Top Skills Companies Require From Software Engineers in 2026
The skills companies most often require from software engineers in 2026 are Python, system design, TypeScript, APIs and AWS. But the more useful finding is the difference between what’s required and what’s just nice to have: AI and LLM experience, Kubernetes and startup experience appear far more often as a bonus than as a hard requirement.
We analyzed open software engineering roles at companies hiring through Refer in the US, using the “requirements” and “nice-to-haves” sections of each job description, to show which skills actually filter candidates in or out.
TL;DR
- Python is the most common requirement: about 40% of software engineering roles require it.
- System design is required in about 28% of roles; TypeScript, APIs and AWS in about 24% each, and a CS degree in about 23%.
- LLM experience is as likely to be a nice-to-have as a requirement, so it’s a strong differentiator but rarely a filter.
- The typical role asks for about 5 years of experience; about 17% of roles are open to 0 to 2 years.
- About 69% of roles post pay; the median posted range centers around $200,000.
Which Skills Are Most Often Required?
| Skill | Required in |
|---|---|
| Python | About 40% of roles |
| System design or architecture | About 28% |
| TypeScript | About 24% |
| APIs | About 24% |
| AWS | About 24% |
| Degree in computer science or a related field | About 23% |
| React | About 22% |
| C++ | About 18% |
| Distributed systems | About 16% |
| PostgreSQL | About 16% |
| Kubernetes | About 14% |
| Go | About 14% |
| GCP | About 14% |
| JavaScript | About 13% |
| Java | About 12% |
Which Skills Are Usually Just Nice-to-Haves?
Some skills show up mostly in the “bonus” section of job descriptions. Missing them rarely disqualifies you, but having them helps you stand out:
- LLMs and generative AI: required in about 10% of roles and listed as a nice-to-have in about another 11%.
- Cloud breadth: AWS is a nice-to-have in about another 13% of roles.
- Kubernetes: a bonus in about another 11% of roles.
- Machine learning: roughly as often a nice-to-have as a requirement.
The practical takeaway: build your resume around the required skills, and use AI, cloud and infrastructure experience as differentiators.
How Much Experience Do Companies Ask For?
| Years of experience required | Share of roles |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 years | About 17% |
| 3 to 5 years | About 53% |
| 6 years or more | About 30% |
The median is about five years. If you’re early in your career, focus on roles that explicitly welcome 0 to 2 years, and use introductions to reach smaller teams that are more flexible.
How Much Do Software Engineering Roles Pay?
About 69% of roles post a salary range. The median posted range centers around $200,000 in base salary, and the middle half of roles fall roughly between $180,000 and $235,000, before equity and bonuses.
How Should You Use This to Get Hired?
- Know which required skills you already have. If you’ve used Python, system design or AWS, make sure your resume mentions them; you don’t need to rewrite it for each role.
- Prove system design with a story. Most interviews will test it.
- Use AI experience as your edge. Describe one real LLM or ML project in detail.
- Don’t skip roles for missing nice-to-haves. Apply your judgment to the requirements only.
“I designed the event pipeline that moved our checkout from a monolith to services, handling peak traffic without downtime. I’ve also shipped an LLM-based support feature in production.”
How Can Refer’s Lia Help?
Refer’s AI career agent, Lia, reads each role’s requirements and nice-to-haves separately, so she only recommends roles where you meet what really matters.
- Direct introductions to engineering managers, CTOs and founders.
- Double opt-in: she connects you only when you and the company both say yes.
- Discreet: your profile is hidden from your current and past employers.
- Proven: Lia has made more than 5,000 introductions.
Refer is free to use, and you pay only if you’re hired through one of Lia’s introductions, because that makes the incentive 100% aligned with getting you hired. Get started with Lia.
Focused FAQ
What are the most in-demand skills for software engineers in 2026?
Python, system design, TypeScript, APIs and AWS are the most often required skills in software engineering roles on Refer.
Do software engineers need AI or LLM experience?
It’s required in about 10% of roles and listed as a nice-to-have in about another 11%, so it’s a strong differentiator but rarely a hard filter.
Do software engineering jobs require a degree?
About 23% of roles mention a degree requirement.
How many years of experience do software engineering jobs require?
The median is about five years; about 17% of roles are open to 0 to 2 years.
How We Got These Numbers
We analyzed open US software engineering roles at companies hiring through Refer, in October 2026. Our AI splits each job description into requirements and nice-to-haves; we counted how often each skill appears in each section. Pay is the midpoint of posted base salary ranges. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures reflect roles on Refer, not the entire market.
About the Author
Renata is on the founding team at Refer.
Sources
- Refer analysis of open US software engineering roles, October 2026
- Refer: Lia, the AI career agent