▲30%
$117,546
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$61k
MEDIAN
$118k
90%
$160k
The average salary for a Staff Engineer is $117,546 in 2025
Base Salary
$61k - $160k
Bonus
$503 - $42k
Total Pay
$61k - $167k
Is Average Early-Career Staff Engineer with Software Development Skills Salary 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?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Staff Engineers?
What Do Staff Engineers Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a Staff Engineer
Medical
93%
Dental
93%
Vision
79%
None
7%
Gender Breakdown for Staff Engineers
Male
80.0%
Female
20.0%
This data is based on 10 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Staff Engineers
What is the highest pay for Staff Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Staff Engineer is $160k / year
What is the lowest pay for Staff Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Staff Engineer is $61k / year
How can Staff Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Staff Engineer 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 Staff Engineer that oversees more junior Staff Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.