What are the main factors that influence a Software Design's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

What industry pays the highest salary for Software Design?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Software Design roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change A Software Design's salary?

A Software Design's salary grows with experience: a Package Designer II (2-4 years)earns $73,368, a Package Designer III (4-7 years)earns $93,870, a Software Design (7+ years)earns $114,557, a Package Design Manager (7+ years)earns $128,080, a Package Design Senior Manager (7+ years)earns $161,059,

What are the highest paying states for a Software Design?

Software Design salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Design roles are District of Columbia $122,872, California $122,405, Massachusetts $120,774. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Design roles make?

Salaries for Software Design level roles vary by specialization: VP of Software Research and Design Architecture: $262,300; Software Research and Design Architect VI: $222,000; Software Research and Design Architect V: $176,900; Software Research and Design Architect Senior Manager: $176,900; Software Research and Design Architect Manager: $156,600.

Software Design Salary in Delaware

How much does a Software Design make in Delaware?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Design in Delaware is $112,384 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,058
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,960 to $122,159
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,468

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2026 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Software Design Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$122,159	$10,180	$2,349	$59
Average	$112,384	$9,365	$2,161	$54
25th Percentile	$101,960	$8,497	$1,961	$49

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Software Design Job Openings in Delaware

Embedded Software FPGA Design Engineer

National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NEWCOMB HALL, VA

Software Engineer

ManTech International - FORT GEORGE G MEADE, MD

Software Developer

SimVentions, Inc - ISSUE, MD

Software Engineer

SimVentions, Inc - LA PLATA, MD

Search More Software Design Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Software Design Salaries

A Software Design'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Software Design Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Design'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): $73,368
Early Career (1-2 years): $93,870
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,557
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,080
Expert (over 8 years): $161,059

Levels	Salary
Package D... Level Software Design	$73,368
Package D... Level Software Design	$93,870
Software ... Level Software Design	$114,557
Package D... Level Software Design	$128,080
Package D... Level Software Design	$161,059

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Design 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 Software Designs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $122,872.
California: $122,405.
Massachusetts: $120,774.

District of Columbia $122,872 California $122,405 Massachusetts $120,774 Washington $120,330 New Jersey $120,286 Alaska $120,130 Connecticut $118,599 New York $117,978

Hawaii $115,991 Rhode Island $115,059 Maryland $114,426 Minnesota $113,561 Colorado $113,228 Illinois $113,117 Oregon $112,695 Delaware $112,384

New Hampshire $112,189 Virginia $111,752 Pennsylvania $110,476 Nevada $109,832 North Dakota $109,621 Michigan $109,288 Wisconsin $109,166 Vermont $108,922

Texas $108,245 Maine $108,201 Arizona $108,134 Ohio $108,056 Georgia $107,035 Indiana $106,525 Wyoming $106,425 Utah $106,270

Iowa $106,203 Kansas $105,670 Louisiana $105,515 North Carolina $105,460 Missouri $105,437 Florida $105,005 Montana $104,771 Nebraska $104,550

Kentucky $104,427 South Carolina $103,984 Tennessee $103,706 Idaho $103,595 New Mexico $102,785 Oklahoma $102,607 Alabama $101,953 South Dakota $100,854

Arkansas $100,255 West Virginia $99,933 Mississippi $98,968

Top Paying Cities for Software Designs

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:

Lincoln: $111,878
Little Creek: $112,697
Magnolia: $112,535

Lincoln, DE $111,878 Little Creek, DE $112,697 Magnolia, DE $112,535 Milford, DE $112,162 Marydel, DE $112,347 Millsboro, DE $111,409 Millville, DE $111,581 Milton, DE $111,774

Nassau, DE $111,855 Ocean View, DE $111,562 Rehoboth Beach, DE $111,776 Seaford, DE $111,839 Selbyville, DE $111,377 Smyrna, DE $112,775 Viola, DE $112,256 Woodside, DE $112,558

Bear, DE $112,298 Newark, DE $112,256 Claymont, DE $112,485 Delaware City, DE $112,368 Hockessin, DE $112,246 Kirkwood, DE $112,347 Middletown, DE $112,390 Montchanin, DE $112,271

New Castle, DE $112,288 Odessa, DE $112,445 Port Penn, DE $112,521 Rockland, DE $112,282 Saint Georges, DE $112,354 Townsend, DE $112,528 Winterthur, DE $112,296 Lewes, DE $111,817

Wilmington, DE $112,251 Dover, DE $112,697 Dover Afb, DE $112,104 Bethany Beach, DE $111,444 Bethel, DE $111,560 Bridgeville, DE $111,823 Camden Wyoming, DE $112,380 Cheswold, DE $112,661

Clayton, DE $112,664 Dagsboro, DE $111,367 Delmar, DE $111,188 Ellendale, DE $111,525 Felton, DE $112,154 Fenwick Island, DE $111,391 Frankford, DE $111,197 Frederica, DE $112,265

Georgetown, DE $111,325 Greenwood, DE $111,841 Harbeson, DE $111,443 Harrington, DE $112,012 Hartly, DE $112,360 Houston, DE $111,852 Kenton, DE $112,670 Laurel, DE $111,258

Yorklyn, DE $112,279

Software Design Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Software Design roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Software Design positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Software Design as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Software Design

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$134,861	$65.0	20%

Software Design Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Design'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 August 01, 2026

$101,960

Average $112,384/year

$122,159

$8,497

Average $9,365/month

$10,180

$1,961

Average $2,161/week

$2,349

$49

Average $54/hour

$59

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$122,159	$10,180	$2,349	$59
Average	$112,384	$9,365	$2,161	$54
25th Percentile	$101,960	$8,497	$1,961	$49

Salaries of jobs related to Software Design

Find Your Next Software Design Job

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

SimVentions, Inc

DENTSVILLE, MD

Software Engineer

SimVentions, Inc | DENTSVILLE, MD

SimVentions, Inc., a mission-focused technology solutions company supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, is seeking a Software Engineer. In this role, ... more

10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc

CHAPTICO, MD

Software Engineer

SimVentions, Inc | CHAPTICO, MD

SimVentions, Inc., a mission-focused technology solutions company, is seeking a Software Engineer to develop secure, high-quality software for U.S. Departm... more

10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc

PORT TOBACCO, MD

Software Engineer

SimVentions, Inc | PORT TOBACCO, MD

SimVentions, Inc., a mission-focused technology solutions company supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, is seeking a Software Engineer. In this role, ... more

10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc

MOUNT VICTORIA, MD

Software Engineer

SimVentions, Inc | MOUNT VICTORIA, MD

SimVentions, Inc., a mission-focused technology solutions company supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, is seeking a Software Engineer. In this role, ... more

10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc

PORT TOBACCO, MD

Software Developer

SimVentions, Inc | PORT TOBACCO, MD

SimVentions, Inc. (Glassdoor 4.6) seeks a Software Developer to build secure, mission-critical solutions for Defense & Aerospace customers within our IT de... more

10 Days Ago
SimVentions, Inc

CHARLOTTE HALL, MD

Software Developer

SimVentions, Inc | CHARLOTTE HALL, MD

SimVentions, Inc. (Glassdoor 4.6) seeks a Software Developer to build secure, mission-critical solutions for Defense & Aerospace customers within our IT de... more

10 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.3% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine 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

Salary Search

Salary Calculator Tools

Know Your Worth

Advance at Work

Explore Career Path

Land Your Next Role

Software + AI

Data

Survey Catalogue