Netflix Software Engineer Salary

Netflix leads the streaming realm and hires many software engineers across multiple levels and specialties. They are known for providing competitive compensation and benefits in the tech space, and they do pay their software engineers strongly among other leading tech companies. The Netflix software engineer salary will vary depending on level, focus, location, and other factors. So, how much can you expect to earn as a software engineer at Netflix? Our salary negotiation team is here to help you figure that out.

With extensive experience negotiating hundreds of tech job offers, we provide insights based on real-world Netflix salary negotiations and compensation research. In this guide, you'll find detailed information on Netflix software engineer levels, the key components of a Netflix software engineer salary, and a breakdown of average Netflix SWE salary and total compensation packages by level and location.

Want to Negotiate Your Offer? Get offer-specific guidance from an Netflix Salary Negotiation Coach. We help software engineers negotiate competitive job offers.

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Netflix used to only have one level for its software engineers but has adopted a tiered software engineering structure like those that you see at other competing tech companies. It’s important to understand the Netflix software engineer levels before interviewing and accepting an offer at Netflix, as they influence your software engineering responsibilities, total compensation, and career trajectory within the company. Netflix determines the Netflix SDE levels based on a combination of factors, including years of experience, the scope of responsibilities, software engineering specialty, and the overall impact of the role.

In this section, we provide an overview of the Netflix software engineer levels to help you navigate their role levels. As a software engineer at Netflix, you can follow either an Individual Contributor (IC) or Engineering Manager (M) career path. Below are the Netflix SDE levels for the IC track:

• Netflix L3 Software Engineer (SDE I – Entry Level SDE)

• Netflix L4 Software Engineer (SDE II)

• Netflix L5 Software Engineer (SDE III - Senior SDE)

• Netflix L6 Software Engineer (Staff SDE)

• Netflix L7 Software Engineer (Principal SDE)

We focus on the Netflix software engineering levels for the IC track on this page, but for reference here are the Netflix Engineering Manager levels for the manager track:

• Netflix Software Engineering Manager

• Netflix Software Engineering Senior Manager

• Netflix Software Engineering Director

• Netflix Software Engineering Senior Director

In a Netflix software engineer salary package, you’ll find two main compensation components. For more in-depth details from us on Netflix’s compensation structure, you can check out our Netflix Salary Negotiation and Software Engineer Salary Negotiation articles. Below is a quick overview of what to expect before we cover the average compensation for Netflix software engineer salary.

Netflix Base Salary

Netflix focuses mainly on base salary over other components so this will be your main type of compensation. This is the fixed amount you’ll receive in each paycheck for your Netflix SWE salary. There are set base salary ranges for each Netflix software engineering level and location.

Netflix Performance Bonus

There is no performance bonus or target bonus at Netflix. You will not find this compensation component as part of your Netflix software engineer salary.

Netflix Equity Package

Unlike other big tech companies, you will not receive an initial equity grant at Netflix and instead you have the option to receive a portion of your Netflix base salary in Netflix stock options. The Netflix stock options are different then RSUs and instead represent the employees right to buy a set number of shares at a set price in the future. Netflix stock options must be purchased (or exercised) by the employee to convert into a share of Netflix stock. There is no vesting schedule and these Netflix stock options vest immediately when granted.

Netflix Sign-on Bonuses

Netflix rarely offers software engineers a sign-on bonus as part of offer package. That’s because they focus heavily on a higher guaranteed comp (your base salary) compared to other tech companies.

Netflix Stock Refreshers

You will not see an annual Netflix stock refreshers given their focus on allocating a portion of your base salary to stock options.

Netflix has a set base salary and total compensation range for all Netflix software engineer levels. While Netflix typically aims to pay new hire software engineers within the lower to mid-range of these Netflix SWE salary bands, we’ve successfully negotiated Netflix software engineer salaries closer to the top end of each pay range.

Below, we’ve listed the average compensation for Netflix software engineers across the Netflix SDE levels. Note that these figures are Netflix software engineer salary averages based on our research and negotiation experience, and not the top end of the Netflix SWE salary bands. To identify and reach the top end of the pay range and secure a competitive Netflix software engineer salary, we recommend working with an Netflix Salary Negotiation Coach.

Netflix SDE 1 Salary (L3)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an L3 Netflix SDE 1 salary.

Netflix SDE 2 Salary (L4)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an L4 Netflix SDE 2 salary.

Netflix Senior Software Engineer Salary (L5 – SDE 3)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an L5 Netflix senior software engineer salary.

Netflix Staff Software Engineer Salary (L6)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an L6 Netflix staff software engineer salary.

Netflix Principal Engineer Salary (L7)

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for an L7 Netflix principal engineer salary.

Netflix offers competitive pay for its software engineers, but a Netflix SWE salary can vary significantly depending on the location. For example, a Netflix software engineer salary in San Francisco won't be the same as an Netflix software engineer salary in another location, and an Netflix software engineer salary UK will be different compensation than those in the US. As a one of the largest tech companies, Netflix closely monitors cost-of-living differences when setting their base salary and total compensation ranges for software engineers.

Below, we’ve listed the average compensation for software engineers in some of Netflix's key hiring locations for software engineers at the Netflix senior software engineer salary level (L5). These figures are based on our research and negotiation experience and represent averages, not the top end of the Netflix SWE salary bands. To identify and reach the top end of the salary range and secure a competitive offer at Netflix in your specific location, we recommend working with an Netflix Salary Negotiation Coach.

Netflix Software Engineer Salary Los Angeles

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Netflix Software Engineer Salary Los Angeles.

Netflix Software Engineer Salary New York

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Netflix Software Engineer Salary New York.

Netflix Software Engineer Salary San Francisco

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Netflix Software Engineer Salary San Francisco.

Netflix Software Engineer Salary Seattle

Here is the average compensation we’ve seen for Netflix Software Engineer Salary Seattle.

Increasing the pay in your job offer at Netflix requires a deep understanding of their compensation philosophy and the right salary negotiation strategy. Our expert Netflix Salary Negotiation Coaching will help you navigate the negotiation process and secure the top end of Netflix’s pay band.