Substack Interview Guide

Based on 24 interview reportsUpdated weekly

Everything we know about interviewing at Substack: what each round tests and compensation by level.

Software Engineer

01Skills

What Substack evaluates

How often each skill shows up across reported interview loops.

System Design100%React97%SQL94%Algorithm Design (Efficient Range Queries)91%Information Retrieval Concepts (TF-IDF)88%Frontend Data Visualization / Charts85%Custom Data Structures82%Precomputation / Caching80%Queues / Messaging Patterns77%Full-Stack Development74%Charting Library Integration71%Memoization / Storing Intermediate Results68%

02Role guides

Interview guides by role

Each guide has the questions Substack interviewers actually ask, the loop structure, and total compensation by level.

1roles

Software Engineer

What is a Software Engineer at Substack? A Software Engineer at Substack plays a pivotal role in maintaining the infrastructure that empowers independent writers to own their work, their audience, and their revenue. You are not just writing code; you are building the tools that define the future of media,...

$40k–$859kView

03Compensation

What Substack pays, by level

Estimated total compensation: base salary plus stock and annual cash bonus.

Median $450k

LevelBaseStockBonus / yrTotal comp

All levels$40k–$859k——$40k–$859k

Ranges blend verified compensation data points · base + stock + annual bonus shown. Estimates only.

04FAQ

Substack interview FAQ

Answered from real candidate and workplace data, marked up for rich results.

How hard is the Substack interview?

Candidates most commonly rate Substack interviews as medium, based on 24 reported interviews.

How much does Substack pay for data roles?

Reported total comp for data roles at Substack ranges from roughly $40k to $859k per year, varying by level, team, and location.

What topics does Substack test in interviews?

Substack interviews most often cover System Design, React, SQL, Algorithm Design (Efficient Range Queries), and Information Retrieval Concepts (TF-IDF). The exact emphasis depends on the specific role you apply for.

What roles can I prepare for at Substack?

Dataford has interview guides for 1 role at Substack, including Software Engineer.

Where is Substack headquartered?

Substack is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.