Visa Software Engineer Salary: How much do they earn?

Discover the average Visa Software Engineer salary and comprehensive benefits. Compare compensation, work-life balance, and company culture. Find out more!

Phil from 4 day week
10 min readAug 8, 2023

Visa, standing tall as one of the foremost global leaders in payments technology, is a beacon of innovation in the digital finance landscape.

With over 26,500 employees worldwide, Visa powers smooth digital transactions across 200 countries and territories and fuels financial technology’s evolution.

As we delve into the Visa Software Engineer salaries, we unravel the question: “How much do they earn?” — shedding light on the compensation and benefits that fuel the brilliance of Visa’s dedicated software engineering team.

Salaries by Level

According to the data from Levels.fyi, Visa offers competitive salaries for software engineers across different levels. Here is a breakdown of the salaries for each level:

| Level | Level Name | Total | Base | Stock (/yr) | Bonus | | — — — — — — — — — — — — — | — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -| — — — — — | — — — — -| — — — — — — -| — — — — -| | Associate Software Engineer | L3 | $120K | $105K | $7K | $8K | | Software Engineer | L4 | $120K | $105K | $6K | $9K | | Senior Software Engineer | L5 | $152K | $130K | $8K | $13K | | Staff Software Engineer | L6 | $186K | $157K | $14K | $15K | | Senior Staff Software Engineer | L7 | $226K | $173K | $27K | $26K | | Lead Software Engineer | L8 | $216K | $163K | $26K | $27K | | Chief Software Engineer | L9 | $369K | $241K | $61K | $67K |

Visa Software Engineer Total Pay Breakdown

L3 — Associate Software Engineer

At the L3 level, an Associate Software Engineer at Visa receives a total compensation package of $120K annually. The base salary for this level is $105K, with an additional $7K in stock benefits and $8K in bonus earnings.

L4 — Software Engineer

The L4 Software Engineer role at Visa offers a total compensation of $118K annually. The base salary for this level is $104K, with $5K in stock benefits and $9K in bonuses.

L5 — Senior Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineers at Visa, classified as L5, earn a total compensation package of $152K annually. The base salary for this level is $130K, with an additional $8K in stock benefits and $13K in bonus earnings.

L6 — Staff Software Engineer

Visa’s L6 Staff Software Engineers receive a comprehensive compensation package totaling $185,000 annually. This package comprises a base salary of $156,000, supplemented by $13,000 in stock benefits and an extra $16,000 in bonus earnings.

L7 — Senior Staff Software Engineer

The L7 Software Engineer role at Visa offers a total compensation of $226K annually. The base salary for this level is $173K, with $27K in stock benefits and $26K in bonuses.

L8 — Lead Software Engineer

Staff Software Engineers, classified as L8 at Visa, enjoy a total compensation package of $216K annually. The base salary for this level is $163K, with an additional $26K in stock benefits and $27K in bonus earnings.

L9 — Chief Software Engineer

At the L9 level, an Associate Software Engineer at Visa receives a total compensation package of $369K annually. The base salary for this level is $241K, with an additional $61K in stock benefits and $67K in bonus earnings.

Overall, Visa offers competitive salaries to its software engineers at various levels. The salary ranges are designed to attract and retain top talent in the industry.

Career Progression and Salary Increases at Visa

Visa Head Office

At Visa, career progression is an essential aspect for employees. You can expect salary increases and additional responsibilities as you increase.

Here is a breakdown of the career progression and salary increases at Visa:

1. Associate Software Engineer (Level 3):

Salary:$120,000

Responsibilities: In this role, you will assist with software engineering tasks, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and learn from experienced engineers.

2. Software Engineer (Level 4):

Salary: $120,000

Responsibilities: As a Software Engineer, your responsibilities will involve designing, developing, and testing software applications and collaborating with stakeholders to understand requirements.

3. Senior Software Engineer (Level 5):

Salary: $152,000

Responsibilities: As a Senior Software Engineer, you will take on more complex projects, provide technical guidance to junior team members, and contribute to architectural decision-making.

4. Staff Software Engineer (Level 6):

Salary: $186,000

Responsibilities: As a Staff Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader, mentoring and guiding other engineers, driving technological innovation, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions.

5. Senior Staff Software Engineer (Level 7):

Salary: $226,000

Responsibilities: In this role, you will guide complex projects, offer technical leadership, and mentor team members.

6. Lead Software Engineer (Level 8):

Salary: $216,000

Responsibilities: As a Lead Software Engineer (Level 8), you’ll provide expert technical direction, mentor teams, and drive innovation while ensuring robust system architecture and high-quality solutions.

7. Chief Software Engineer (Level 9):

Salary: $369,000

Responsibilities: In this role, Chief Software Engineer undertakes leadership in complex projects, offers technical expertise, mentors colleagues, and plays a pivotal role in shaping innovative solutions and system architecture.

However, it’s important to note that these salary figures may vary based on factors such as location and years of experience.

Salary Variations by Location

Visa Office

Regarding Visa Software Engineer salaries, the compensation can vary depending on the location. Here is a breakdown of how salaries fluctuate across different regions:

| Location | Average Base Salary | | — — | — — | |Los Angeles, CA | $168K | | San Francisco, CA | $134K | | Seattle, WA | $130K | | Denver, CO | $124K | | Austin, TX | $116K | | Miami-Ft. Lauderdale Area | $103K | | Chicago, IL | $100K | | Cleveland, OH | $98K | | Atlanta, GA | $95K | | Singapore | $91K | |Bangalore, India | $66K |

Source: Interview Query

It’s always recommended to research and consider the cost of living, employees benefits, and other factors when evaluating job opportunities in different locations.

Top Benefits Offered by Visa

Visa Employees

According to Level.fyi data, the following are the benefits Visa offer to its employees

  1. Custom Work Station: Visa provides employees with a custom workstation, ensuring a comfortable and personalized work environment.
  2. Health Insurance: Visa offers comprehensive health insurance coverage, providing employees access to quality healthcare services.
  3. Life Insurance: As part of their benefits package, Visa provides life insurance coverage, giving employees peace of mind and financial protection.
  4. On-Site Clinic: Visa has an on-site clinic facility, allowing employees to conveniently access medical care and services.
  5. On-Site Mother’s Room: Visa offers an on-site mother’s room for new mothers, providing a comfortable and private space for nursing or pumping.
  6. Sick Time: Employees at Visa are provided with three days of sick time off to take care of their health and well-being.
  7. Dental Insurance: Visa offers dental insurance coverage, ensuring employees can access dental care and treatments.
  8. Free Snacks: Visa provides free snacks to employees, fostering a positive and enjoyable work environment.
  9. Gym On-Site: With an on-site gym, Visa promotes a healthy lifestyle by offering employees the convenience of exercising during work hours.
  10. Health Savings Account (HSA): Visa contributes $1,300 per year to employees’ Health Savings Accounts, enhancing their ability to manage healthcare expenses.
  11. On-Site Fitness Classes: Visa offers on-site fitness classes, allowing employees to participate in various exercise programs and stay active.
  12. PTO (Vacation / Personal Days): Employees at Visa receive 21 days of paid time off, enabling them to take vacations and personal days for relaxation and rejuvenation.
  13. Vision Insurance: Visa provides vision insurance coverage, ensuring employees can access eye care services and vision correction.
  14. Company Shuttle: Visa offers a company shuttle service, providing employees with transportation between office locations.
  15. Transport Allowance: Employees at Visa receive a transport allowance, helping to cover commuting expenses.
  16. Adoption Assistance: Visa supports employees by offering adoption assistance, financial aid, and resources for adoption processes.
  17. Immigration Assistance: Visa provides immigration assistance to help employees navigate the complexities of visas and work permits.
  18. Company Phones: Visa offers company phones to employees, ensuring seamless communication and connectivity.
  19. On-Site Laundry: With on-site laundry facilities, Visa promotes convenience and ease for employees in managing their laundry needs.
  20. Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP): Visa’s ESPP allows employees to contribute up to 10% of their base salary and offers a 15% discount on the stock purchase price.

Working Culture at Visa

When evaluating a company’s working culture, it’s essential to consider the experiences and opinions of its employees.

Visa Work-Life Balance

According to the data from Comparably, Visa receives mixed ratings across different departments.

Here is a breakdown of the work-life balance, happiness, and culture scores at Visa:

Visa Work-Life Balance

The engineering department faces challenges maintaining a healthy work-life balance and overall happiness. The culture score for these departments is comparatively lower, indicating potential areas for growth and improvement.

It’s important to note that these ratings are based on employee feedback and experiences, and individual experiences may vary within each department.

Visa can use this data to identify areas for improvement and work towards creating a more positive and fulfilling work environment for all its employees.

Salary Comparison: Visa vs Mastercard

Visa vs Mastercard

When considering a career in software engineering, it’s essential to understand the salary landscape and how it compares across different companies.

Let’s look at the salaries for software engineers at Visa and compare them to those at Mastercard, one of Visa’s main competitors in the payment technology industry.

| Level name | Visa Salary | Mastercard Salary Range | | — — — — — — — — — — — — -| — — — — — — — — — -| — — — — — — — — — — — — | | Associate Software Engineer (L3) | $120K | $107K | | Software Engineer (L4) | $120K | $113K | | Senior Software Engineer (L5) | $152K | $154K | | Staff Software Engineer (L6) | $186K | $177K |

Please note that the levels and titles may not directly correspond between the two companies, so we’ll make approximate comparisons.

Moreover, if you want to get detailed salary data of Mastercard software engineers, kindly refer to Levels.fyi.

As we can see from the comparison table, the salary ranges for software engineers at both Visa and Mastercard are pretty competitive.

While Visa offers a salary range of $120K — $369K for its software engineers, Mastercard provides a slightly lower salary range of $107K — $218K for comparable positions.

It’s important to note that the salaries mentioned above are approximate ranges, and actual salary offers may vary based on factors such as experience, location, and specific job requirements.

FAQs

Q. How much do Software Engineers make at Visa?

Salary Details for a Software Engineer at Visa Inc.

Source: Glassdoor

The salary for Software Engineers positions at Visa varies depending on the level and experience of the candidate. According to the data, the salary range starts at $120K for entry-level Associate Software Engineer positions (L1) and can go up to $369K for higher-level Chief Software Engineer positions (L9).

Q. What is the average salary at Visa?

Visa Software Engineer Total Pay Breakdown

Source: Glassdoor

The average salary for Software Engineers at Visa is around $186K annually. This average is calculated based on the wages of Software Engineers at different levels, ranging from entry-level to senior positions.

Q. What is the highest salary for a Software Engineer at Visa?

“The highest salary offered as a Software Engineer at Visa is for the Chief Staff Software Engineer (L9) level. The base salary for this level is $241K, with a total compensation of $369K. This includes stock bonuses, which can be as high as $61K, and annual bonuses, which can reach up to $67K.”

Q. What are the most common skills required as a Software Engineer at Visa?

“To be successful as a Software Engineer at Visa, some of the most common skills required include expertise in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python, strong problem-solving abilities, knowledge of software development methodologies, experience with web technologies, and proficiency in database management systems.”

Q. How much does an entry-level Software Engineer make at Visa?

“At Visa, an entry-level Software Engineer starts at the Associate Software Engineer (L3) level. The base salary for this level is $105K, with a total compensation of $120K. This includes stock bonuses of $7K and annual bonuses of $8K.”

Summing Up

Overall, software engineers enjoy competitive salaries highlighting the company’s dedication to having a skilled and inventive team.

These attractive compensation packages recognize the engineers’ crucial role in driving technology forward and show Visa’s commitment to hiring and keeping the best talent in a competitive field.

Furthermore, if you’re interested in a software engineering position offering a 4-day work week, explore the current job openings at 4 Day Week.

This article was originally posted on 4 day week — jobs with a four day workweek. Get a job with a better work-life balance.

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