How to hire a software engineer: 469 companies are hiring now
What you compete with, counted from today’s 4,881 open software engineer postings: who is hiring, where, what they pay and how long postings stay up. Then six steps, each with a free template or tool.
- Companies hiring now
- 469
- Open postings
- 4,881
- Median advertised pay
- $222K
- Remote
- 20%
- Half are open for over
- 67 days
What you compete with
| Companies hiring this work now | 469: SpaceX (266), Databricks (168), OpenAI (156), Palantir (141), Roblox (127), Elastic (117) |
|---|---|
| Countries named most | 🇺🇸United States (3,093), 🇮🇳India (319), 🇨🇦Canada (314), 🇬🇧United Kingdom (253), 🇮🇪Ireland (72) |
| Pay advertised | $188K – $268K for the middle half; median $222K (2,649 postings with a yearly US-dollar range) |
| Postings that state pay | 63% |
| Where the work is done | Remote 20% · hybrid 14% · on site or not stated 66% |
| Experience asked | Median 5 years |
| Skills named most | Python (46%), Go (30%), Kubernetes (28%), Java (27%), C++ (27%) |
| Benefits named most | Parental leave (34%), Equity (23%), Learning budget (4%), Relocation support (4%) |
| How long postings stay up | Half of today’s open postings have been up more than 67 days; postings that closed since we started tracking stayed up a median of 77 days |
Counted from the 4,881 open postings for this work on Nov 14, 2026, read from employers’ own careers pages and recounted on every update.
Six steps to hire a software engineer
- Set the pay range first. Today’s 2,649 software engineer postings that state a yearly US-dollar range offer $188K to $268K for the middle half. Three quarters of them offer more than the lower figure. 63% of the postings state pay; in several US states and EU countries the law requires it. See software engineer pay in detail.
- Write the description. Start from the software engineer job description template, then check it with the job description checker: the pay, the place of work and the must-haves should be clear before the second paragraph.
- Decide where the person can work. 20% of today’s software engineer postings are remote and 14% hybrid. If yours is remote, name the countries or time zones; “remote” alone brings applications you cannot accept.
- Post it where people look. Post the job free on this site, add it to your own careers page and send it to people you know who do this work.
- Screen for the skills that matter. Today’s postings name Python, Go, Kubernetes most often: check them in the work, not only in the resume. Score every candidate on the same points with the interview scorecard; the software engineer interview questions show what good candidates prepare for.
- Decide quickly. Half of today’s open software engineer postings have been up more than 67 days: a candidate who waits for your answer may be talking to other employers meanwhile. Tell every candidate when you will decide, and keep to it.
Questions about hiring software engineers
- How much does it cost to hire a software engineer?
- The pay is the largest part: today’s software engineer postings that state a yearly US-dollar range advertise a median of $222K. Add advertising, agency fees if you use one and the hours your team spends interviewing; the cost per hire calculator on this site adds them up. Posting on this site is free.
- How long does it take to hire a software engineer?
- Half of today’s open software engineer postings have been up more than 67 days, and postings for this work that closed since we started tracking stayed up a median of 77 days. A posting can close before the person starts, so plan for a few weeks more.
- Where can I find software engineers?
- 469 companies are hiring software engineers on this site today. Post your job here free, on your own careers page and in communities where software engineers meet; the table on this page lists the countries named most in today’s postings.
Everything about software engineer work
See also: software engineer job description template · 4,881 open software engineer jobs · cost per hire calculator · all hiring guides