Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 15-1251

Computer Programmers

The published band from $57,710 to $160,460 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Computer and Information Research Scientists.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Computer Programmers: Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140K) , Network and Computer Systems Administrators ($99K) , Database Administrators ($105K) , Mathematicians ($127K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Computer Programmers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1251 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject…
  2. 2. Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced
  3. 3. Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements
  4. 4. Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retriev…
  5. 5. Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes
  6. 6. Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions a…
  7. 7. Prepare detailed workflow charts and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation, and convert them into a series of instr…
  8. 8. Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others c…
  9. 9. Train subordinates in programming and program coding
  10. 10. Consult with and assist computer operators or system analysts to define and resolve problems in running computer programs
  11. 11. Perform systems analysis and programming tasks to maintain and control the use of computer systems software as a systems programmer
  12. 12. Write or contribute to instructions or manuals to guide end users

Computer Programmers: O*NET ranks Programming first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1251 - lead skill Programming at 4.8 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Programming 4.8
  2. 2. Active Listening 3.8
  3. 3. Critical Thinking 3.8
  4. 4. Complex Problem Solving 3.8
  5. 5. Quality Control Analysis 3.5
  6. 6. Reading Comprehension 3.4
  7. 7. Systems Analysis 3.4
  8. 8. Writing 3.3

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 4.9
  2. 2. Mathematics 3.5
  3. 3. Engineering and Technology 3.5
  4. 4. English Language 3.4
  5. 5. Customer and Personal Service 3.3
  6. 6. Administration and Management 3.3
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$57,710 to $160,460
median $100,390 · ~2.8× spread
$100K
National median
↓ -6%
Growth 2024-2034
5,500
Annual openings
92,230
Estimated US jobs
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Highest-pay peer · $140K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree

Top Paying States for Computer Programmers

1. Massachusetts $128,390
2. California $116,760
3. Virginia $121,610
4. New Jersey $104,940
5. Arkansas $111,840
6. Washington $125,620
7. Hawaii $118,180
8. Minnesota $107,250
9. Maryland $125,570
10. Connecticut $133,820

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Network and Computer Systems Administrators $99,130
  2. 2. Database Administrators $104,620
  3. 3. Mathematicians $126,710
  4. 4. Software Developers $135,980
  5. 5. Actuaries $130,000
  6. 6. Computer and Information Research Scientists $140,300

The OEWS band for Computer Programmers runs from $57,710 (10th) to $160,460 (90th), about 2.8× wide, with median $100,390. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect -6% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 5,500 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Massachusetts at $128,390. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Computer and Information Research Scientists at $140,300. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Computer Programmers pay-rank #15 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

On the Computer and Mathematical Occupations median table (21 detailed occupations with OEWS medians), Computer Programmers lands at #15, in the lower third. That rank is a table position, not a statement about individual workers.

Other lower-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Computer Programmers is unusually wide, so the state map and peer comparison carry more signal than the median alone.

Computer Programmers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1251

Massachusetts · top state for Computer Programmers

$128K published median

California · #2 state pay

$117K · behind Massachusetts

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Highest-pay peer vs Computer Programmers · $140K

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Lower-pay peer beside Computer Programmers · $99K

Compare Computer Programmers

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Computer Programmers with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Computer Programmers land on the Computer and Mathematical Occupations median table? ▼
Computer Programmers is pay-rank #15 of 21 in this major group, lower third of the median table. Closest lower-third titles: Network and Computer Systems Administrators ($99K), Web Developers ($93K), Operations Research Analysts ($89K), Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other ($81K). That position is a table rank, not a worker percentile.
What do computer programmers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Computer Programmers. Leading ones include: Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject…; Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced; Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements; Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retriev…. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for computer programmers? ▼
For SOC 15-1251, O*NET importance scores lead with Programming (4.8), Active Listening (3.8), Critical Thinking (3.8), Complex Problem Solving (3.8). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Computer Programmers? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $57,710 and the 90th at $160,460 for Computer Programmers (2.8× spread). The national median is $100,390. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Computer Programmers? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Computer Programmers is -6%. Projected annual openings: about 5,500. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Computer Programmers? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Computer Programmers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Computer Programmers? ▼
Massachusetts ($128,390), California ($116,760), Virginia ($121,610) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Computer Programmers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1251. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Computer Programmers. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics