For software engineers looking to accelerate their careers, landing a role at a tech giant like Amazon is often a primary goal. Among its engineering ranks, the Software Development Engineer II (SDE II) position represents a critical milestone—a transition from a junior-level contributor to an experienced, impactful engineer.
But what does this career progression mean for your wallet? An SDE II role at Amazon is not only a significant step up in responsibility but also in compensation, with total packages often soaring well into the six-figure range, frequently exceeding $250,000 annually.
This article provides a data-driven breakdown of an SDE II salary at Amazon, exploring the core components of their compensation package, the factors that influence earnings, and the overall career outlook for software developers.
What Does an SDE II at Amazon Do?
An SDE II is a mid-level software engineer who has moved beyond the fundamentals of coding and is expected to take on a greater degree of ownership and complexity. While an SDE I typically focuses on well-defined tasks, an SDE II is responsible for the design, development, and deployment of entire features or small-to-medium-sized services.
Key responsibilities include:
- System Design: Contributing to the architectural design of software systems, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and maintainable.
- Coding and Development: Writing high-quality, efficient, and well-tested code for complex projects.
- Mentorship: Guiding and mentoring junior engineers (SDE Is) and interns, participating in code reviews, and upholding engineering best practices.
- Operational Excellence: Owning the full lifecycle of their services, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and resolving issues in a production environment.
In essence, an SDE II is a trusted engineer who can independently drive projects to completion and has a measurable impact on their team and Amazon's customers.
Average SDE II Salary at Amazon
The compensation for an SDE II at Amazon is more than just a base salary; it's a comprehensive package known as Total Compensation (TC). This is a critical concept to understand as it includes base salary, stock awards, and bonuses.
According to data from the industry-leading compensation platform Levels.fyi, which aggregates thousands of verified user-submitted offers, the median total compensation for an Amazon SDE II in the United States is approximately $295,000 per year (as of late 2023/early 2024).
This TC is typically broken down as follows:
| Component | Typical Range (USD) | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Base Salary | $140,000 - $190,000 | The fixed, annual salary paid bi-weekly or monthly. |
| Stock (RSUs) | $80,000 - $150,000 / year | Restricted Stock Units that vest over a period, typically 4 years. |
| Sign-On Bonus | $20,000 - $60,000+ | A bonus paid out over the first two years to sweeten the initial offer. |
*Source: Data compiled and averaged from Levels.fyi and Glassdoor (2024).*
It's important to note Amazon's unique stock vesting schedule. While many companies vest stock evenly over four years (25% each year), Amazon's vesting is back-loaded:
- Year 1: 5%
- Year 2: 15%
- Year 3: 40%
- Year 4: 40%
To compensate for the low initial stock vesting, Amazon offers a significant sign-on bonus paid out over the first two years. This structure is designed to heavily reward long-term commitment.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
While the averages provide a great baseline, your specific compensation as an SDE II can vary significantly based on several key factors.
### Years of Experience
The "SDE II" title itself implies a certain level of experience, typically 2-5 years in the industry. An engineer with five years of experience who is on the cusp of a promotion to Senior SDE (L6) will naturally command a higher salary than an engineer who was recently promoted from SDE I (L4) after two years. Your performance in previous roles and your ability to demonstrate ownership and impact during the interview process will directly influence your initial offer.
### Geographic Location
Amazon adjusts its compensation bands based on the cost of living in different metropolitan areas. An SDE II working in a high-cost-of-living (HCOL) hub like Seattle, WA, or Sunnyvale, CA, will earn a substantially higher salary than one in a lower-cost-of-living (LCOL) area.
For example, based on user-reported data, an SDE II in the San Francisco Bay Area might see a total compensation package that is 10-20% higher than the national median, while an engineer in a smaller tech hub might be closer to or slightly below the median.
### Area of Specialization
Not all software engineering roles are created equal. Engineers with expertise in high-demand, specialized fields can command premium salaries. At Amazon, some of the most lucrative specializations include:
- Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence (AI): Building and deploying ML models for products like Alexa, Amazon Rekognition, or recommendation engines.
- Cloud Computing (AWS): Deep expertise in distributed systems, networking, and virtualization is highly valued within Amazon Web Services.
- Cybersecurity: Protecting customer data and securing Amazon's vast infrastructure is a top priority, and specialists are compensated accordingly.
- Big Data and Distributed Systems: Engineers who can design and manage systems that process petabytes of data are essential to Amazon's operations.
### Level of Education
For most SDE roles, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a related field is the standard requirement. While a master's degree or Ph.D. is not typically required, it can provide a competitive edge and a higher starting salary, particularly for specialized roles in Machine Learning, data science, or research. However, for a mid-level SDE II role, demonstrated on-the-job experience and project impact generally carry more weight than advanced degrees.
### Company Type
While this article focuses on Amazon, it's helpful to understand where its compensation stands in the broader market. Amazon is known for being highly competitive, often rivaling other tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft. According to Salary.com, the national median salary for a "Software Engineer II" is around $92,571, but this figure includes companies of all sizes and industries. Amazon and its FAANG peers consistently pay in the top percentile, primarily due to their substantial stock-based compensation.
Job Outlook
The career outlook for software developers remains exceptionally strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for software developers is projected to grow 25 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
This projected growth translates to about 153,900 openings for software developers each year, on average, over the decade. This sustained, high demand ensures that skilled engineers, especially those with experience at top-tier companies like Amazon, will remain highly sought-after and well-compensated.
Conclusion
A Software Development Engineer II role at Amazon is a lucrative and rewarding career milestone. It signifies a move toward greater technical autonomy and leadership, and the compensation package reflects that increased responsibility.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring SDE IIs:
- Think in Total Compensation (TC): Don't just focus on the base salary. The combination of base, stock (RSUs), and bonuses provides a more accurate picture of your earning potential.
- Experience and Impact are King: Your demonstrated ability to design and deliver complex software solutions is your most valuable asset in salary negotiations.
- Location Matters: Be aware that your physical location will have a significant impact on your salary bands.
- Specialize for an Edge: Developing deep expertise in a high-demand area like AI/ML or cloud computing can significantly increase your market value.
For those navigating their software engineering career, the path to an SDE II role at Amazon is a challenging but achievable goal with an exceptional financial and professional payoff.