[cge]

The idea of SE as working class is from categorization based on labor relations, not on income.

In a Marxist-theoretic framework, for example, SE are clearly working class.

[dragonwriter]

Software engineers quite often have and derive substantial income from capital holdings; when they do they are, in a Marxist framework, of the petit bourgeoisie (the middle clsss between working class [proletariat] and major capitalists [haut bourgeiosie].)

But, yes, some software engineers are working class, as well, the profession largely being split between the proletarian intelligentsia and petit bourgeois intelligentsia.