Software engineer jobs, Sep 2026: new listings down 9.7%

New software engineer postings fell to 1,506, down 9.7% from the previous week. That is a current snapshot of jobs in our index, not a forecast for the whole economy. For you, the immediate implication is a smaller pool of fresh opportunities, so check new postings promptly and keep reviewing recent listings that may still be open.

New software engineer job postings dropped 9.7% this week compared to last week

The latest seven-day total is the lowest of the past 30 days, when we counted 6,407 new software engineer roles. Speed matters more in a smaller flow of new jobs. Set alerts for the titles and locations you want, then apply while a listing is still new.

There are 22,129 active software engineer roles in the index, equal to 2.2% of all 1,028,573 active listings. The age of those roles matters. We counted 13,963 listings older than 60 days, or 63.1% of active software engineer roles. Older listings deserve a quick check before you discard them. Confirm that the employer is still accepting applications and that the posting has recent activity.

The weekly count includes roles that have already closed, so it measures posting activity rather than the number of jobs still available. Use the active-role count when you decide how broad your search can be today.

Median US salary ranges from $137,500 for entry-level to $240,150 for staff-level roles

The salary figures come from 5,073 US listings that publish an annual range. Across those listings, the median lower bound is $160,000 and the median upper bound is $220,000. The midpoint rises with seniority, giving you a quick way to compare the level named in a listing with the pay it advertises.

Use these figures as filters when you compare offers or decide which listings deserve time. They describe advertised ranges, so check the full compensation details, location rules and level expectations before treating a posted number as your likely pay. A range can help you rule out a poor fit early, while the level can tell you whether the role matches your experience.

Who is hiring: 5,815 companies, with Python and AWS the most requested skills

Python appears in 41.8% of active software engineer listings and AWS in 27.9%. Put either keyword near the top of your résumé or search when it reflects your actual experience. C++ and Java also appear prominently, giving candidates with systems or enterprise backgrounds additional search paths.

The United States accounts for 48.2% of active roles. Among the 10,896 listings where employers state a workplace type, 40.2% are remote. That remote share applies only to listings with workplace information. If location is a constraint, filter for remote first, then verify the employer’s eligibility rules and any geographic limits.

Seniority is concentrated toward experienced candidates: senior roles make up 46.3% of active listings. Entry-level applicants may need to widen location, title or technology filters rather than rely on one narrow search. The index includes 919 open software engineer titles at Speechify, giving candidates focused on that employer a substantial group of roles to inspect.

Skill counts come from terms extracted from job descriptions, so treat them as search signals rather than requirements for every opening. Match your materials to the skills you can demonstrate.

Fresh listings this week: apply to these new salaried roles

These are the newest salaried roles from distinct employers posted in the last few days. Use them as a short application queue. Before applying, compare each role’s level, location and stated pay with your requirements, then remove any listing whose details already rule it out.

What this data cannot tell you: title matching is a floor, salaries are what employers publish, and week-over-week is one week of noise

Our matching uses job titles. An employer using an unusual title can be missed, so the counts are a floor rather than a complete census of software engineering work. Search related titles when your target field commonly uses different naming.

Salary medians use US listings that state an annual range. They describe employer-published compensation, not what employees ultimately receive. Seniority and workplace categories also use employer-stated labels, and many listings provide no workplace type.

The weekly comparison covers two adjacent seven-day posting windows. It can identify a change in fresh listings, while a longer run of reports is needed to judge direction. Use this report to choose where to look today, then reassess as new weeks arrive.