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Role Intelligence

Software Engineer

Analysis from 144 job postings — 2.9% of all scored jobs

144

Jobs Analyzed

2.9%

Demand Rate

$157K

Avg Salary

$156K

Median Salary

109

Open right now

107

Added last 30 days

18%

Disclose salary

6d

Median posting age

Skill Snapshot

Top Skills for Software Engineer

Based on 144 scored postings

L1L2L3L4L5

What Does a Software Engineer Do?

Role overview based on 144 scored job postings.

A Software Engineer drives outcomes across Bachelor's Degree, Python, Computer Science Degree and related areas. Based on 144 scored postings, this role requires a mix of technical and strategic skills at varying depth levels.

What employers are looking for:

  • •Bachelor's Degree at L4 — required in 13% of postings. Employers want hands-on proficiency, not textbook knowledge.
  • •Python at L4 — required in 13% of postings. Most roles expect independent execution, not just awareness.
  • •Computer Science Degree at L3 — required in 8% of postings. Employers want hands-on proficiency, not textbook knowledge.
⚠ Most common gaps: Embedded Software Dev (100% gap rate) and Secret Security Clearance (100% gap rate). If these apply to you, address them directly in your cover letter.

Required Skills

Skills ranked by frequency across 144 postings. L-levels show the depth employers require.

L1 AwarenessL2 BasicL3 IntermediateL4 AdvancedL5 Expert

Salary Insights

Compensation data from 30 postings with disclosed salary.

$157K

Average

$156K

Median

30

Jobs with salary data

SALARY RANGE (P10–P90)high confidence (10000 jobs)
$82K
$215K
10thTypical range: $105K–$172K90th

Based on 30 Software Engineer job postings with disclosed salary data, compensation averages $157K. The median sits at $156K, indicating a few high-paying outliers pulling the average up. The typical range (25th to 75th percentile) runs $105K to $172K.

Common Skill Gaps

Skills where applicants most frequently fall short of the required depth.

Kubernetes
100% gap
C/C++
86% gap
.NET/C#
67% gap
Java
57% gap
Typescript
50% gap

A gap doesn't mean disqualified. It means you need to address it directly. ShouldApply scores your resume against the actual depth requirements and shows exactly where you fall short, before you apply.

Score My Resume →

Top Hiring Companies

Companies with the most active Software Engineer postings in the scored dataset.

Browse Software Engineer Jobs

See live listings and check your fit score before you apply.

View 144+ Listings

Frequently Asked Questions

The top skills for Software Engineer roles are Bachelor's Degree, Python, Computer Science Degree, Software Engineering Experience, React. Most positions require these at L4 depth or higher, meaning employers want candidates who can work independently, not just have surface awareness.

Based on 30 job postings with disclosed salary data, the average Software Engineer salary is $157K with a median of $156K. Actual compensation varies by location, company size, and experience level.

Software Engineer roles represent 2.9% of all scored jobs on ShouldApply. Common skill gaps include Embedded Software Dev, Secret Security Clearance, Kubernetes, suggesting many applicants struggle with these areas.

Top hiring companies for Software Engineer roles include Qualcomm, Intuit, Walmart, ServiceNow, Amazon. 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 144 active postings analyzed and a 2.9% demand rate, Software Engineer roles show emerging market demand. Compensation is competitive, with median salaries above $100K.

See how you match Software Engineer roles

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