Tech Salary Calculator 2026: Total Compensation by Role, City & Level
Tech compensation is fundamentally different from most industries because a significant portion — often 30-60% at major companies — comes as stock-based compensation (RSUs or options) rather than base salary. A senior software engineer at a major tech company might earn $200,000 base salary, $80,000 in annual RSU vesting, and a $30,000 bonus — totaling $310,000. But the base salary alone does not tell this story, which is why understanding total compensation (TC) is essential for anyone in or entering the tech industry.
Geography plays an enormous role in tech pay. San Francisco and the Bay Area lead with median software engineer total compensation of $230,000-$280,000, followed by Seattle ($200,000-$250,000), New York ($190,000-$240,000), and Austin ($160,000-$200,000). Remote positions typically pay 10-20% less than Bay Area rates, though some companies like GitLab and Automattic use location-independent pay scales. After adjusting for taxes and cost of living, Seattle often wins: no state income tax plus lower housing costs than San Francisco.
This calculator converts salary figures across pay frequencies to help you standardize compensation comparisons. Whether you are converting a biweekly paycheck to annual, comparing an hourly contract rate to a full-time offer, or annualizing a monthly base salary, this tool provides the framework. Pair it with the tech-specific compensation data below to evaluate offers holistically.
Key Data & Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sr. SWE Median TC (SF/Bay Area) | $280,000-$350,000 |
| Sr. SWE Median TC (Seattle) | $250,000-$320,000 |
| Sr. SWE Median TC (NYC) | $240,000-$310,000 |
| Sr. SWE Median TC (Austin) | $200,000-$260,000 |
| Sr. SWE Median TC (Remote) | $180,000-$250,000 |
| Typical RSU Vesting Schedule | 4 years (1yr cliff, then quarterly) |
| Average RSU % of TC | 30-60% at major companies |
| Tech Bonus Range | 10-20% of base salary |
Pre-Calculated Examples
| Scenario | Gross | Net / Result | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior SWE (Austin) | $110,000 base | $145,000 TC | Base $110K + RSU $25K/yr + Bonus $10K |
| Mid SWE (Seattle) | $160,000 base | $230,000 TC | Base $160K + RSU $50K/yr + Bonus $20K |
| Senior SWE (SF) | $210,000 base | $340,000 TC | Base $210K + RSU $100K/yr + Bonus $30K |
| Staff SWE (Remote) | $225,000 base | $380,000 TC | Base $225K + RSU $130K/yr + Bonus $25K |
| Data Scientist (NYC) | $150,000 base | $210,000 TC | Base $150K + RSU $40K/yr + Bonus $20K |
Calculate Your Salary
Salary Information
Enter your salary information to see all pay frequency conversions
Who Uses This Calculator?
FAANG offer evaluation
Break down a Big Tech offer into base, RSU, and bonus components. Calculate annual RSU vesting from a 4-year grant to understand year-over-year compensation.
City comparison after tax
Compare the same total compensation package in Seattle (no state tax) vs San Francisco (13.3% top state rate) vs New York City (state + city tax) to find the highest net pay.
Startup vs public company
Evaluate a startup equity offer (options with uncertain value) against a public company RSU package (liquid, known value) by projecting realistic outcomes for each.
Remote salary negotiation
Determine a fair remote salary by starting with the Bay Area rate for your level and applying the appropriate geographic discount (typically 10-20% for US remote).