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Staff Software Engineer Salaries Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Staff Software Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$230K - $250K/yr

As a Staff Software Engineer, you will play a crucial role in designing, developing, and maintaining our core software products. You will be responsible for leading technical initiatives, mentoring ...

Staff Software Engineer

Washington, DC · Remote

$170K - $200K/yr

About the Role As a Staff Software Engineer, you will play a key role in designing and building ... Competitive base salary and equity participation * Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision ...

Staff Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$158K - $277K/yr

Summary Solution Engineering is looking for a Staff Software Engineer to provide technical ... The US base salary range for this full-time position is $158,000 - $277,000. Your base pay will ...

Staff Software Engineer Duties: * The Staff Software Engineer (Multiple Positions Open) at Earnest ... Salary: $207,585 per year. Requirements: * Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Software ...

Staff Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$158K - $277K/yr

Summary Solution Engineering is looking for a Staff Software Engineer to provide technical ... The US base salary range for this full-time position is $158,000 - $277,000. Your base pay will ...

Salt Lake City, Utah Job ID: 50469 As a Staff Software Engineer, you are responsible for ... Competitive salary and rewards package * Competitive benefits and annual leave offering, allowing ...

Staff Software Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site +1

$170K - $200K/yr

2bridge has been engaged in the search for a full-time, direct-hire Staff Software Engineer to join ... Our client offers a comprehensive package with a competitive salary, a collaborative environment ...

Staff Software Engineer

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$155K - $190K/yr

Staff Software Engineer Are you looking to make a significant technical and organizational impact ... Competitive Salary with equity awards * 401(k) with company match (up to 4% of salary)

Staff Software Engineer

Birmingham, AL · On-site

$155K - $190K/yr

Staff Software Engineer Are you looking to make a significant technical and organizational impact ... Competitive Salary with equity awards * 401(k) with company match (up to 4% of salary)

WI · On-site

$153 - $190/hr

Job Details Role: Sr Staff Software Engineer Location: DALLAS TX ( hybrid role) NO 100% REMOTE, has ... The salary range for this position is $152,889 - $190,000. The salary range information provided ...

Job Details Role: Sr Staff Software Engineer Location: DALLAS TX ( hybrid role) NO 100% REMOTE, has ... The salary range for this position is $152,889 - $190,000. The salary range information provided ...

Staff Software Engineer (Full-stack) Full-Time, Remote / Salary, Exempt Includes Exceptional Benefits, Flexible PTO, Flexible Schedule, Equity Steno is growing! We're looking for a Staff Software ...

Showing results 21-40

Staff Software Engineer Salaries information

See salary details

$60.5K

$161.1K

$220K

How much do staff software engineer salaries jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff software engineer salaries in the United States is $161,148.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,500.00 and $190,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are typical salaries for staff software engineers?

Staff Software Engineers are senior-level professionals, and their salaries can vary widely based on location, industry, and company size. In the United States, the average base salary ranges from $150,000 to $220,000 annually, with total compensation (including bonuses and stock options) sometimes exceeding $300,000 at top tech companies. Staff Software Engineers often receive additional benefits such as equity, performance bonuses, and comprehensive health coverage. Factors like experience, expertise in specific technologies, and negotiation skills can also impact the total compensation package.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a staff software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Staff Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software development, strong problem-solving abilities, and an extensive understanding of system architecture, typically backed by a relevant degree and significant industry experience. Proficiency with programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), cloud platforms, and development tools, as well as familiarity with CI/CD systems and code review processes, is crucial. Leadership, effective communication, and mentorship abilities distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are essential for designing scalable solutions, guiding teams, and ensuring technical excellence across projects.

What are some common challenges faced by staff software engineers in balancing technical leadership with hands-on development?

Staff Software Engineers often encounter the challenge of balancing their responsibilities as technical leaders with their passion for hands-on coding. They are expected to architect solutions, mentor team members, and drive technical strategy, while also contributing directly to codebases. This balancing act requires strong time management skills and effective prioritization to ensure both team guidance and project delivery remain high-quality. Additionally, Staff Engineers frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams, requiring excellent communication to align technical goals with business objectives.

What is the difference between Staff Software Engineer Salaries vs Senior Software Engineer Salaries?

AspectStaff Software EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in CS or related field, extensive experienceBachelor's or Master’s in CS, 5+ years experience
Work EnvironmentLead projects, mentor teams, influence technical decisionsDevelop features, troubleshoot, contribute to codebase
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in large tech companies, startups, consulting firmsCommon across tech companies, startups, enterprise firms

Staff Software Engineers typically have more experience, leadership responsibilities, and influence over technical strategy compared to Senior Software Engineers. They often lead projects and mentor teams, whereas Senior Software Engineers focus on developing and maintaining software. Salary differences reflect these roles' scope and responsibilities.

More about Staff Software Engineer Salaries jobs

What cities are hiring for Staff Software Engineer Salaries jobs?

Cities with the most Staff Software Engineer Salaries job openings:

What states have the most Staff Software Engineer Salaries jobs?

States with the most job openings for Staff Software Engineer Salaries jobs include:

Infographic showing various Staff Software Engineer Salaries job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $161,148 per year, or $77.5 per hour.

Staff Software Engineer

Western Climate Initiative Inc.

Sacramento, CA • On-site

$177K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

What are we looking for?

The Staff Software Engineer is a key member of the engineering staff working across the organization to provide a friction-less experience to our users and maintain the highest standards of protection and availability. Our team thrives and succeeds in delivering reliability and correctness. The ideal candidate has broad and deep technical knowledge, typically ranging from front-end UIs through back-end systems and all points in between.
What will you do?

  • Own complete solutions across their entire life cycle.
  • Influence and build vision with product managers, team members, and customers to solve complex problems for building enterprise-class business applications.
  • Hold yourself accountable for the quality, usability, and performance of the solutions.
  • Lead in design sessions and code reviews to elevate the quality of engineering across the organization.
  • Utilize programming languages like NodeJS, Typescript, and other languages; SQL and NoSQL databases, Serverless technologies like Lambda, and a variety of AWS tools and services.
  • Analyze problems and provide solution and options.
  • Reviewing design documents and providing meaningful feedback.
  • Mentor more junior team members professionally to help them realize their full potential.
  • Consistently share best practices and improve processes within and across teams.

What skills and knowledge should you bring?

  • 10+ years of professional software development experience.
  • 5+ years of experience with architecture and design.
  • 5+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Azure, or another cloud service.
  • Preferred experience inside a heavily regulated environment.
  • Fluency and specialization with at least two modern languages such as: NodeJS, Typescript, Javascript, Go, or Python.
  • Fluency with Object-Oriented and Functional design paradigms.
  • Experience with a modern UI framework like React.
  • Experience in building products using micro-service and monolithic architectures.
  • Experience in building extensible REST APIs.
  • Experience with Authorization and Authentication protocols and patterns such as: OAuth 2.0, SAML, RBAC, ABAC, ReBAC. 
  • Experience in serverless environments.
  • Experience architecting and designing solutions for new and legacy systems (architecture, design patterns, reliability, and scaling).
  • Fluency in DevOps Concepts, DevOps Tooling, and Cloud Architecture.
  • Experience with continuous delivery and infrastructure as code.
  • Experience in leveraging Bash scripting.
  • Experience with application monitoring tools and performance assessments.
  • Understanding of application security concepts like OSWAP.
  • Experience with relational databases: architecture, design, and query implementation and optimization.
  • Knowledge of developer tooling across the software development life cycle (task management, source code, building, deployment, operations, real-time communication).
  • Enterprise-level design documentation.
  • Risk assessment.
  • Strong problem-solving ability.
  • Curiosity and Initiative.
  • Strong technical and non-technical communication skills.
  • Team player.

Travel

The Staff Software Engineer may need to travel for specific and well-defined business purposes.

About this Position

This is a full-time salary position that may be in Sacramento, California (headquarter) or remote from the United States. WCI, Inc. offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with qualifications and professional experience and is committed to equal employment opportunities. For more information, visit our Website and Careers Page.