Java Software Developer Salary in the United States

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

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for a Java Software Developer in the United States is $105,926 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $121,582
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,834 to $114,121
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,736
Loading...

Key Factors That Influence Java Software Developer Salaries

A Java Software 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 Software Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Java Software 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): $103,307
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $103,615
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,337
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,921
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,177
Levels Salary
Entry Level Java Software Developer$103,307
Intermediate Level Java Software Developer$103,615
Senior Level Java Software Developer$107,337
Specialist Level Java Software Developer$110,921
Expert Level Java Software Developer$111,177

Top Paying Cities for Java Software 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: $133,604
  • San Francisco: $132,142
  • Oakland: $129,357

What Skills Can Increase a Java Software 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%

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 Software 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 $108,045
2%
Python $108,045
2%
AWS $106,985
1%

Java Software Developer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Java Software 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 Software Developer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Java Software Developer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Java Software Developer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$158,889$76.050%
Financial Services$132,408$64.025%
Internet$127,111$61.020%
Telecom$127,111$61.020%
Pharmaceuticals$121,815$59.015%

How Education impacts a Java Software Developer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Java Software Developers 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 Java Software Developer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,148 and $106,616).

Java Software Developer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Java Software 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%

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

Understanding how a Java Software 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 November 01, 2026
$94,834
Average $105,926/year
$114,121
$7,903
Average $8,827/month
$9,510
$1,824
Average $2,037/week
$2,195
$46
Average $51/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $114,121 $9,510 $2,195 $55
Average $105,926 $8,827 $2,037 $51
25th Percentile $94,834 $7,903 $1,824 $46

Most common benefits for Java Software Developer

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

Common company salaries for Java Software Developer

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

Find Your Next Java Software Developer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Java Software 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 Software Developer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Java Software Developer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Java Software 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