SOC 15-1252 · BLS occupation: Software Developer · May 2025
Software Engineer Salary
Software Developers in the US earn a median of $135,980 a year ($71.20 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Software Developer pay climbed from $120,990 in 2021 to $148,100 in 2025, a +22.4% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$135,980
Half of all Software Developers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+22.4% since 2021 · +2.4% YoY
Hourly
$71.20
Job growth 2025-35
+10.2%
US workers
1,687,890
BLS series
Annual median wage for Software Developers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Software Developers is $82,460 – $214,670.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$82,460
25th
$105,210
Median
$135,980
75th
$171,980
90th
$214,670
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Software Developers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $82,460 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $105,210 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $135,980 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $171,980 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $214,670 |
Geography
Software Developer pay by state
Software Developers earn the most in California ($174,410, +28% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($95,330). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 50 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$135,980
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $174,410 | +28% | 284,390 |
| Washington | $166,540 | +22% | 107,030 |
| New York | $166,180 | +22% | 113,510 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 | +21% | 48,190 |
| Oregon | $142,720 | +5% | 21,830 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 | +3% | 10,840 |
| Maryland | $138,680 | +2% | 31,350 |
| Colorado | $138,390 | +2% | 43,320 |
| D.C. | $136,880 | +1% | 6,120 |
| Virginia | $136,460 | +0% | 88,280 |
All 50 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $174,410 | 284,390 |
| Washington | $166,540 | 107,030 |
| New York | $166,180 | 113,510 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 | 48,190 |
| Oregon | $142,720 | 21,830 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 | 10,840 |
| Maryland | $138,680 | 31,350 |
| Colorado | $138,390 | 43,320 |
| D.C. | $136,880 | 6,120 |
| Virginia | $136,460 | 88,280 |
| New Jersey | $135,940 | 51,570 |
| North Carolina | $134,710 | 58,470 |
| Connecticut | $134,120 | 13,660 |
| Delaware | $133,020 | 3,380 |
| Texas | $132,150 | 163,880 |
| Illinois | $132,110 | 56,310 |
| Idaho | $131,590 | 5,750 |
| Georgia | $131,010 | 49,700 |
| Florida | $130,980 | 87,890 |
| Rhode Island | $130,590 | 5,070 |
| Minnesota | $130,050 | 35,890 |
| Arizona | $129,690 | 38,050 |
| South Carolina | $129,450 | 13,230 |
| Nevada | $128,810 | 4,520 |
| Utah | $128,810 | 31,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $126,550 | 55,920 |
| Missouri | $126,120 | 20,020 |
| Michigan | $125,570 | 43,460 |
| Vermont | $125,280 | 1,740 |
| New Mexico | $124,520 | 3,960 |
| Hawaii | $124,040 | 1,600 |
| Maine | $123,120 | 2,790 |
| Wisconsin | $122,660 | 21,730 |
| Alabama | $122,540 | 17,450 |
| Tennessee | $122,430 | 19,030 |
| Montana | $121,990 | 2,160 |
| West Virginia | $121,000 | 2,650 |
| Oklahoma | $118,100 | 6,880 |
| Wyoming | $115,170 | 1,510 |
| Iowa | $114,890 | 9,040 |
| Ohio | $114,090 | 44,790 |
| Kansas | $113,420 | 13,580 |
| Nebraska | $110,900 | 7,260 |
| Kentucky | $109,010 | 7,660 |
| Indiana | $105,920 | 14,130 |
| North Dakota | $105,600 | 1,450 |
| Arkansas | $104,490 | 6,050 |
| Louisiana | $102,800 | 4,080 |
| South Dakota | $96,310 | 2,380 |
| Mississippi | $95,330 | 1,880 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Software Developers
Software developers design, build, and maintain applications and systems. The category covers backend, frontend, mobile, embedded, and platform engineers. Most hold a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, though self-taught engineers are common.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $82,460 – $214,670. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Washington and New York. Pay in California runs 1.8 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 95,300 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 10.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Software Developer salary in the US?
How much does a Software Developer make an hour?
How much do Software Developers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Software Developers the most?
Is the average Software Developer salary higher than the median?
Is Software Developer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Software Developer roles hiring now
Browse current Software Developer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 15-1252. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.