Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Java Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a Java Developer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Java Developer in the United States is $105,996 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a Java Developer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,281
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,746 to $114,520
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,414
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Java Developer Salaries

A Java Developer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Java Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Java Developer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $102,630
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,936
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,632
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,194
  • Expert (over 8 years): $110,449
Levels Salary
Entry Level Java Developer$102,630
Intermediate Level Java Developer$102,936
Senior Level Java Developer$106,632
Specialist Level Java Developer$110,194
Expert Level Java Developer$110,449
View as Graph

How Do Java Developer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Java Developers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $117,359.
  • California: $116,914.
  • Massachusetts: $115,355.

Top Paying Cities for Java Developers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $133,693
  • San Francisco: $132,229
  • Oakland: $129,442

What Skills Can Increase a Java Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Team Development (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Building and developing effective teams to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.41% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Business Requirements (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Also known as stakeholder requirements specifications , describe the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of the system's end user. Often discussed in the context of developing or procuring software or other systems.
Skills Demand Percentage
Team Development 2.34%
Agile 3.41%
Business Requirements 2.12%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Java Developer's salary.

  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Hard Working $108,116
2%
Python $108,116
2%
AWS $107,056
1%
Get Latest Data

Java Developer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Java Developer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $118,334. While startup companies pay approximate $100,198.

Java Developer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $100,198
Growth Stage 51~500 $105,947
Established 501~5000 $114,260
Enterprise 5000+ $118,334

Java Developer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Java Developer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Java Developer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Java Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Java Developer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$158,994$76.050%
Financial Services$132,495$64.025%
Internet$127,195$61.020%
Telecom$127,195$61.020%
Pharmaceuticals$121,895$59.015%

How Education impacts a Java Developer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Java Developer enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Java Developer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,148 and $106,616.

Java Developer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Java Developer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.7%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 60.1%
Masters 31.8%
Doctorate 1.3%
View as Graph

Java Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Java Developer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$95,746
Average $105,996/year
$114,520
$7,979
Average $8,833/month
$9,543
$1,841
Average $2,038/week
$2,202
$46
Average $51/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $114,520 $9,543 $2,202 $55
Average $105,996 $8,833 $2,038 $51
25th Percentile $95,746 $7,979 $1,841 $46

Java Developer Salary Growth & Career Path

Java Developer

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Java Developer, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Applications Programmer III $122,524 16%
Software Architect III $128,683 21%
Backend Developer III $127,699 20%
Full Stack Developer III $128,412 21%

Most common benefits for Java Developer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Java Developer

Here are companies hiring for Java Developer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Java Developer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Java Developer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Java Developer

1. Where can a Java Developer earn the most?

A Java Developer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Java Developer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Java Developer is $133,693.

2. What is the highest pay for Java Developer?

The highest pay for Java Developer is $122,281.

3. What is the lowest pay for Java Developer?

The lowest pay for Java Developer is $86,414.

4. What are the responsibilities of Java Developer?

Designs, develops, and implements web-based Java applications to support business requirements. Follows approved life cycle methodologies, creates design documents, and performs program coding and testing. Resolves technical issues through debugging, research, and investigation. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 2 to 4 years of related experience. Gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Java Developer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Java Developer roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst