Complete C++ developer salary data

Published: March 11, 2020 Last updated: June 20, 2022

7 min read

Have you ever wondered how much a C++ developer gets paid? To hire CC++ engineers it is important that employers know a little bit about C++ salaries and how much other companies are paying. Compensation can also be affected by various external factors, like location, and so this article will also cover some of the other areas employers ought to be thinking about.

C++ is one of the most popular programming jobs and C++ developers are constantly in demand in the job market. Knowing the expected C++ programmer salary is important if you are to attract the right developer.

Table of Contents

What is C++?

C++ is widely used across many companies and industries, mainly in applications. In fact, C++ can be found everywhere. Microsoft Windows, Mac OSX, Linux – all of these operating systems are programmed in C++ and C.

A person working with C++ will widely be working with backend technology and will be responsible for graphics applications that employ computer vision and high-end graphical processing. This includes games that are heavy on graphics. What is more, C++ is suitable for embedded systems (smartwatches, medical machines, etc.), financial systems, telephone switches, cloud storage systems, browsers, and compilers.

What makes C++ such a popular programming language?

C++ has been around for a long time and is commonly used by many companies. Although originally created as a follow-up to the C programming language, C++ is a different entity.

C++ is a general purpose programming language. It is compiled, statically typed, case-sensitive, and free-form. It is also a programming language, rather than a scripting language.

C++ is an enhanced version of C, but the roles of C developers and a C++ developer are not the same. Even if the job position might at first appear similar. C++ comes with a steep learning curve, meaning C developers wouldn’t necessarily be able to do the job of a C++ programmer without changing career direction somewhat.

C++ provides rich library support in the form of Standard Template Library (STL). One of the biggest advantages of the language is its speed. C++ is faster than most programming languages.

Employees working with C++ are usually responsible for writing efficient code in C++ or modifying the existing code in order to develop various applications and programs. They’re also in charge of managing memory consumption issues. In short, a C++ developer is supposed to create executable programs that facilitate organizational operations.

What is the pay of C++ programmer?

Like with the salaries of any computer programmers, a C++ programmer’s pay depends on various things. However, they can expect to be paid well throughout their career, regardless of the company. However, the fact that C++ is such a widely used language, can affect the average C++ salary.

Let’s compare data coming from the most popular websites that provide salary information: PayScale, Glassdoor, and Indeed.

Average C++ developer salary in the United States

According to PayScale , a median salary for a C++ developer in the United States stands at $71,677 per year.

Glassdoor shows a higher C++ programmer salary number which is $95,052 per year.

Glassdoor shows a higher C++ programmer salary number which is $95,052 per year:

The average C++ developer salary provided by Indeed is the highest and stands at $118,076 per year.

C++ developer average base salary

It’s a common situation in the job market, particularly in the tech industry, that entry-level jobs pay lower than the national average salary for that role. With base salaries among the lowest in tech. It then increases with the developer’s experience. C++ developers are in the same situation.

c++ developer salary payscale-entrylevel

According to PayScale , the starting salary for a C++ developer is $66,058 per year.

c++ developer salary glassdoor-entrylevel

According to Glassdoor, an average base salary for a C++ developer is $77,111 per year.

C++ developer national average salary based on experience

PayScale provides an interesting chart that shows how programmer salaries match experience. In most cases (see an average .NET developer salary as an example) the pay growth is stable and predictable. The more years of experience, the higher the salary, as is the case with most jobs, with entry-level jobs usually earning less and increasing year on year. However, it’s not quite as straightforward when it comes to C++ developers.

Entry-level and junior developer job salaries are pretty flat to begin with for C++, but then pay suddenly grows steadily after reaching more or less 5 years of experience. The possible reason behind it is that C++ is not an easy language to master. Learning takes years, but then this skill is highly rewarded later.

c++ developer salary payscale-experience

Entry-level and junior developer salaries are pretty flat and then grow steadily after reaching more or less 5 years of experience. The possible reason behind it is that C++ is not an easy language to master. Learning takes years, but then this skill is highly rewarded.

Assess developer skills with advanced C++ coding tests

C++ developer salaries based on location

Another factor that plays an important role in the amount of salary is the location of the job itself. In NYC for example, one of the highest paying cities, an average C++ developer salary is 8% higher than the national average, at least according to PayScale. Areas famous for tech development like San Francisco, are also usually among the cities that provide the highest base salary for C++ and C developers.

Other factors increasing a C++ developer salary

One of the advantages of C++ is that it works well with other technologies, both software, and hardware. A C++ software engineer needs to use a variety of skills throughout their career, which is why they are rewarded with some of the highest compensation.

However, other than location, there are other skills that need to be assessed before hiring a C++ developer. Experience level is one measure of ability. A degree and certificates of education are another. Once, a degree might have been sufficient enough for a developer to be hired, but now developer testing has made screening engineers an exact science. Generally speaking, however, there are certain industry-related skills to look out for:

familiarity with Android, OS X, iOS, Windows, and Linux,
familiarity with databases (for example, MySQL or MongoDB),
a good understanding of memory management,
a good understanding of TCP/IP protocol,
familiarity with continuous integration and more, depending on the project,
knowledge of project management methodologies,
experience with algorithms and data structure,
understanding software development lifecycle,
familiarity with other programming languages, such as C, C#, Java, Python,
and more, depending on the project and company.

Related job titles to C++

A career in C++ can encompass several different roles, depending on the skill and interests of the person in question. Not all C++ roles will be paid the same.

Senior Programmer
Software Developer
Game Programmer
Quality Analyst
Junior programmer
Software Developer Engineer
C/C++ Analyst
Programming Architect

Conclusion

As you can see, C++ developers are in high demand which significantly affects their average salaries. This is especially true among the most experienced, senior C++ developers who possess the most experience and skill. Their knowledge can be broad and include a deep understanding of technologies, as well as both software, and hardware.

Writing a clear and detailed job description and specifying the needs upfront is one of the keys to success. Another is to employ effective technical screening of the candidates at the recruitment stage. Hiring C++ developers is not an easy task, but using the right screening & online interviews software makes a real difference in the recruitment process.