Role Intelligence
Backend Engineer
Analysis from 14 job postings — 0.3% of all scored jobs
14
Jobs Analyzed
0.3%
Demand Rate
$186K
Avg Salary
$184K
Median Salary
98
Open right now
36
Added last 30 days
70%
Disclose salary
54d
Median posting age
Skill Snapshot
Top Skills for Backend Engineer
Based on 14 scored postings
What Does a Backend Engineer Do?
Role overview based on 14 scored job postings.
A Backend Engineer drives outcomes across Backend Development, Technical Leadership and related areas. Based on 14 scored postings, this role requires a mix of technical and strategic skills at varying depth levels.
What employers are looking for:
- •Backend Development at L3 — required in 29% of postings. Employers want hands-on proficiency, not textbook knowledge.
- •Technical Leadership at L3 — required in 21% of postings. Employers want hands-on proficiency, not textbook knowledge.
Required Skills
Skills ranked by frequency across 14 postings. L-levels show the depth employers require.
Salary Insights
Compensation data from 4 postings with disclosed salary.
$186K
Average
$184K
Median
4
Jobs with salary data
Based on 4 postings with disclosed salary data, a small sample. These figures will stabilize as more Backend Engineer listings enter the pipeline. Average sits at $186K, median at $184K.
Cross-Company Leveling Equivalence (L3–L8)
Standardized IC Ladder & Total Compensation Percentiles
| Band | Meta | Microsoft | Amazon | Apple | P25 / P50 / P75 TC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3 (Entry / Associate) | L3 (SWE II) | E3 (SWE III) | 59–60 (SDE) | L4 (SDE I) | ICT2 | $152K / $175K / $195K |
| L4 (Mid-Level / SWE II) | L4 (SWE III) | E4 (SWE IV) | 61–62 (SDE II) | L5 (SDE II) | ICT3 | $200K / $230K / $265K |
| L5 (Senior (Terminal IC)) | L5 (Senior SWE) | E5 (Senior SWE) | 62–64 (Senior SDE) | L5 / L6 (SDE III) | ICT4 | $280K / $330K / $385K |
| L6 (Staff / Tech Lead) | L6 (Staff SWE) | E6 (Staff SWE) | 65–66 (Principal SDE) | L7 (Principal SDE) | ICT5 | $395K / $470K / $560K |
| L7 (Senior Staff / Principal) | L7 (Sr Staff SWE) | E7 (Sr Staff SWE) | 67 (Partner SDE) | L8 (Sr Principal) | ICT6 | $565K / $680K / $815K |
| L8 (Distinguished / Fellow) | L8 (Principal / Distinguished) | E8 (Principal / Director) | 68–70 (Distinguished / Technical Fellow) | L8+ (Distinguished) | Fellow | $800K / $980K / $1200K |
Common Skill Gaps
Skills where applicants most frequently fall short of the required depth.
Top Hiring Companies
Companies with the most active Backend Engineer postings in the scored dataset.
Browse Backend Engineer Jobs
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View 14+ ListingsFrequently Asked Questions
The top skills for Backend Engineer roles are Backend Development, Technical Leadership. Most positions require these at L3 depth or higher, meaning employers want candidates who can work independently, not just have surface awareness.
Based on 4 job postings with disclosed salary data, the average Backend Engineer salary is $186K with a median of $184K. Actual compensation varies by location, company size, and experience level.
Backend Engineer roles represent 0.3% of all scored jobs on ShouldApply. Most applicants have strong alignment with the required skills.
Top hiring companies for Backend Engineer roles include Cognizant, Motion Recruitment, Palermo Advisors. These companies collectively account for a significant portion of active listings.
ShouldApply rates every skill requirement on a 1-5 depth scale: L1 (Awareness) means you can discuss the concept, L2 (Basic) means simple tasks, L3 (Intermediate) means independent work, L4 (Advanced) means leading and optimizing, and L5 (Expert) means architecting solutions. This goes beyond keyword matching to measure actual proficiency fit.
With 14 active postings analyzed and a 0.3% demand rate, Backend Engineer roles show emerging market demand. Compensation is competitive, with median salaries above $100K.
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