SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 15-1252.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $82,460 | $6,872 | $1,586 | $39.64 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $105,210 | $8,768 | $2,023 | $50.58 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $135,980 | $11,332 | $2,615 | $65.38 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $171,980 | $14,332 | $3,307 | $82.68 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $214,670 | $17,889 | $4,128 | $103.21 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Software Developers is $135,980, which is 167% higher. Among the 21 occupations of the field Computer and Mathematical, it ranks number 3 by median pay. With 1,687,890 jobs, it makes up about 109 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Software Developers pay by state
The highest median pay was in California ($174,410), Washington ($166,540) and New York ($166,180). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($79,380), Mississippi ($95,330) and South Dakota ($96,310). The most jobs were in California (284,390), Texas (163,880) and New York (113,510). The occupation is most concentrated in Washington, where its share of all jobs is 2.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 284,390 | $174,410 | $186,770 | $83.85 |
| Washington | 107,030 | $166,540 | $171,040 | $80.07 |
| New York | 113,510 | $166,180 | $163,820 | $79.89 |
| Massachusetts | 48,190 | $165,210 | $161,730 | $79.43 |
| Oregon | 21,830 | $142,720 | $149,060 | $68.62 |
| New Hampshire | 10,840 | $139,720 | $144,530 | $67.17 |
| Maryland | 31,350 | $138,680 | $151,560 | $66.67 |
| Colorado | 43,320 | $138,390 | $150,940 | $66.53 |
| District of Columbia | 6,120 | $136,880 | $144,430 | $65.81 |
| Virginia | 88,280 | $136,460 | $146,340 | $65.61 |
| New Jersey | 51,570 | $135,940 | $143,800 | $65.36 |
| North Carolina | 58,470 | $134,710 | $136,940 | $64.76 |
| Connecticut | 13,660 | $134,120 | $141,260 | $64.48 |
| Delaware | 3,380 | $133,020 | $138,110 | $63.95 |
| Texas | 163,880 | $132,150 | $136,450 | $63.54 |
| Illinois | 56,310 | $132,110 | $136,540 | $63.52 |
| Idaho | 5,750 | $131,590 | $134,370 | $63.26 |
| Georgia | 49,700 | $131,010 | $132,150 | $62.99 |
| Florida | 87,890 | $130,980 | $137,010 | $62.97 |
| Rhode Island | 5,070 | $130,590 | $129,080 | $62.78 |
| Minnesota | 35,890 | $130,050 | $127,530 | $62.52 |
| Arizona | 38,050 | $129,690 | $132,530 | $62.35 |
| South Carolina | 13,230 | $129,450 | $136,240 | $62.24 |
| Nevada | 4,520 | $128,810 | $137,350 | $61.93 |
| Utah | 31,940 | $128,810 | $129,860 | $61.93 |
| Pennsylvania | 55,920 | $126,550 | $128,110 | $60.84 |
| Missouri | 20,020 | $126,120 | $123,810 | $60.64 |
| Michigan | 43,460 | $125,570 | $122,720 | $60.37 |
| Vermont | 1,740 | $125,280 | $136,100 | $60.23 |
| New Mexico | 3,960 | $124,520 | $126,620 | $59.86 |
| Hawaii | 1,600 | $124,040 | $134,600 | $59.64 |
| Maine | 2,790 | $123,120 | $129,040 | $59.19 |
| Wisconsin | 21,730 | $122,660 | $122,620 | $58.97 |
| Alabama | 17,450 | $122,540 | $122,840 | $58.91 |
| Tennessee | 19,030 | $122,430 | $120,560 | $58.86 |
| Montana | 2,160 | $121,990 | $133,550 | $58.65 |
| West Virginia | 2,650 | $121,000 | $118,410 | $58.18 |
| Oklahoma | 6,880 | $118,100 | $118,510 | $56.78 |
| Wyoming | 1,510 | $115,170 | $123,360 | $55.37 |
| Iowa | 9,040 | $114,890 | $118,780 | $55.24 |
| Ohio | 44,790 | $114,090 | $119,860 | $54.85 |
| Kansas | 13,580 | $113,420 | $116,560 | $54.53 |
| Nebraska | 7,260 | $110,900 | $115,590 | $53.32 |
| Kentucky | 7,660 | $109,010 | $120,730 | $52.41 |
| Indiana | 14,130 | $105,920 | $113,980 | $50.92 |
| North Dakota | 1,450 | $105,600 | $107,000 | $50.77 |
| Arkansas | 6,050 | $104,490 | $109,590 | $50.23 |
| Louisiana | 4,080 | $102,800 | $108,270 | $49.42 |
| South Dakota | 2,380 | $96,310 | $104,790 | $46.30 |
| Mississippi | 1,880 | $95,330 | $99,840 | $45.83 |
| Puerto Rico | 2,020 | $79,380 | $80,980 | $38.17 |
| Alaska | 530 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Computer and Information Research Scientists$140,300 a year
- Database Architects$139,500 a year
- Computer Network Architects$134,050 a year
- Actuaries$130,000 a year
- Information Security Analysts$129,180 a year
Common questions
How much do Software Developers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $135,980 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,460 and the highest-paid 10% more than $214,670.
How many people work as Software Developers?
About 1,687,890 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.