15 Series · SOC 15-1252

Software Developers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$135,980
Median / year
+2.2%
2024→2025
$214,670
Top 10% earn
+15.8%
Growth '24–'34
1,687,890
Estimated US jobs

Software Developers earn a median of $135,980 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $135,980, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $82,460 (10th percentile) to $214,670 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,687,890 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($174,410).

15 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Software Developers earn a median of $135,980, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 94% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Computer and Mathematical, it ranks #3 of 21 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 15.8% by 2034.

$135,980
Median annual wage
Top 6%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#3 of 21
in Computer and Mathematical
2.6×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $174,410. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) has a national median of $135,980 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $82,460 to $214,670, and the published mean is $148,100. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 1,687,890 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 51 state or territory areas and 500 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $133,080 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $135,980 in May 2025, a rise of $2,900 (+2.2%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +15.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 115,200 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) publish an occupation-specific rate that produces a WageDex safety grade of A, with a fatality rate of 0.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.1 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $174,410, which is +28% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $213,110. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,687,890 jobs Median $135,980/yr

Median Salary

$135,980

per year

Median Hourly

$65.38/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$148,100

average

Employment

1,687,890

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Software Developers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$135,980 Top 6% higher than 94% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). This entry sits in this band. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 (this entry) 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$135,980 · 94th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 15-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Software Developers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 21 15-series occupations with growth data, Software Developers sits on the faster-growing side at +15.8% growth and $135,980 median pay. Scatter plot of 21 data points. $40000$60000$80000$100000$120000$140000$160000 -10%0%10%20%30%40% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Software Developers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 15.8% · Median annual wage: $135980Computer User Suppor… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.7% · Median annual wage: $61860Computer Systems Ana… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.7% · Median annual wage: $105850Computer Occupations… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.2% · Median annual wage: $116580Network and Computer… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -4.2% · Median annual wage: $99130Data Scientists - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 33.5% · Median annual wage: $120230Information Security… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 28.5% · Median annual wage: $129180Software Quality Ass… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10% · Median annual wage: $104300Computer Network Arc… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 11.9% · Median annual wage: $134050Computer Network Sup… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.8% · Median annual wage: $76220Web and Digital Inte… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7% · Median annual wage: $104000Operations Research … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 21.5% · Median annual wage: $88940Computer Programmers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6% · Median annual wage: $100390Web Developers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.5% · Median annual wage: $92650Database Administrat… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.7% · Median annual wage: $104620Database Architects - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.7% · Median annual wage: $139500Computer and Informa… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 19.7% · Median annual wage: $140300Statisticians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 8.5% · Median annual wage: $105650Actuaries - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 21.8% · Median annual wage: $130000Mathematical Science… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4% · Median annual wage: $81490Mathematicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.7% · Median annual wage: $126710
Among 21 15-series occupations with growth data, Software Developers sits on the faster-growing side at +15.8% growth and $135,980 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Software Developers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15.8%, Median annual wage $135980
  • Computer User Suppor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.7%, Median annual wage $61860
  • Computer Systems Ana…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $105850
  • Computer Occupations…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.2%, Median annual wage $116580
  • Network and Computer…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.2%, Median annual wage $99130
  • Data Scientists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 33.5%, Median annual wage $120230
  • Information Security…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 28.5%, Median annual wage $129180
  • Software Quality Ass…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10%, Median annual wage $104300
  • Computer Network Arc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 11.9%, Median annual wage $134050
  • Computer Network Sup…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $76220
  • Web and Digital Inte…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $104000
  • Operations Research …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 21.5%, Median annual wage $88940
  • Computer Programmers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6%, Median annual wage $100390
  • Web Developers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.5%, Median annual wage $92650
  • Database Administrat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.7%, Median annual wage $104620
  • Database Architects: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $139500
  • Computer and Informa…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 19.7%, Median annual wage $140300
  • Statisticians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.5%, Median annual wage $105650
  • Actuaries: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 21.8%, Median annual wage $130000
  • Mathematical Science…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $81490
  • Mathematicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.7%, Median annual wage $126710

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+15.8%

Much faster than average

Annual Openings

115,200

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+267,700

1,693,800 (2024) → 1,961,400 (2034)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

WageDex derived grade from BLS CFOI/SOII 2023, not an official BLS rating

Fatality Rate

0.1/100K

Injury Rate

0.1/100

Danger Index

0.5/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Software Developers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Programming 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Reading Comprehension 3.5
Active Learning 3.5
Systems Analysis 3.5
Active Listening 3.4
Complex Problem Solving 3.4
Technology Design 3.4
Systems Evaluation 3.4

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.8
Mathematics 3.6
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
English Language 3.3
Education and Training 2.8
Engineering and Technology 2.8
Design 2.7
Telecommunications 2.6
Public Safety and Security 2.6
Production and Processing 2.5

Key Tasks

  • Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  • Coordinate installation of software system.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  • Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
  • Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  • Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$82,460
25th$105,210
Median$135,980
75th$171,980
90th$214,670

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$39.64
25th$50.58
Median$65.38
75th$82.68
90th$103.21

Software Developers pay history, 2021–2025

Published national median across 5 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$115,000$120,000$125,000$130,000$135,000$140,000 20212022202320242025 National median - 2021: $120,730National median - 2022: $127,260National median - 2023: $132,270National median - 2024: $133,080National median - 2025: $135,980$135,980
National median annual wage for Software Developers, May 2021 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2021 $120,730
2022 $127,260
2023 $132,270
2024 $133,080
2025 $135,980

2021 median

$120,730

2025 median

$135,980

2021–2025 change

+$15,250 (+12.6%)

Avg/year

+3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Software Developers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2021 $120,730 First banked release 1,364,180
May 2022 $127,260 +5.4% 1,534,790
May 2023 $132,270 +3.9% 1,656,880
May 2024 $133,080 +0.6% 1,654,440
May 2025 $135,980 +2.2% 1,687,890

Across the 5 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $120,730 in May 2021 to $135,980 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2021–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 1,364,180 in May 2021 to 1,687,890 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.

Salary by State

View all 51 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $174,410 +28% above national
2 Washington $166,540 +22% above national
3 New York $166,180 +22% above national
4 Massachusetts $165,210 +21% above national
5 Oregon $142,720 +5% above national
6 New Hampshire $139,720 +3% above national
7 Maryland $138,680 +2% above national
8 Colorado $138,390 +2% above national
9 District of Columbia $136,880 +1% above national
10 Virginia $136,460 same as national
11 New Jersey $135,940 same as national
12 North Carolina $134,710 1% below national
13 Connecticut $134,120 1% below national
14 Delaware $133,020 2% below national
15 Texas $132,150 3% below national
16 Illinois $132,110 3% below national
17 Idaho $131,590 3% below national
18 Georgia $131,010 4% below national
19 Florida $130,980 4% below national
20 Rhode Island $130,590 4% below national
21 Minnesota $130,050 4% below national
22 Arizona $129,690 5% below national
23 South Carolina $129,450 5% below national
24 Nevada $128,810 5% below national
25 Utah $128,810 5% below national
26 Pennsylvania $126,550 7% below national
27 Missouri $126,120 7% below national
28 Michigan $125,570 8% below national
29 Vermont $125,280 8% below national
30 New Mexico $124,520 8% below national
31 Hawaii $124,040 9% below national
32 Maine $123,120 9% below national
33 Wisconsin $122,660 10% below national
34 Alabama $122,540 10% below national
35 Tennessee $122,430 10% below national
36 Montana $121,990 10% below national
37 West Virginia $121,000 11% below national
38 Oklahoma $118,100 13% below national
39 Wyoming $115,170 15% below national
40 Iowa $114,890 16% below national
41 Ohio $114,090 16% below national
42 Kansas $113,420 17% below national
43 Nebraska $110,900 18% below national
44 Kentucky $109,010 20% below national
45 Indiana $105,920 22% below national
46 North Dakota $105,600 22% below national
47 Arkansas $104,490 23% below national
48 Louisiana $102,800 24% below national
49 South Dakota $96,310 29% below national
50 Mississippi $95,330 30% below national
51 Puerto Rico $79,380 42% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 377 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $213,110 +57% above national
2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $186,640 +37% above national
3 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $167,280 +23% above national
4 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $166,830 +23% above national
5 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $166,090 +22% above national
6 Boulder, CO $164,560 +21% above national
7 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $163,270 +20% above national
8 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $162,650 +20% above national
9 Manchester-Nashua, NH $162,090 +19% above national
10 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $160,920 +18% above national
11 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $159,430 +17% above national
12 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $158,290 +16% above national
13 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $156,910 +15% above national
14 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $156,000 +15% above national
15 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $154,930 +14% above national
16 Pittsfield, MA $154,860 +14% above national
17 Napa, CA $153,130 +13% above national
18 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $148,630 +9% above national
19 Worcester, MA $146,950 +8% above national
20 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $146,200 +8% above national
21 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $145,830 +7% above national
22 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $139,640 +3% above national
23 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $138,900 +2% above national
24 Stockton-Lodi, CA $138,550 +2% above national
25 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $137,610 +1% above national
26 Vallejo, CA $136,930 +1% above national
27 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $135,920 same as national
28 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $135,620 same as national
29 Salinas, CA $135,160 1% below national
30 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $135,020 1% below national
31 Punta Gorda, FL $134,510 1% below national
32 Rochester, MN $134,450 1% below national
33 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $134,380 1% below national
34 Asheville, NC $134,350 1% below national
35 Colorado Springs, CO $134,280 1% below national
36 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $134,120 1% below national
37 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $133,990 1% below national
38 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $133,870 2% below national
39 Barnstable Town, MA $133,690 2% below national
40 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $133,290 2% below national
41 Winchester, VA-WV $133,290 2% below national
42 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $133,270 2% below national
43 New Haven, CT $133,040 2% below national
44 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $133,040 2% below national
45 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $132,960 2% below national
46 Lexington Park, MD $132,850 2% below national
47 Raleigh-Cary, NC $132,770 2% below national
48 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $132,720 2% below national
49 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $132,650 2% below national
50 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $132,520 3% below national
51 Kokomo, IN $132,390 3% below national
52 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $132,150 3% below national
53 Merced, CA $132,120 3% below national
54 Richmond, VA $132,120 3% below national
55 Yuba City, CA $132,120 3% below national
56 Glens Falls, NY $132,040 3% below national
57 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $131,970 3% below national
58 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $131,890 3% below national
59 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $131,760 3% below national
60 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $131,750 3% below national
61 Salem, OR $131,620 3% below national
62 Boise City, ID $131,590 3% below national
63 Chico, CA $131,360 3% below national
64 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $131,290 3% below national
65 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $131,210 4% below national
66 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $130,920 4% below national
67 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $130,760 4% below national
68 Naples-Marco Island, FL $130,730 4% below national
69 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $130,690 4% below national
70 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $130,690 4% below national
71 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $130,640 4% below national
72 Madison, WI $130,630 4% below national
73 Rocky Mount, NC $130,600 4% below national
74 Peoria, IL $130,590 4% below national
75 Carson City, NV $130,500 4% below national
76 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $130,450 4% below national
77 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $130,330 4% below national
78 Jacksonville, FL $130,330 4% below national
79 Kenosha, WI $130,330 4% below national
80 Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC $130,240 4% below national
81 Jackson, MI $130,220 4% below national
82 Grants Pass, OR $130,120 4% below national
83 Longview-Kelso, WA $130,000 4% below national
84 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $129,940 4% below national
85 Medford, OR $129,690 5% below national
86 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $129,620 5% below national
87 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $129,600 5% below national
88 Greeley, CO $129,480 5% below national
89 Ames, IA $129,440 5% below national
90 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $129,440 5% below national
91 Redding, CA $129,230 5% below national
92 Syracuse, NY $129,100 5% below national
93 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $129,090 5% below national
94 Fresno, CA $129,060 5% below national
95 Bend, OR $129,030 5% below national
96 St. Louis, MO-IL $129,030 5% below national
97 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $128,770 5% below national
98 Portland-South Portland, ME $128,710 5% below national
99 Sherman-Denison, TX $128,630 5% below national
100 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $128,560 5% below national
101 Charlottesville, VA $128,520 5% below national
102 Port St. Lucie, FL $128,510 5% below national
103 Binghamton, NY $128,460 6% below national
104 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $128,430 6% below national
105 Bellingham, WA $128,250 6% below national
106 Huntsville, AL $128,080 6% below national
107 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $127,910 6% below national
108 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $127,850 6% below national
109 Kennewick-Richland, WA $127,800 6% below national
110 Springfield, MA $127,740 6% below national
111 Burlington, NC $127,570 6% below national
112 El Paso, TX $127,310 6% below national
113 Odessa, TX $127,080 7% below national
114 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $126,940 7% below national
115 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $126,940 7% below national
116 Coeur d'Alene, ID $126,870 7% below national
117 Ann Arbor, MI $126,830 7% below national
118 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $126,670 7% below national
119 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $126,670 7% below national
120 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $126,610 7% below national
121 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $126,460 7% below national
122 Midland, TX $126,190 7% below national
123 Visalia, CA $126,170 7% below national
124 Bozeman, MT $126,110 7% below national
125 Battle Creek, MI $126,050 7% below national
126 El Centro, CA $125,930 7% below national
127 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $125,760 8% below national
128 Reno, NV $125,710 8% below national
129 Corvallis, OR $125,650 8% below national
130 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $125,590 8% below national
131 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $125,580 8% below national
132 Birmingham, AL $125,410 8% below national
133 Omaha, NE-IA $125,220 8% below national
134 Greensboro-High Point, NC $125,190 8% below national
135 Kansas City, MO-KS $124,990 8% below national
136 Homosassa Springs, FL $124,540 8% below national
137 Pittsburgh, PA $124,500 8% below national
138 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $124,470 8% below national
139 Bay City, MI $124,420 9% below national
140 Kingston, NY $124,300 9% below national
141 Albany, GA $124,230 9% below national
142 Winston-Salem, NC $124,130 9% below national
143 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $124,060 9% below national
144 Twin Falls, ID $124,000 9% below national
145 Grand Junction, CO $123,990 9% below national
146 Vineland, NJ $123,920 9% below national
147 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $123,780 9% below national
148 Tyler, TX $123,760 9% below national
149 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $123,730 9% below national
150 Wilmington, NC $123,730 9% below national
151 Tucson, AZ $123,710 9% below national
152 Albuquerque, NM $123,700 9% below national
153 Greenville, NC $123,680 9% below national
154 Corpus Christi, TX $123,580 9% below national
155 Lexington-Fayette, KY $123,510 9% below national
156 Idaho Falls, ID $123,450 9% below national
157 Columbia, SC $123,380 9% below national
158 Bloomington, IL $123,320 9% below national
159 Killeen-Temple, TX $123,320 9% below national
160 Savannah, GA $123,220 9% below national
161 Jacksonville, NC $123,110 9% below national
162 Waco, TX $123,080 9% below national
163 Charleston, WV $122,980 10% below national
164 Gainesville, FL $122,950 10% below national
165 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $122,930 10% below national
166 Fayetteville, NC $122,900 10% below national
167 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $122,830 10% below national
168 Pueblo, CO $122,780 10% below national
169 Rochester, NY $122,770 10% below national
170 Ithaca, NY $122,730 10% below national
171 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $122,540 10% below national
172 Mobile, AL $122,540 10% below national
173 Oklahoma City, OK $122,390 10% below national
174 Columbus, OH $122,340 10% below national
175 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $122,200 10% below national
176 Albany, OR $122,030 10% below national
177 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $122,000 10% below national
178 Cheyenne, WY $121,990 10% below national
179 Gainesville, GA $121,940 10% below national
180 Sumter, SC $121,880 10% below national
181 Tallahassee, FL $121,800 10% below national
182 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $121,790 10% below national
183 Knoxville, TN $121,750 10% below national
184 Yuma, AZ $121,610 11% below national
185 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $121,420 11% below national
186 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $121,320 11% below national
187 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $121,150 11% below national
188 Roanoke, VA $121,110 11% below national
189 Eugene-Springfield, OR $121,050 11% below national
190 Lake Charles, LA $120,940 11% below national
191 Reading, PA $120,920 11% below national
192 Macon-Bibb County, GA $120,410 11% below national
193 Auburn-Opelika, AL $120,310 12% below national
194 Urban Honolulu, HI $120,230 12% below national
195 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $119,960 12% below national
196 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $119,780 12% below national
197 Modesto, CA $119,770 12% below national
198 Pocatello, ID $119,430 12% below national
199 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $119,350 12% below national
200 Harrisonburg, VA $119,250 12% below national
201 Hammond, LA $118,590 13% below national
202 Warner Robins, GA $118,520 13% below national
203 Springfield, OH $118,150 13% below national
204 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $118,130 13% below national
205 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $118,100 13% below national
206 Rome, GA $118,030 13% below national
207 Lewiston-Auburn, ME $117,700 13% below national
208 Hot Springs, AR $117,610 14% below national
209 Kankakee, IL $116,550 14% below national
210 Amarillo, TX $116,530 14% below national
211 Texarkana, TX-AR $116,490 14% below national
212 Salisbury, MD $116,380 14% below national
213 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $116,260 15% below national
214 Columbus, GA-AL $116,150 15% below national
215 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $116,120 15% below national
216 Sebring, FL $116,110 15% below national
217 Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ $115,890 15% below national
218 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $115,780 15% below national
219 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $115,610 15% below national
220 Dothan, AL $115,580 15% below national
221 Dalton, GA $115,480 15% below national
222 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $115,310 15% below national
223 Lubbock, TX $115,190 15% below national
224 Yakima, WA $115,170 15% below national
225 Walla Walla, WA $114,920 15% below national
226 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $114,750 16% below national
227 Lima, OH $114,600 16% below national
228 York-Hanover, PA $114,600 16% below national
229 Spartanburg, SC $114,460 16% below national
230 Cedar Rapids, IA $114,340 16% below national
231 Fort Smith, AR-OK $114,140 16% below national
232 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $113,970 16% below national
233 Farmington, NM $113,780 16% below national
234 Flagstaff, AZ $113,580 16% below national
235 Utica-Rome, NY $113,390 17% below national
236 St. George, UT $113,240 17% below national
237 Ocala, FL $112,780 17% below national
238 Santa Fe, NM $112,380 17% below national
239 Wheeling, WV-OH $112,340 17% below national
240 Topeka, KS $111,870 18% below national
241 Niles, MI $111,720 18% below national
242 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $111,630 18% below national
243 Laredo, TX $111,450 18% below national
244 Cleveland, OH $111,310 18% below national
245 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $110,780 19% below national
246 Montgomery, AL $110,620 19% below national
247 Decatur, IL $110,300 19% below national
248 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $110,270 19% below national
249 Ogden, UT $109,880 19% below national
250 Lynchburg, VA $109,840 19% below national
251 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $109,470 19% below national
252 Lafayette, LA $109,010 20% below national
253 Morgantown, WV $108,950 20% below national
254 Tulsa, OK $108,730 20% below national
255 Minot, ND $108,470 20% below national
256 Florence, SC $108,460 20% below national
257 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $108,430 20% below national
258 Wichita Falls, TX $108,260 20% below national
259 Sandusky, OH $108,250 20% below national
260 Youngstown-Warren, OH $107,990 21% below national
261 Lebanon, PA $107,810 21% below national
262 Terre Haute, IN $107,770 21% below national
263 Decatur, AL $107,740 21% below national
264 Iowa City, IA $107,680 21% below national
265 Rockford, IL $107,640 21% below national
266 Dover, DE $107,530 21% below national
267 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $107,520 21% below national
268 Las Cruces, NM $107,300 21% below national
269 Lawton, OK $107,240 21% below national
270 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $106,990 21% below national
271 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $106,950 21% below national
272 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $106,910 21% below national
273 Athens-Clarke County, GA $106,870 21% below national
274 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $106,870 21% below national
275 Chattanooga, TN-GA $106,750 21% below national
276 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $106,640 22% below national
277 Longview, TX $106,360 22% below national
278 Chambersburg, PA $106,200 22% below national
279 Champaign-Urbana, IL $106,080 22% below national
280 Bismarck, ND $106,020 22% below national
281 Fargo, ND-MN $105,980 22% below national
282 Wichita, KS $105,980 22% below national
283 Joplin, MO-KS $105,960 22% below national
284 Janesville-Beloit, WI $105,670 22% below national
285 Valdosta, GA $105,640 22% below national
286 Canton-Massillon, OH $105,500 22% below national
287 Akron, OH $105,430 22% below national
288 Dubuque, IA $105,360 23% below national
289 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $105,130 23% below national
290 Lawrence, KS $104,990 23% below national
291 Columbus, IN $104,880 23% below national
292 Tuscaloosa, AL $104,870 23% below national
293 Lancaster, PA $104,740 23% below national
294 Springfield, IL $104,550 23% below national
295 Eau Claire, WI $104,490 23% below national
296 Toledo, OH $104,360 23% below national
297 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $104,240 23% below national
298 Bangor, ME $104,140 23% below national
299 Fond du Lac, WI $104,140 23% below national
300 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $104,070 23% below national
301 Anchorage, AK $104,030 23% below national
302 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $104,000 24% below national
303 Abilene, TX $103,760 24% below national
304 State College, PA $103,620 24% below national
305 Duluth, MN-WI $103,500 24% below national
306 Johnson City, TN $103,320 24% below national
307 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA $103,170 24% below national
308 Green Bay, WI $103,160 24% below national
309 Casper, WY $103,000 24% below national
310 St. Cloud, MN $103,000 24% below national
311 Appleton, WI $102,970 24% below national
312 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $102,970 24% below national
313 Cleveland, TN $102,600 25% below national
314 Morristown, TN $102,390 25% below national
315 Springfield, MO $102,350 25% below national
316 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $102,110 25% below national
317 Owensboro, KY $102,010 25% below national
318 Manhattan, KS $101,960 25% below national
319 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $101,940 25% below national
320 College Station-Bryan, TX $101,910 25% below national
321 Baton Rouge, LA $101,900 25% below national
322 Flint, MI $101,750 25% below national
323 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $101,710 25% below national
324 Lincoln, NE $101,690 25% below national
325 Altoona, PA $101,670 25% below national
326 Fort Wayne, IN $101,560 25% below national
327 Erie, PA $101,550 25% below national
328 Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $101,530 25% below national
329 Saginaw, MI $101,430 25% below national
330 Sheboygan, WI $101,380 25% below national
331 Lewiston, ID-WA $101,310 25% below national
332 Fairbanks-College, AK $101,260 26% below national
333 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $101,220 26% below national
334 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $101,150 26% below national
335 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $101,040 26% below national
336 Columbia, MO $101,020 26% below national
337 Beckley, WV $100,840 26% below national
338 Logan, UT-ID $100,740 26% below national
339 Bowling Green, KY $100,650 26% below national
340 Mankato, MN $100,630 26% below national
341 Gettysburg, PA $100,560 26% below national
342 Billings, MT $100,440 26% below national
343 Johnstown, PA $100,340 26% below national
344 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL $100,220 26% below national
345 Bloomington, IN $99,990 26% below national
346 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $99,750 27% below national
347 Mansfield, OH $99,560 27% below national
348 Muncie, IN $99,380 27% below national
349 Helena, MT $99,370 27% below national
350 Anniston-Oxford, AL $99,260 27% below national
351 Paducah, KY-IL $99,260 27% below national
352 Wausau, WI $98,650 27% below national
353 St. Joseph, MO-KS $98,570 28% below national
354 Evansville, IN $98,560 28% below national
355 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $98,510 28% below national
356 Monroe, MI $98,270 28% below national
357 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $97,120 29% below national
358 Jackson, MS $96,990 29% below national
359 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $96,680 29% below national
360 Clarksville, TN-KY $96,650 29% below national
361 Jackson, TN $96,540 29% below national
362 Grand Island, NE $96,260 29% below national
363 Goldsboro, NC $96,140 29% below national
364 Elizabethtown, KY $95,980 29% below national
365 Traverse City, MI $95,860 30% below national
366 San Angelo, TX $95,580 30% below national
367 Alexandria, LA $95,510 30% below national
368 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $95,500 30% below national
369 Enid, OK $94,830 30% below national
370 Monroe, LA $94,580 30% below national
371 Williamsport, PA $93,960 31% below national
372 Grand Forks, ND-MN $92,120 32% below national
373 Rapid City, SD $91,840 32% below national
374 Jonesboro, AR $84,990 37% below national
375 Midland, MI $83,730 38% below national
376 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $79,380 42% below national
377 Aguadilla, PR $77,840 43% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 15 (Computer and Mathematical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 20 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Computer and Mathematical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($135,980 here) and reported employment (1,687,890 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Software Developers make?
The median annual salary for Software Developers is $135,980 ($65.38/hour). The salary range spans from $82,460 at the 10th percentile to $214,670 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Software Developers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $135,980, Software Developers pay is higher than 94% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Software Developers the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Software Developers at $174,410/year, which is +28% above the national median.
What education do Software Developers need?
BLS assigns Software Developers to Bachelor's degree for typical education needed for entry.
How dangerous is the work for Software Developers?
Software Developers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.1 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.1 per 100 workers.
Is Software Developers a good career?
Employment for Software Developers is projected to grow 15.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 115,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Software Developers pay vary by state?
Software Developers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $174,410/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $79,380/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Software Developers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $213,110/year. BLS reports a median for 377 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Software Developers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $171,980/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $174,410/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.