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Home / Compensation / Linear / Software Engineer
Total compensation for a Linear Software Engineer ranges from about $200K at the entry level to $575K+ at the most senior bands, with a typical mid-level package around $350K. Below is the full breakdown by level - base salary, annual equity, and bonus - from public-source data.
Public-source estimates (Beta). Last updated 2026-06. Figures are annualized USD.
| Level | Years | Base (p50) | Equity/yr (p50) | Bonus (p50) | Total (p25-p90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineerSoftware Engineer | 2-5 YOE | $180K | $50K | - | $200K - $305K |
| SeniorSenior Software Engineer | 5-9 YOE | $210K | $80K | - | $250K - $390K |
| StaffStaff Software Engineer | 8+ YOE | $235K | $115K | - | $300K - $480K |
| PrincipalPrincipal Engineer | 10+ YOE | $255K | $155K | - | $350K - $575K |
Entry point for experienced hires - Linear rarely hires new grads. Equity is options in a private company: illiquid until a sale or IPO, so cash-equivalent value is speculative.
Most-common Linear hire. Strong product-engineering generalists; the bar emphasizes craft and shipping. Equity figures assume the last preferred-round valuation - illiquid until an exit.
Senior-most common IC level at a company this size. Single-digit data points - the band is an estimate triangulated from posted ranges and peer-stage startups.
A handful of people company-wide. Effectively negotiated case-by-case; the band is indicative, not calibrated.
Linear is a small (~100-person) private company - sample sizes are thin (often single-digit reports per level), so treat every band here as low-confidence. Equity is illiquid private stock options. Linear does not really run a new-grad pipeline; the entry level below assumes a few years of experience.
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