Engineering · 2026 bands
Software Engineer Salary Guide
What a software engineer actually earns in India and globally, by years of experience. Anchor your negotiation against these bands, not gut-feel.
Salary tables
Bands reflect total cash compensation (base + bonus) at competitive companies. Adjust ±10–20% for the rest of the developed world. Indian bands use lakh and crore conventions — divide annual LPA by 12 for the monthly equivalent.
United States (San Francisco / NYC / Seattle)
| Experience | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 yrs | $95k | $120k | $145k |
| 3–5 yrs | $140k | $168k | $195k |
| 6–9 yrs | $180k | $230k | $280k |
| 10–10+ yrs | $230k | $325k | $420k |
India (Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Pune — product cos.)
| Experience | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 yrs | ₹9.0 L | ₹13.5 L | ₹18.0 L |
| 3–5 yrs | ₹18.0 L | ₹26.5 L | ₹35.0 L |
| 6–9 yrs | ₹35.0 L | ₹50.0 L | ₹65.0 L |
| 10–10+ yrs | ₹60.0 L | ₹90.0 L | ₹1.2 Cr |
How to negotiate — the 60-second script
“Thanks for the offer. Before I respond, I want to share what I've been hearing in the market for [role] with [N years] of experience: the range is [LOW] to [HIGH], with median around [MID]. Given my track record on [specific outcome], I'd like to discuss landing at [HIGH minus 10%]. What flexibility do you have on base?”
Three rules: (1) Never accept on the call. (2) Always have a number ready. (3) Anchor high — the worst they say is no.
Beyond base — what to negotiate
- Sign-on bonus. Lowest-friction lever — companies treat it as one-time.
- Equity refresh schedule. Annual refreshers compound; ask about year-2 and year-3 grants.
- Start date. A 4-week start vs 2-week start can be worth ~$8k–$15k in lost income.
- Title. Senior vs Staff can be worth 20% more on your next role; sometimes free to give.
- Performance review timing. First review at 6 months vs 12 months matters for India where increments cycle annually.
Make sure your resume earns you the high end.
Drop your resume, get your ATS score, see exactly which bullets to strengthen.
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