Software Engineering is a very well paid career field. It's definitely possible to make $200k as a Software Engineer. Salaries are very high, especially in the US, because venture capital puts so much money into startups.
Investors are eager to find the next unicorn e.g. a company worth more than $1bn. So tech companies have a lot of money to spend on Software Engineers. As companies funded by VCs want to grow at all costs, this money there is a lot of money to spend on hiring.
Where do Software Engineers make over $200k?
You're most likely to be paid a salary of over $200,000 at one of the FAANG companies (Facebook/Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix or Google). For example, a Senior Software Engineer at Google earns around $350,000.
This also applies to the top tech companies: for instance, a Senior Software Engineer at Uber can make at least $405,000
Mariano 84x his old salary in Argentina by learning to code. He now earns over $200k as a Software Engineer working for PayPal.
Is $200k a good salary in NYC?
$200k is more than double the average New York City salary of $82,000. The median salary is $123,000 i.e. this is the mid point of salaries in New York City. So it's safe to say that $200k is a very good salary in NYC.
$200k salary after taxes in NYC
According to the website Talent, you will make $134,290 a year after taxes in New York City on a $200k salary.
Is $200k a good salary in California?
On a $200k salary you can expect to earn approximately $129,650 after taxes according to the Talent website.
$200k salary after taxes in California
Jobs with a $200k salary
Some jobs in tech that pay over $200,000 include:
- Software Engineers
- Chief Technology Officers
- CEOs
- Data Analysts
- Cyber Security Analysts
Do you need a college degree to get a Software Engineer job?
No! I've interviewed over 150 developers who learned to code at coding bootcamps or taught themselves.
About the author
Pete Codes
Hey, I'm Pete and the creator of this site. I am a self-taught web developer and I'm based in Edinburgh, Scotland.