$114,140 is the average salary for a software engineer in the United States, according to Glassdoor’s 2025 report. But what does this number really mean for developers, and how can we use data to negotiate better salaries and make informed career decisions. I wrote about this in our AI healthcare piece, but I wanted to dive deeper into the world of salary trends.
Introduction to Salary Trends
The world of salary trends is complex, with many factors at play. Consider what happens when you factor in location, experience, and industry: the numbers can vary wildly. And this is where it gets interesting, because most people do not have access to the data they need to make informed decisions. I decided to build an interactive visualization using D3.js and Pandas to explore the trends in the data.
Why Most Salary Estimates Are Wrong
Most salary estimates are based on outdated data or incomplete information. But the weird part is, people still use them to make important career decisions. According to BLS’s 2025 report, the median annual salary for software developers is $124,490, but this number does not account for non-monetary benefits or cost of living. And that said, the data is messy, so take this with a grain of salt.
Pulling the Numbers Myself
I used Puppeteer to scrape salary data from Indeed and Glassdoor, and then I used Python to parse the data and calculate the average salary. Here is a sample code block:
import pandas as pd
from puppeteer import launch
# Launch the browser
browser = launch(headless=False)
page = browser.newPage()
# Navigate to the page
page.goto("https://www.indeed.com/")
# Scrape the data
data = page.content()
# Parse the data
df = pd.read_html(data)
# Calculate the average salary
average_salary = df["Salary"].mean()
print(average_salary)This code block fetches the data from Indeed, parses the HTML, and calculates the average salary.
Data Reality Check
The numbers actually show that software engineers with 5-10 years of experience can earn up to $200,000 per year, according to Statista’s 2025 report. But the popular narrative is that entry-level positions are the only ones available, and that experience does not matter. And this is where the data gets interesting, because it shows that experience and location are the two most important factors in determining salary.
A Quick Look at the Data
I used Next.js to build an interactive dashboard to explore the trends in the data. The dashboard shows that San Francisco and New York are the two highest-paying cities for software engineers, with average salaries of $188,000 and $175,000 respectively. But the data also shows that non-monetary benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans can add up to $20,000 per year.
What I Would Actually Do
If I were a developer looking to negotiate a better salary, I would research the market, network with other developers, and highlight my skills. I would use tools like Glassdoor and Indeed to research the market, and I would attend conferences and meetups to network with other developers. And I would make sure to highlight my skills and experience in my resume and cover letter.
The Short List
Here are three specific, actionable recommendations for developers:
- Research the market using tools like Glassdoor and Indeed.
- Network with other developers at conferences and meetups.
- Highlight your skills and experience in your resume and cover letter.
The data is clear: experience and location are the two most important factors in determining salary. But what does this mean for developers, and how can we use this information to negotiate better salaries and make informed career decisions.
Sources & Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to research the market?
The best way to research the market is to use tools like Glassdoor and Indeed, and to network with other developers at conferences and meetups.
What are the most important factors in determining salary?
The most important factors in determining salary are experience and location, according to Statista’s 2025 report.
What is the average salary for a software engineer in the United States?
The average salary for a software engineer in the United States is $114,140, according to Glassdoor’s 2025 report.
How can I highlight my skills and experience?
You can highlight your skills and experience by tailoring your resume and cover letter to the specific job you are applying for, and by practicing your interview skills.
