We all know - software engineers are among the highest-paid professionals in the world. This is why I started pursuing software-driven roles. However, venturing into software development was challenging, especially as a fresher. This is because I was responsible for more significant projects, managing multidisciplinary teams and collaborating with stakeholders simultaneously. So, how can you still experience software engineering without getting bombarded with direct responsibility? By becoming an associate software engineer.
Associate software engineers create, maintain, analyze, and design software. Overall, associate software engineers offer support in the software development life cycle. With this entry-level role, you will get a clearer picture of what an associate software engineer does.
Also, you can start with any of the Best Web Development course. I did such courses to enhance my practical knowledge and find a job with a competitive salary. If you need more clarity on the salary prospects of an associate software engineer, go through this salary guide. I have covered everything, from roles and responsibilities to associate software engineer salary in different countries and companies.
Who is an Associate Software Engineer?
As an associate software engineer, one is responsible for creating an operating system that will help simplify decision-making, provide more reliable data, and improve business customer service.
As a software engineer, you'll need certain personal qualities besides technical skills to facilitate interpersonal, social, and communication skills. They add value to the software development lifecycle (SDLC) by helping with code design, testing, and debugging, among other things. They assist the quality assurance team in testing the program before its release to clients as part of their work duties. Depending on the industry they work in, their job may change.
Associate Software Engineer Salary in 2024
The diverse range of roles makes software engineers eligible for competitive salaries. With that said, the average salary for associate software engineer is around $82,893. Let's have a look at software engineering associate salary based on experience.
- Beginner (0-2 years of experience): The associate software engineer salary for freshers for people with 1-2 years of experience per year can be around $72,269.
- Intermediate (2-4 years of experience): The average associate software engineer salary for people with 2-4 years of experience is between $76,991 and $81,713.
- Advanced (4-7 years of experience): The senior associate software engineer salary for professionals with 5-7 years of experience is around $86,434.
The salary can vary based on company size, location/region industry, skill set, etc. Associate software engineers with additional skill sets, like software testing and documentation, can expect a slightly higher salary than the mentioned levels.
Associate Software Engineer Salary: Based on Location
Associate software engineer salary may vary based on several factors with location being a prime factor. Here are some average salary slabs according to the location.
1. India
Let's have a look at associate software engineer salary in 2024 in each city in India:
| City | Annual salary (INR) |
| Bangalore | 9,10,546 |
| Hyderabad | 7,97,672 |
| Gurgaon | 7,55,039 |
| Mumbai | 7,08,064 |
| Noida | 6,67,490 |
Have a look at the average annual salary in the top companies in India:
| Company | Annual salary (INR) |
| Amazon | 16,20,860 |
| Microsoft | 15,54,990 |
| Google | 15,25,640 |
| Oracle | 12,59,272 |
| UST | 8,25,578 |
2. US
Let's look at the associate software engineer average salary in each city in the US.
Have a look at the average annual salary in the top companies in the US:
3. UK
Let's have a look at associate software engineer salary in each city in the UK:
4. Australia
Let's have a look at associate software engineer salary in each city and top companies in Australia:
Below is a table with the average associate software engineer salary in top companies in Australia.
5. Canada
Let's have a look at associate software engineer salary in each city and top companies in Canada:
Average associate software engineer salary in top companies in Canada:
6. Singapore
Let's have a look at associate software engineer salary in each city and top companies in Singapore:
Average associate software engineer salary in top companies in Singapore:
| Company | Monthly salary (SGD) |
| Singtel | 3,454 |
| PERSOLKELLY | 3,102 |
| United Test & Assembly Center | 3,077 |
| Systems on Silicon Manufacturing | 2,964 |
| AFPD | 2,697 |
Associate Software Engineer Salary: Based on Job Roles
The average salary of an associate software engineer is around $140,867. However, the pay can vary greatly based on the job role and responsibilities. Here's a list of job roles related to software engineer and the average salary for each position:
| Job Role | Annual salary (USD) |
| Entry Level software engineer | 1,09,344 |
| Principal software engineer | 1,80,593 |
| Software development engineer | 1,21,781 |
| Software development engineer in Test | 1,15,699 |
Factors Affecting Associate Software Engineer Salary
Though there's a fixed salary range based on various factors, several factors can substantially affect the average associate software engineer's salary.
1. Location
The salary of an associate software engineer can vary significantly based on the state or city. For instance, an associate software engineer in San Francisco or New York can earn significantly more than an AI engineer with the same experience and skills in a smaller city like Austin.
For instance, the salary for an associate software engineer is around 146,654 USD/year, typical in New York-based companies. On the other hand, it is around 120,096 USD per year in companies based out of Austin.
2. Industry/Employer
Regarding associate software engineer salary, the industry and company play a crucial role. Industries like cyber security, AI, and fin-tech offer higher salaries for associate software engineers. However, this figure can also vary from one employer to another. For instance, Mrta offers a competitive 163,909 USD per year, whereas PayPal offers around 138,000 USD per year.
3. Experience
The associate software engineer salary in the US depends on the experience level. Here's a general categorization of the same:
4. Demand and Supply
Demand and supply play a crucial role in affecting the salary of an associate software engineer. Due to the evergreen demand for software engineers in the technology field, most companies offer significantly higher salaries for associate software engineers in the tech space like fin-tech, health-tech, AI, etc.
Moreover, the salary can also vary based on the demands in various cities within the US. The salary for artificial intelligence jobs in San Francisco, a city with a higher demand for associate software engineers, is $159,437.
5. Credentials / Certifications
Having a certification from a reputed association increases the chances of having a competitive software engineer associate degree salary. For instance, having a Full Stack Developer certification can provide a competitive edge. Certification holders have additional technical knowledge and hands-on experience handling software design and development systems.
6. Skills
Some specific advanced and technical skill sets also affect the salary. Associate engineers with skills like cloud computing, data structure and algorithms proficiency, operation system management, etc., receive higher salaries than those lacking.
How to Improve Associate Software Engineer Salary?
Associate software engineers can receive higher pay with advanced skills, certifications, and training. Here's how you can boost your associate software engineer salary range:
1. Skills
Developing and mastering skills in a few specialized areas can help associate software engineers boost their salaries. Here are some examples of skills that are highly valued in the software engineering field:
- Cloud computing: Software engineers with experience in cloud computing are preferred by employers because they play a crucial role in reducing storage space, increasing security, and saving time while developing software systems.
- Testing: Before a software application is released, software engineers conduct a rigorous testing process. This entails determining whether the application can run on various hardware configurations. As a result, developers can produce error-free applications by mastering these three testing processes.
2. Certifications
Certifications can significantly enhance a software engineer's skill set and earning potential. Engineers with cloud computing or full-stack developer certifications from reputable associations eventually receive higher salaries. Here are some examples of certifications that software engineers can pursue to boost their salary:
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Certification in Microsoft Azure Fundamentals improves your understanding of cloud computing and cloud-based applications. It helps to understand key concepts in software engineering, such as networking, storage, application development, and application maintenance.
AWS Certified Developer - Associate
The AWS Certified Developer - Associate certification attests to your expertise in fundamental AWS architecture best practices and essential AWS services. This certification demonstrates your ability to create, implement, and troubleshoot AWS cloud-based applications.
3. Degrees
Most companies look for a foundation in software development or a related field when hiring. This mostly includes your degree. Studying computer science or other STEM fields like math, science, or engineering could be beneficial. However, a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in software engineering is the ideal option.
4. Experience
Software engineering is a crucial field in the tech space. Software engineers with more experience have a relatively upper hand and get higher pay. This is because experienced associate software engineers have proficiency in SDLC, data structures, and OOD, which are significant areas in software engineering.
Why are Associate Software Engineers Paid So Much?
Software engineering is a growing domain and demands jobs across diverse industries. Consequently, the demand for software engineers has surged in the past decade, especially with the rise of AI, cloud computing, and big data, making it a lucrative industry.
Software engineers and specialists have specialized skills like cloud computing, software testing, etc., which are highly in demand. Thus, due to the strong demand for technical competence across various industries, software engineers enjoy higher salary ranges than other related roles.
Conclusion
With new technologies and evolutions within the tech space, the rise of demand for software engineers isn't surprising. With that said, there is also significant competition in this space. That makes it essential for candidates to equip themselves with the latest trends and skills to stand out in a competitive market. You can take certifications and courses like the KnowledgeHut Best Web Development course to master advanced technical skills and earn a higher salary.
![Associate Software Engineer Salary in 2024 [Fresher to Experienced]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fd2o2utebsixu4k.cloudfront.net%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2Fdbf24303-297a-49af-92d4-ac9ecff5b19f.png&w=1920&q=75)
