Software Developer, IT Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Developer, IT make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Developer, IT in the United States is $131,208 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $152,080
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $121,234 to $142,133
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $112,153
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View as table View as graph 25% $121,234 10% $112,153 90% $152,080 75% $142,133 $131,208 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Developer, IT Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $142,133 $11,844 $2,733 $68
Average $131,208 $10,934 $2,523 $63
25th Percentile $121,234 $10,103 $2,331 $58
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Key Factors That Influence Software Developer, IT Salaries

A Software Developer, IT'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 Software Developer, IT Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Developer, IT'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): $125,894
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $126,646
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $128,150
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,618
  • Expert (over 8 years): $136,510
Levels Salary
Entry Level Software Developer, IT$125,894
Intermediate Level Software Developer, IT$126,646
Senior Level Software Developer, IT$128,150
Specialist Level Software Developer, IT$133,618
Expert Level Software Developer, IT$136,510
$125,894 0 yr
$126,646 < 2 yrs
$128,150 2-4 yrs
$133,618 5-8 yrs
$136,510 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Software Developer, IT 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 Developer, ITs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $145,273.
  • California: $144,722.
  • Massachusetts: $142,794.

Top Paying Cities for Software Developer, ITs

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: $165,493
  • San Francisco: $163,866
  • Oakland: $160,231

What Skills Can Increase a Software Developer, IT's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 3% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Docker (Mentioned in 3.36% Job Postings): Building, running, and managing containers to deliver software quickly on various platforms.
  • Prototyping (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Creating a sample product that may be tested to discover potential problems and avoid mistakes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 3%
Docker 3.36%
Prototyping 1.8%
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 Software Developer, IT's salary.
  • Data Privacy: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data Privacy
$139,080
6%
Networking
$137,768
5%
Presentation
$136,456
4%
Design Thinking
$133,832
2%
Digital Transformation
$133,832
2%
Project Planning
$133,832
2%
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How Education impacts a Software Developer, IT's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Software Developer, IT with a Bachelor's Degree is between $115,873 and $124,446).

Software Developer, IT Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Developer, IT
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 2.1%
Associates 1.5%
Bachelors 55.5%
Masters 39.1%
Doctorate 1.5%
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Software Developer, IT Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Developer, IT'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Software Developer, IT

Salaries for a Software Developer, IT can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $119,745 in 2023 to around $117,897 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Developer, IT salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Developer, IT Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$119,745
2024
$119,159
2025
$117,897
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $119,745
2024 $119,159
2025 $117,897
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Software Developer, IT

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Developer, IT

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

Find Your Next Software Developer, IT Job

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

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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.

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