Coders’ Days Aren’t Finished Just Yet
Listening to the AI sector, one might assume that coders are destined for extinction. However, surprisingly, experienced software developers are thriving at expanding companies. Levels.fyi, a recruitment agency, conducted a brief investigation into how US software engineer (SWE) salaries compare with company expansion. It appears that salary figures prefer a company that’s on the rise.
High Payers Continue to Attract Talent
“Typically, the firms offering the highest salaries are also those that are still hiring the most,” Hakeem Shibly, content marketing director for Levels.fyi, stated on LinkedIn. He mentioned companies like Anthropic and OpenAI, where senior SWEs are landing compensation packages of $810,000 and $605,000 per year. Not too shabby, right?
Major Players Reducing Workforce
Conversely, there are firms such as Meta, Amazon, Google, and Coinbase, showering their engineers with cash but simultaneously cutting back on staff. Honestly, it sounds like quite the juggling act.
Struggling Giants and Their AI Spending Frenzy
In the sector where salaries are meager and job security is precarious, companies like Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce are present. Their AI splurges seem to be negatively affecting their hiring and salary structures. Block, for example, publicly declared layoffs to fund more AI initiatives. Others, however, remain somewhat discreet about their situation.
Australia Breaks the Mold
Meanwhile, Australia appears to be on a different wavelength. Tech services company Adaca revealed last month that the need for software developers remains strong. There are now 216,000 software and app programmers in Australia, up from 189,000 in 2025. Adaca’s own Lambros Photios remarked, “We are observing devs being displaced, not replaced.” They are leaving large tech firms and discovering opportunities across various sectors.
AI’s Double-edged Dilemma
Outside the SWE domain, data from Ramp and Revelio suggests that AI could lead to increased hiring over time. Shibly believes, “If I were a software engineer in this environment, I’d lean towards a growing company, even if the pay isn’t stellar. At least you’d secure a position in the future.”
Summary – Coders: Not Yet Extinct
So there you have it, folks. The tech landscape is somewhat of a patchwork right now. If you’re astute and can evade the layoffs, there’s still a glimmer of hope for landing a great job. And perhaps, just perhaps, keep attentive to those Australian opportunities. Cheers!
