▼7%
$139,253
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$112k
MEDIAN
$139k
90%
$179k
The average salary for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) is $139,253 in 2025
Base Salary
$112k - $179k
Bonus
$3k - $24k
Profit Sharing
$0 - $165
Total Pay
$112k - $182k
Is Average Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) Salary in Houston, Texas your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s?
▼2%
What Do Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s Do?
Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) Tasks
- Work with designers and content producers.
- Write, modify, and debug software for server applications.
- Write code to create multi-threaded, networked server applications.
- Use source debuggers, program dumps, and performance monitoring tools.
- Test and document software for server applications.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)
Medical
100%
Dental
88%
Vision
88%
Gender Breakdown for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s
Male
85.7%
Female
14.3%
This data is based on 7 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s
What is the highest pay for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s in Houston?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) in Houston is $179k / year
What is the lowest pay for Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s in Houston?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) in Houston is $112k / year
How can Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE) that oversees more junior Lead Software Development Engineer (SDE)s, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.