IBM employees working as Lead Software Engineer in US have attributed a compensation and benefits rating of 3 out of 5 stars, based on 3 ratings. This is 35% lower than the average of Lead Software Engineer professionals at IBM worldwide.
The salary trajectory of a Lead Software Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $153,671 per year (estimate) and goes up to $477,358 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The estimated average salary for a Lead Software Engineer at IBM is $230,129 per year or $111 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $361,227 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $183,781 (25th percentile) and $293,097 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 22 salaries submitted by IBM Lead Software Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jul 2026.
Lead Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $88 and $141 per hour.
Lead Software Engineer professionals typically earn between $15,315 and $24,425 monthly.
SDE-intern with an estimated total pay of $44K - $72K/yr
SWE Intern with an estimated total pay of $55K - $88K/yr
