AI engineers in the US in 2026
- How to hire product designers in the US in 2026
- How to hire salespeople in the US in 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the median salary for a software engineer in the US in 2026?
The latest figure from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is a median annual wage of $135,980 for software developers in May 2025. The lowest 10 per cent earned less than $82,460, and the highest 10 per cent more than $214,670.
Do US employers have to put a salary range in a software engineering job ad?
In several states, yes. Colorado, California, Washington and New York all require pay information in job postings, with different rules on which employers are covered.
Is there a notice period when a US software engineer resigns?
Usually not by law. All states except Montana allow at-will employment, so either side can end employment at any time, as long as the reason is not illegal. Notice is a matter of contract and custom.
How many H-1B visas are available each year?
Congress set the regular cap at 65,000, plus 20,000 for people with a master's degree or higher from a US institution. USCIS announced on 17 July 2026 that it had received enough petitions to reach both caps for fiscal year 2027.
Does the $100,000 H-1B payment still apply in 2026?
On 8 June 2026 a federal court vacated the guidance that implements it, and DHS says it will comply while it considers next steps. DHS also says it still plans to collect the payment if the order is lifted, so check the USCIS H-1B FAQ before you file.
Can a US company post a software engineering job on The Qualidex?
Yes. Posting a job on The Qualidex is free. The fee is 5% of first-year salary when you hire, and if you do not hire there is no fee. You can also ask us about a custom monthly Enterprise plan instead.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers (wages for May 2025, projections 2025 to 2035)
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Equal Pay for Equal Work Act
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #9A: transparency in pay and job opportunities (last updated 29 May 2024)
- California Legislative Information, Labor Code section 432.3
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, job posting requirements
- New York State Department of Labor, pay transparency
- USA.gov, termination guidance for employers
- USCIS, H-1B cap season
- USCIS, USCIS reaches fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap (17 July 2026)
- USCIS, H-1B FAQ (updated 28 July 2026)