Median Salary
$135,980
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$65.38
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$214,670
entry level starts ~$82,460
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 1,688,000 employed
How much does a Software Developer make?
A Software Developer earns a median annual salary of $135,980 in the United States, which works out to roughly $65.38 per hour for full-time work. Most Software Developers earn between $82,460 at the entry level and $214,670 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $105,210 and $171,980 a year.
That is $74,590 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Software Developer salary range by percentile
Half of all Software Developers earn between $105,210 and $171,980 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,460 | $39.64 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $105,210 | $50.58 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $135,980 | $65.38 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $171,980 | $82.68 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,670 | $103.21 |
|
Highest-paying states for Software Developer
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Software Developer pay at $174,410 a year, followed by Washington ($166,540) and New York ($166,180). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $95,330 — a gap of $79,080 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Software Developer salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
California $174,410Washington $166,540New York $166,180Massachusetts $165,210Oregon $142,720New Hampshire $139,720Maryland $138,680Colorado $138,390District of Columbia $136,880Virginia $136,460New Jersey $135,940North Carolina $134,710Connecticut $134,120Delaware $133,020Texas $132,150Illinois $132,110Idaho $131,590Georgia $131,010Florida $130,980Rhode Island $130,590Minnesota $130,050Arizona $129,690South Carolina $129,450Nevada $128,810Utah $128,810Pennsylvania $126,550Missouri $126,120Michigan $125,570Vermont $125,280New Mexico $124,520Hawaii $124,040Maine $123,120Wisconsin $122,660Alabama $122,540Tennessee $122,430Montana $121,990West Virginia $121,000Oklahoma $118,100Wyoming $115,170Iowa $114,890Ohio $114,090Kansas $113,420Nebraska $110,900Kentucky $109,010Indiana $105,920North Dakota $105,600Arkansas $104,490Louisiana $102,800South Dakota $96,310Mississippi $95,330
Workforce and education
About 1,688,000 people work as Software Developers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $148,100 — 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
How much does a Software Developer make in the United States?
The median Software Developer salary in the United States is $135,980 per year, or about $65.38 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $82,460, while the top 10% of earners make $214,670 or more.
How does Software Developer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Software Developer median of $135,980 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Software Developers the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Software Developers, with a median salary of $174,410 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Software Developer?
Becoming a Software Developer typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Software Developers work in the United States?
About 1,688,000 people were employed as Software Developers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
Other technology roles with similar pay.
$88,940
median pay · 109,000 employed
$134,050
median pay · 180,000 employed
$99,130
median pay · 314,000 employed
$139,500
median pay · 67,000 employed
$104,300
median pay · 187,000 employed
$92,650
median pay · 70,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.