Engineer levels and years of experience A Junior Engineer or Engineer I has approximately 1-2 years experience with at least one language of focus. Jan 28, 2025 · A senior engineer can be an official job title or an indicator of seniority you earn after working with a company for years. Software engineer 2 (levels 61, 62) - Usually for candidates with a few years of experience. Aug 14, 2024 · Thus, as the years of experience grow, the SDE level of an engineer also increases. S. Level 5: Senior Software Engineer: $180,000 - $220,000: Engineers who take ownership of major projects, lead design decisions Mar 2, 2023 · The difference between each of those levels is at the first level; the expectation is that our team member is exhibiting some to many of the behaviors at that level. You should be showing signs of proactiveness Senior engineer (levels 63, 64) - Usually for candidates with >5 years of experience, but I'm sure there are exceptions. This means individual promos are smaller, but should generally happen more often. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $125,680. We categorize Product Manager compensation into four levels based on years of experience: Entry (0–3 years), Experienced (4–6 years), Senior (7–10 years), and Leader (11+ years). Jun 1, 2025 · L3 - Full time, entry level Software Engineer, also known as the “new grad level”. This has not been typical of my 10 years as an engineer in the UK +6% per year of experience above inflation More or less accurate, but from my experience definitely slows down after ~7 years or so Mar 24, 2025 · A supervisor may quality check much of your work and your job title may reflect first-level engineering status for up to two years. com. May 26, 2025 · Below given positions can be chosen if you want to go to the management level after completing 10+ years of experience as a Principal Software Engineer. The median total compensation package for a Software Engineer 1 at Cisco is $119,663. Dec 26, 2024 · Entry-level engineers with 0-2 years of experience. Level III SWE’s at Facebook are also entry-level Software Engineering Managers. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $126,596. com Sep 21, 2023 · Google hires engineers with 2-4 years of experience or a Ph. D. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $94,379. Couple things to note: L{n} stands for Level {n}. But seriously, titles mean nothing. 1. Their responsibilities include basic programming tasks like troubleshooting, code reviews, and testing software systems. The 'apparent' value you bring into the organization matters. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $81,475, and those with over 8 years of Mar 13, 2021 · (L3, 2-4 years of experience) Software Engineer IV — $141,656 (L4, 5-7 years of experience) Principal Software Engineer — $153,346 (L5, 8 or more years of experience) Director of Software Engineering — $165,168 (L6, 8 or more years of experience) Source: Glassdoor. Experience guide: 1-2 year Have worked in the industry for about a year. That being said years of experience don’t mean too much… having 10 years of construction inspection experience won’t really translate as well to a senior design engineer as 10 years of progressive experience in design. But what do these designations actually mean? Let’s explore each software engineer level in detail. • Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET/EAC-accredited program • Master’s degree or equivalent (optional) Feb 16, 2025 · E4 SWE’s must possess a minimum of two to four years of experience. Junior: less than 2 years of experience; Associate: with 2-5 years of experience; Mid-level: with 5-10 years of experience; Senior: with 10+ years of experience; Lead: who supervise a team of employees; Manager: who have overall responsibility for a department or division; Director: who have overall responsibility for a business unit or function The median total compensation package for a ICT4 at Apple is $349,455. The expectation is that you should be able to complete assigned tasks without help. 59/60 is entry level SDE 61/62 is SDE 2 63/64 is Senior SDE 65+ is Principal 60 is totally reasonable for 1-3 years experience. Able to resolve routine issues and problems. SDE1 are usually engineers with no experience or up to 2 years of experience. Staff engineers can have titles like staff engineer I, II, and III that indicate seniority based on experience. Generally, there are nine Google software engineering levels, which are as follows: Software Engineer II (Level 3 | 0–1 year of experience) Software Engineer III (Level 4 | 2+ years of experience) Mar 3, 2025 · A mid-level electrical engineer usually has at least five years of experience, but typically holds 10 to 15 years of experience, especially in management roles. Staff Software Engineer (Level 6) This is where software engineers begin transitioning into leadership roles with 10+ years of experience in the domain. Hierarchy Principal engineers are in higher-level positions compared to senior engineers. fyi developed a standard leveling tool that highlights the level ladders at many of the tech industry's most notable names. At this level, you're not just a coder; you're a technical leader. Although mostly Using mostly data from levels. Leads small to medium-sized projects, designs systems, performs code reviews May 14, 2020 · L3 - Full time, entry level Software Engineer, also known as the “new grad level”. Jan 28, 2025 · In this article, we describe the 10 engineering levels in the three stages of career development for software engineers and we give the national average salary for people working at each stage. Essentially each level has a level of cumulative experience desired which varies based on education level. Jan 1, 2023 · At Meta, entry-level software engineers start at the E3 level and can advance to higher levels like M2 (Software Engineering Manager) or E8 (Principle Software Engineer), depending on their skills and experience. They should be proficient in one or two languages/frameworks and have dabbled in a few other languages. I think the "minimum" for a grade 4 is 9 years with a bachelor's, 7 years with a master's, and 4 years with a doctorate. A level 1 engineer is an entry level position for someone with a BS + 0 years of experience. May 20, 2021 · Experience and Education: Engineers at this level typically have at least eight years of experience, along with a Grade IV engineer’s educational and licensing qualifications, such as a master’s degree and a Professional Engineer (PE) license. If we ever hire juniors, those kids are going to have a long road ahead of them. ICT3: Software engineers with an intermediate experience level are hired at this level. 0–2 years: 2: Well developed professional and technical expertise. Top Pay by Years of Experience for Product Managers. Work under guidance on well-defined tasks. May 21, 2024 · Likewise, to comprehend how much you can hope to earn, it is vital to understand the software engineer levels at Google. Engineer Manager (10+ years) If you see yourself as someone who can manage teams and work for the development of an organization taking forward the technology, then this position is meant I'm at an early-stage startup. ICT4: Three to Five years of experience in software development is necessary for this level. Thus, their job responsibilities are a combination of technical and management duties. ) 59-60: SDE 1 (Software Development Engineer I) 0-2 years: 61-62: SDE 2 (Software Development Engineer II) 2-5 years: 63-64: Senior SDE (Senior Software Development Engineer) 5-10 years: 65-67: Principal SDE (Principal Software Development Engineer) 10+ years: 68-69: Partner SDE (Partner Software Sep 12, 2024 · Level Title Years of Experience (Approx. Engineer Stf - Level 5(E5) = 14-20yrs of experience aka. L1: Engineer I: Impact. Levels. L4 (Software Engineer): Requires 2-5 years of experience. These levels Aug 19, 2022 · If you want to get to a certain level, these are the things you need to aspire to do. Jun 1, 2025 · An entry-level Engineer I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $79,238. Mar 5, 2025 · Curious about Software Engineer Levels and how they impact career growth? The expected salary for a software engineer with 3 years of experience can be between Oct 11, 2024 · For software engineers, this is the road most traveled. fyi, I threw together a quick and easy visualization to help understand leveling, yoe (years of experience), and median total compensation across each of the 6 FAANGs. One thing you will have to understand is that years of experience is not always what determines your grade in many companies. This is the level most engineers are at internally within Google. A level 2 engineer is a BS + 2 or MS + 0. Software Engineer Level III (E5) Average base salary: $207,756 per year. I have fifteen years of experience and I'm considered "staff". Engineer - Level 3(E3) = 5-9yrs of experience aka. Software Engineer II: 0 to 1 year of experience BSc students enter at this level. The guidelines outline the knowledge, skills, and responsibilities associated with engineers at each grade. Entry level engineering is one grade below management and pay increases are capped at 3-4% per year. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $80,966. What is a software engineer? ASCE’s Guidelines for Engineering Grades were created to help engineers and their employers recognize an engineer’s level of professional development and career advancement. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $79,505. Engineer Asc - Level 2(E2) = 2-5yrs of experience aka. At this point, they should have mastered 2-3 Sep 29, 2022 · Standard Software Engineer Career Levels Source: Edvard Alexander Rølvaag on Unsplash. See full list on salarship. 2. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $96,905. Mid-level engineer The second career level for an engineer typically encompasses all entry-level engineers who have at least two years of experience. This level is equivalent to a Senior Manager role with 10+ years of experience. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $80,687. As for the kind of work they do, it can be pretty similar in complexity. L4 - 1-5 years of industry experience, sometimes awarded to high potential new grads and PhDs. ” The guidelines outline the knowledge, skills, and responsibilities associated with engineers at each grade, from student intern up through 20-plus years of experience. Jun 21, 2024 · In the realm of software engineering, companies often use a tiered system to categorize engineers based on their experience, capabilities, and contributions to the organization. Nov 13, 2019 · Level Description Typical Experience; 1: Developing professional and technical expertise. You're the one who sets the standard for code quality and mentors the next generation of engineers. Engineer Sr - Level 4(E4) = 9-14yrs of experience aka. View the compensation for all companies here. I work with another "staff" developer with ten years of experience, and a "senior" with ten years of experience. Related: 44 engineering interview questions Moving towards more technical roles After developing more than six years of software engineering experience, you may opt to progress into more technical engineering roles. Sep 27, 2024 · As engineers transition from beginners to contributors with some experience, they move into the Level 2 (L2) software engineer or junior engineer role. Involves more ownership over features or components, mentoring junior engineers, and contributing to project planning. You can be 10+ years in the company and still be at level 2 while someone with 5 years could reach level 3. The years of experience is the only thing that differentiates them. Metropolitan Areas. Mar 4, 2025 · Engineers at this level usually have between three and six years of experience. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $129,115, and those with over 8 years of Mar 17, 2025 · Experience matters: Three years of experience is typically required to reach this level, and that experience will be invaluable in your day-to-day work. LM's leveling structure goes like this: Individual Contributor(IC) Route - - Level 1(E1) = 0-2yrs of experience aka. Feb 13, 2018 · Microsoft has twice as many levels as a lot of companies. I work at a competing large aerospace company. Learned the basics of building software in a team, and working with other areas. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $100,665, and those with over 8 years of The median total compensation package for a ICT3 at Apple is $254,495. ) 59-60: SDE 1 (Software Development Engineer I) 0-2 years: 61-62: SDE 2 (Software Development Engineer II) 2-5 years: 63-64: Senior SDE (Senior Software Development Engineer) 5-10 years: 65-67: Principal SDE (Principal Software Development Engineer) 10+ years: 68-69: Partner SDE (Partner Software Jun 1, 2025 · An entry-level Mechanical Engineer I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $79,128. Level 4: Software Engineer II: $150,000 - $180,000: Engineers with 2-5 years of experience working on more complex tasks and projects. To hold this position, they should have extensive education in programming, coding languages, software development and troubleshooting strategies. The tool may be used to compare levels and, occasionally, titles across companies. e. Aug 28, 2024 · L4 - Software Engineer: Mid-level engineer, often with 2-5 years of experience. View more Software Engineer salary ranges with breakdowns by base, stock, and bonus amounts. E-5/E-6 are really all about the impact of the work you're leading, I've seen E-5s with 40+ years of experience and an E-6 with 20+. Oct 19, 2023 · These levels, typically denoted as L2, L3, L4, and so forth, serve as a career roadmap, compensation framework, and a way to manage expectations and responsibilities. L5 - Senior Software Engineer: Typically 5-8+ years of experience. As engineers transition from beginners to contributors with some experience, they move into the Level 2 (L2) software engineer or junior engineer role. At this stage, their knowledge begins to take shape, and their contributions become more impactful, albeit with some guidance. How much experience you need to work in a mid-level electrical engineering position depends on the company you work for. Engineers at this level have accumulated years of experience and possess a deep understanding of their respective engineering disciplines. Senior engineers hold significant responsibilities, including leading project teams, mentoring junior engineers, and designing and developing complex systems. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $81,189, and those with over 8 years of experience can Some places will call someone senior sci/geo/eng with 3-5 years of experience. L5- Senior Software Engineer: 6-9 years of industry experience. It’s right there in front of you. E-4 you'll need good reviews or overshoot the YOE. They earn an average base salary of $364K per year. Sep 12, 2024 · Level Title Years of Experience (Approx. SDE2 is an engineer with 2 to 4 years of experience and to get promoted to SDE3 one needs 4 or more years of experience. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $79,849. at L4. View more Hardware Engineer salary ranges with breakdowns by base, stock, and bonus amounts. Software Engineer Description: Mid-level role with a broader range of responsibilities and more independence. $160,000 - $220,000+ ₹30 - ₹45 lakhs: L5: Senior Software Engineer Manager I: 4 to 8 years PhD students enter at this level Entry-level engineers (0-2 years of experience) who focus on learning and coding. L5 (Senior Software Engineer): Engineers with 5-8 years of experience. Manager roles and responsibilities start at this level with 10+ years of experience. Has a good grasps of the basics, and can generally work solo on small features, and with assistance on bigger features. Engineer Sr Stf - Level 6(E6) = > 20yrs of experience aka Jul 1, 2024 · Mid-level software engineers, also known as Engineer II, usually has two to five years of experience in software development. These are some common titles within this level of the hierarchy: Jun 1, 2025 · An entry-level Mechanical Engineer IV with less than 1 year of experience earns about $125,108. E1-E3 are pretty standard, reach the expected years of experience and you're fine. It is similar to primary school where there are entry-level engineers with only a few years of experience and programming foundations. Engineer I or Junior Engineer. Director of engineering. In contrast, Google designates its entry-level software engineers as L3. As an Entry Level Engineer, you’ll be expected to develop and maintain lower complexity components under the guidance and tutelage of more experienced team members. At the second level, the expectation is mastery of most of the behaviors and also beginning to exhibit behaviors at one level above. Engineers with 6+ years of work experience are hired at L5. Each grade includes expected: Apr 28, 2025 · Often working on well-defined tasks and projects under the guidance of more experienced engineers. Most places that collect data look at salaries Feb 1, 2021 · The Entry Level Engineer is typically a new graduate with a freshly minted university degree, and may have up to two years of applicable professional experience. Apr 7, 2021 · Junior developers usually have 1-3 years of development experience. I imagine this is the same as 1, 2, 3 at yours. In my opinion those places have poor retention and over title people instead of paying them. The company I work for has only 3 levels: Engineer, Lead Engineer and Senior Engineer. g. Generally, I think there is a pretty decent shift at 5-8 years which I'd consider mid-level and then another at 10-15, where I'd consider someone at a senior level. May 24, 2024 · Google Level Grading, Expectations and Salaries Software Engineer II (L3 | 0-1 Year of Experience) Role Description. A. Scope Feb 16, 2025 · Each Software Engineer level at Apple is granted based on the experience and skill expected from the role: ICT2: Usually hire new graduates at this level. Engineers handle moderately complex projects and mentor junior developers. As a Software Engineer II at Google, you hold an entry-level position where you are expected to perform foundational tasks in software development. A director of engineering must understand a company’s broader goals and vision. The standard software engineering career levels are as follows: Level 1 - Software Engineer; Level 2 - Senior Engineer; Level 3 - Staff Engineer (alternate: Senior Staff Engineer) Level 4 - Principal Engineer; Level 5 - Distinguished Engineer / Fellow Feb 16, 2025 · A senior software engineer is expected to bring six to ten years of experience to the job level. Mar 15, 2025 · A senior engineer is a mid-level position in the engineering hierarchy, typically requiring 5-10 years of experience and a strong track record of engineering achievements. Senior-level engineers are entrusted with complex and critical projects that require advanced problem-solving skills and a comprehensive knowledge of industry best practices. Feb 25, 2025 · Experience Level: 7-10 years. U. Experience: Typically 0-2 years of experience, recent graduates or individuals in the early stages of their career. So L4 = level 4 E{n} stands for Engineer {n}. . Shows enthusiasm, and strong commitment to learning and • Engineering Intern/Engineer-in-Training, Designer, Engineering Associate, Analyst ExpERIENCE • 0+ years • 0+ years • 2+ years EDUCAtION • Enrolled in an ABET/EAC-accredited bachelor’s degree program in engineering. A mid-level engineer should have 3-5 years of experience or a bachelor’s in computer science with a year or two of experience. $120,000 - $160,000+ ₹14 - ₹30 lakhs: L4: Software Engineer III: 2 to 4 years of experience MSc students enter at this level. Dec 4, 2020 · For example, Google has eight levels on its software engineering ladder, while Facebook has seven and Microsoft thirteen. Jun 1, 2025 · An entry-level Mechanical Engineer II with less than 1 year of experience earns about $94,126. ICT{n} stands for Individual Contributor track. uqrp hurdwx cnq hrnka nxlooi rofcb tzfl sxg hehlpc yzmbzbg