How much does a Computer Programmer make?
A Computer Programmer earns a median annual salary of $100,390 in the United States, which works out to roughly $48.26 per hour for full-time work. Most Computer Programmers earn between $57,710 at the entry level and $160,460 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $75,850 and $130,680 a year.
That is $39,000 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Computer Programmer salary range by percentile
Half of all Computer Programmers earn between $75,850 and $130,680 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,710 | $27.75 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $75,850 | $36.47 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $100,390 | $48.26 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $130,680 | $62.83 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,460 | $77.14 |
Highest-paying states for Computer Programmer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Connecticut leads the country for Computer Programmer pay at $133,820 a year, followed by Massachusetts ($128,390) and Washington ($125,620). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $58,240 — a gap of $75,580 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $133,820 | $64.34 | +33% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $128,390 | $61.73 | +28% |
| 3 | Washington | $125,620 | $60.39 | +25% |
| 4 | Maryland | $125,570 | $60.37 | +25% |
| 5 | Virginia | $121,610 | $58.47 | +21% |
Computer Programmer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 46 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 92,000 people work as Computer Programmers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $105,170 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other technology roles with similar pay.