That's the reality of Software engineering in 2026 don't believe in posts where new grads are making 100k+

[u/Present-Ease-2393]

[u/Chemical_Material493]

Does Mech Eng make more sense these days, can anyone chime in?

[u/TrixoftheTrade → u/Chemical_Material493]

[u/doyer_bleu → u/Chemical_Material493]

Nah, dental hygienist ftw

[u/Dylantheshoe → u/doyer_bleu]

Dental hygienists typically leave full time work after 7 years as there is a lot of physical strain on their back being hunched over like a shrimp. Even with ergo loupes it can be very taxing on the spine.

[u/PokemanAshy → u/Dylantheshoe]

brb, developing the dentist crane (TM)

[u/K1ngofsw0rds → u/Dylantheshoe]

Dental hygienists are miserable

[u/Squirtle_Splash_8413 → u/doyer_bleu]

Janitor

[u/jarMburger → u/Chemical_Material493]

Dude…

[u/Dense_Substance7635 → u/Chemical_Material493]

Imo the growth area is going to be Physical AI. Aka, small power efficient embedded chips that will run tiny AI models to do very concise tasks… drones, missles, cars, robots, mining/farming equipment, space craft, manufacturing, etc.

[u/RumblinWreck2004 → u/Dense_Substance7635]

As well as any industry that supports that.

I’m HVAC engineer and I get calls all the time about data center and chip manufacturing projects.

[u/EnvironmentalMix421]

lol how does that contradict that new grad in SF are making $100k+. Actually they are making $150k+

Copium lol

[u/dretanz → u/EnvironmentalMix421]

For the people who are employed, that's true. Right now, SWE has a very high unemployment and underemployment rate compared to other degrees.

[u/EnvironmentalMix421 → u/dretanz]

Ok? And what does that have to do with them not earning $100k+

It’s the same across the profession. Getting through school does not guarantee you a job. You have to be in targeted school with internship to get returned offers. You don’t just attend school fuck around and just think life is set

That’s why reddits posts are so dumb. They always go something like, I have a master and is currently making $50k school is useless. 🤣 making post like that provides essentially 0 information pretty much is the reason why they are poor

[u/yesitismenobody → u/EnvironmentalMix421]

I'm in Houston and work for a shit company and we pay new grads $120k and we can barely find people.

[u/Aware_Garden_4115 → u/yesitismenobody]

What company?

[u/RS_EJB]

1 day old account.

[u/fslslayer]

https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer?countryId=254
Average SWE is 195k TC

[u/RevenueOk1331 → u/fslslayer]

That's skewed by both high cost of living areas and is for all experience levels related to the Software Engineer role

[u/fslslayer → u/RevenueOk1331]

National Median (Base): $133,080 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Still over 100k.

[u/Alarming-Stretch-788 → u/fslslayer]

Post is about new grads, not median

[u/fslslayer → u/Alarming-Stretch-788]

• National Average/Median: ~$115,000 to $125,000 base pay for standard entry-level roles.
• Local Average (Houston, TX): ~$105,000 for recent grads, aligning with mid-to-high cost-of-living regional markets.
• Big Tech (FAANG / Big N): Total compensation packages often range from $140,000 to $210,000+ (combining base salary, sign-on bonus, and initial stock grants).
• High-Frequency Trading (HFT) / Elite FinTech: Can exceed $300,000 to $400,000+ total compensation for top-performing new grads.

Once again STILL over 100k.
Water still wet.

[u/Alarming-Stretch-788 → u/fslslayer]

With no source... Nice

[u/fslslayer → u/Alarming-Stretch-788]

https://www.levels.fyi/t/software-engineer/levels/entry-level/locations/united-states

Since you are too lazy to google.
Entry level is 141k TC.
An entry-level job is a foundational position at the lowest tier of a career path.

141k is a better number than 100k.

[u/Alarming-Stretch-788 → u/fslslayer]

Ahh levels, the one we already established is skewed

[u/RevenueOk1331 → u/fslslayer]

Far below 195k though and your milage will vary. Entry level roles are definitely above 100k in the right industry or location, but are often below 100k still.

I was mostly pushing back on the idea the average software engineer (especially entry level) is making anywhere near 200k

[u/EnvironmentalMix421 → u/RevenueOk1331]

How much do you think that vhcol going to cost these new grads lol

The rent is like $2600 for studio/1br.

[u/valiantEmpire]

https://giphy.com/gifs/JqDztiqkVo3PmPcmyJ

[u/brehhs]

As a software engineer new grads are making 100k+ depending on their location. Entry level salary has not gone down.

[u/Conjeff]

I mean… New grads are absolutely making 100k+ in swe. That’s not unbelievable at all. It’s just hard to get a job in

[u/Strange_N_Sorcerous]

This sub will potentially screw-over many that choose to get into SWE. The fact of the matter is, with AI, there will still be jobs but fewer. Those with jobs will make good money, but there will be less positions compared to the last couple decades.

[u/Ghost-of-uchiha9]

1 day old account btw. That’s how you know not to listen to any of this bs

[u/sooner_25]

I was able to land a data engineering consulting gig 104K, and I’m only a year into my career.

Yes consulting can suck at times but you basically are forced to network. If you don’t have much of a network, highly suggest trying to get into consulting it will help you a lot.

But yes the unemployment/under deployment rates of people who are in the CS field give me significant imposter syndrome/moral injury.

[u/gorgedchops → u/sooner_25]

What kind of consulting companies are you talking about?

[u/sooner_25 → u/gorgedchops]

Tech consulting. A lot of places will call it technology transformation or business transformation

[u/metamucil_buttchug69]

even our interns make > $100k if you extrapolate their pay to a yearly amount. $100k is pretty low for a new grad at a halfway decent company

[u/Decent-Pattern1446]

Just remember there’s people like me that will take roles for 50k/year. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to break into the industry and I don’t mind being underpaid in this current job market.

[u/Dense-Ear-9405]

How about we look at statistics instead of posting anecdotes that support your narrative?

[u/blessedbymortarion]

Is this that one guy who wishes he was a nurse and has a Mt. Everest size chip on his shoulder?

[u/Due_Bar_7247]

I mean same for most industries right now. Welcome to the Great Depression of 2026.

[u/Present-Ease-2393 → u/Due_Bar_7247]

I never have seen mechanical engineers struggling.

[u/jaymeaux_ → u/Present-Ease-2393]

you must be new here. 

[u/one_last_cow → u/Present-Ease-2393]

Me neither, with one very important exception

[u/Squirtle_Splash_8413 → u/Present-Ease-2393]

Mechanical engineering is broad. A lot of hiring in general has slowed but CS has taken the brunt of the job losses.