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

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

How does experience change A Software De's salary?

A Software De's salary grows with experience: a Telecommunications Engineer I (0-2 years)earns $67,774, a Software Dev (2-4 years)earns $87,068, a Telecommunications Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $115,335, a Telecommunications Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $133,902, a Telecommunications Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $150,826,

What are the highest paying states for a Software Dev?

Software Dev salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Software Dev roles are District of Columbia $95,739, California $95,376, Massachusetts $94,105. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Software Dev roles make?

Salaries for Software Dev level roles vary by specialization: SVP of Bus Dev: $320,790; Software Dev Manager: $151,571; Senior Software Dev Engineer: $147,745; Dev Lead: $138,211; Dev Ops: $106,526.

How do different companies affect a Software Dev's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Software Dev roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Software Dev Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Dev make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Dev in the United States is $86,470 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,936
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $77,852 to $90,378
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,007

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Software Dev Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$90,378	$7,531	$1,738	$43
Average	$86,470	$7,206	$1,663	$42
25th Percentile	$77,852	$6,488	$1,497	$37

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Key Factors That Influence Software Dev Salaries

A Software Dev'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 Dev Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Dev'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): $67,774
Early Career (1-2 years): $87,068
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,335
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,902
Expert (over 8 years): $150,826

Levels	Salary
Telecommu... Level Software Dev	$67,774
Software ... Level Software Dev	$87,068
Telecommu... Level Software Dev	$115,335
Telecommu... Level Software Dev	$133,902
Telecommu... Level Software Dev	$150,826

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $95,739.
California: $95,376.
Massachusetts: $94,105.

District of Columbia $95,739 California $95,376 Massachusetts $94,105 Washington $93,759 New Jersey $93,724 Alaska $93,603 Connecticut $92,410 New York $91,926

Hawaii $90,378 Rhode Island $89,652 Maryland $89,159 Minnesota $88,484 Colorado $88,225 Illinois $88,138 Oregon $87,810 Delaware $87,568

New Hampshire $87,415 Virginia $87,075 Pennsylvania $86,080 Nevada $85,579 North Dakota $85,415 Michigan $85,155 Wisconsin $85,060 Vermont $84,870

Texas $84,342 Maine $84,308 Arizona $84,256 Ohio $84,195 Georgia $83,400 Indiana $83,002 Wyoming $82,924 Utah $82,803

Iowa $82,751 Kansas $82,336 Louisiana $82,215 North Carolina $82,172 Missouri $82,155 Florida $81,817 Montana $81,636 Nebraska $81,463

Kentucky $81,368 South Carolina $81,022 Tennessee $80,806 Idaho $80,719 New Mexico $80,088 Oklahoma $79,950 Alabama $79,440 South Dakota $78,583

Arkansas $78,117 West Virginia $77,866 Mississippi $77,114

Top Paying Cities for Software Devs

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: $109,064
San Francisco: $107,992
Oakland: $105,597

San Jose, CA $109,064

San Francisco, CA $107,992

Oakland, CA $105,597

New York, NY $100,210

Queens Village, NY $99,561

Paramus, NJ $98,869

Passaic, NJ $98,783

Bergenfield, NJ $98,696

Stamford, CT $98,567

Huntington, NY $98,480

Newark, NJ $97,918

Bridgeport, CT $97,745

New Brunswick, NJ $97,460

Vallejo, CA $97,278

Middlesex, NJ $97,226

Somerset, NJ $97,148

Petaluma, CA $96,950

Santa Cruz, CA $96,612

Boston, MA $96,439

Monterey, CA $96,007

Fairbanks, AK $95,947

Los Angeles, CA $95,782

Washington, DC $95,739

Seattle, WA $95,583

Santa Rosa, CA $95,566

Juneau, AK $95,315

Orange, CA $95,030

Anchorage, AK $94,874

Anaheim, CA $94,814

Santa Ana, CA $94,684

Nassau, NY $94,632

Long Beach, CA $94,598

Danbury, CT $94,572

Santa Maria, CA $94,278

Everett, WA $94,260

Bremerton, WA $93,837

Trenton, NJ $93,672

Sacramento, CA $93,638

San Diego, CA $93,595

Brockton, MA $93,560

Tacoma, WA $93,525

Santa Barbara, CA $93,404

Lowell, MA $93,058

New Suffolk, NY $93,024

Nashua, NH $92,920

Lompoc, CA $92,782

Ventura, CA $92,695

Stockton, CA $92,669

New Haven, CT $92,496

Atlantic City, NJ $92,272

Hartford, CT $92,081

Modesto, CA $92,038

Poughkeepsie, NY $91,848

New Britain, CT $91,805

Olympia, WA $91,684

Kennewick, WA $91,684

New London, CT $91,666

Norwich, CT $91,640

Lawrence, MA $91,597

Bakersfield, CA $91,355

Riverside, CA $91,234

New Bedford, MA $91,234

Richland, WA $91,147

Portsmouth, NH $91,078

Vineland, NJ $91,061

San Bernardino, CA $90,992

Boulder, CO $90,750

Worcester, MA $90,681

Portland, OR $90,603

Saint Paul, MN $90,499

Minneapolis, MN $90,499

Philadelphia, PA $90,378

Honolulu, HI $89,920

Springfield, MA $89,617

Providence, RI $89,608

Chicago, IL $89,358

Bellingham, WA $89,254

Baltimore, MD $89,159

Chico, CA $88,943

Wilmington, DE $88,796

Pittsfield, MA $88,709

Manchester, NH $88,545

Spokane, WA $88,164

Denver, CO $88,156

Albany, NY $87,749

Troy, NY $87,715

Schenectady, NY $87,533

Burlington, VT $87,343

Portland, ME $87,040

Salem, OR $86,971

Yakima, WA $86,954

Ann Arbor, MI $86,928

Rochester, MN $86,686

Fresno, CA $86,642

Reno, NV $86,642

Milwaukee, WI $86,565

Detroit, MI $86,478

Allentown, PA $86,452

Carson City, NV $86,444

Houston, TX $86,314

Colorado Springs, CO $86,305

Syracuse, NY $86,262

Eugene, OR $86,098

Bismarck, ND $85,994

Gary, IN $85,994

Galveston, TX $85,994

Springfield, OR $85,925

Medford, OR $85,717

Fort Collins, CO $85,683

Austin, TX $85,613

Mesa, AZ $85,432

Phoenix, AZ $85,415

Dallas, TX $85,389

Reading, PA $85,337

Saint Cloud, MN $85,302

Concord, NH $85,224

Madison, WI $85,190

Utica, NY $84,956

Raleigh, NC $84,887

Las Vegas, NV $84,878

Rochester, NY $84,818

Des Moines, IA $84,809

Atlanta, GA $84,671

Battle Creek, MI $84,645

Salt Lake City, UT $84,619

Lancaster, PA $84,489

Champaign, IL $84,472

Harrisburg, PA $84,368

Durham, NC $84,290

Kansas City, MO $84,282

Kansas City, KS $84,265

Fort Worth, TX $84,256

Boca Raton, FL $84,221

Cleveland, OH $84,213

Columbus, OH $84,195

Pittsburgh, PA $84,187

Richmond, VA $84,152

Indianapolis, IN $84,135

Cincinnati, OH $84,022

Petersburg, VA $83,893

Billings, MT $83,702

Lansing, MI $83,702

Huntsville, AL $83,702

Lebanon, PA $83,694

Dayton, OH $83,685

Pueblo, CO $83,685

Appleton, WI $83,659

Buffalo, NY $83,625

Racine, WI $83,581

Charlotte, NC $83,573

Saint Louis, MO $83,547

Springfield, IL $83,512

Elkhart, IN $83,495

York, PA $83,495

Gastonia, NC $83,486

Benton Harbor, MI $83,486

Beaumont, TX $83,434

Lorain, OH $83,417

Toledo, OH $83,383

Binghamton, NY $83,339

Rock Hill, SC $83,331

Rockford, IL $83,287

Fargo, ND $83,244

Elyria, OH $83,244

Flagstaff, AZ $83,184

Fort Lauderdale, FL $83,132

Miami, FL $83,080

Duluth, MN $82,942

Bangor, ME $82,829

Cedar Rapids, IA $82,734

Louisville, KY $82,691

Grand Rapids, MI $82,673

Hialeah, FL $82,665

Casper, WY $82,544

Scranton, PA $82,440

New Orleans, LA $82,414

Virginia Beach, VA $82,405

Akron, OH $82,362

Peoria, IL $82,250

Sarasota, FL $82,232

Green Bay, WI $82,172

Baton Rouge, LA $82,129

Charleston, SC $82,111

Nashville, TN $82,085

Jamestown, NY $82,068

Davenport, IA $82,068

Tucson, AZ $82,025

Cheyenne, WY $81,999

Saint Petersburg, FL $81,973

Tampa, FL $81,956

Omaha, NE $81,938

Port Arthur, TX $81,904

Evansville, IN $81,904

Bradenton, FL $81,869

Santa Fe, NM $81,714

Orlando, FL $81,627

Clearwater, FL $81,532

Canton, OH $81,351

La Crosse, WI $81,351

Grand Forks, ND $81,325

Albuquerque, NM $81,299

Tulsa, OK $81,299

Newport News, VA $81,290

High Point, NC $81,264

Ogden, UT $81,229

Corpus Christi, TX $81,160

Laramie, WY $81,108

Norfolk, VA $81,108

Rock Island, IL $81,057

Saginaw, MI $81,039

Jacksonville, FL $81,031

Salisbury, NC $81,013

Memphis, TN $80,996

Moline, IL $80,953

Fort Myers, FL $80,927

Waterloo, IA $80,814

Spartanburg, SC $80,728

Lincoln, NE $80,685

Fort Wayne, IN $80,667

Birmingham, AL $80,572

Cedar Falls, IA $80,555

Provo, UT $80,546

Springfield, OH $80,538

San Antonio, TX $80,520

Greensboro, NC $80,486

South Bend, IN $80,477

Winston Salem, NC $80,469

Boise, ID $80,443

Savannah, GA $80,382

Muskegon, MI $80,226

Lima, OH $80,123

Lake Charles, LA $80,088

Anderson, IN $80,071

Lexington, KY $80,045

Augusta, GA $80,019

Greenville, SC $80,019

Wichita, KS $79,941

Tuscaloosa, AL $79,941

Columbia, SC $79,863

Bloomington, IN $79,647

Roanoke, VA $79,595

Asheville, NC $79,483

Knoxville, TN $79,336

Shreveport, LA $79,327

Wilmington, NC $79,215

Frankfort, KY $79,050

Oklahoma City, OK $78,990

Chillicothe, OH $78,955

Longview, TX $78,947

Topeka, KS $78,921

Mobile, AL $78,791

Terre Haute, IN $78,756

Erie, PA $78,748

Altoona, PA $78,705

Melbourne, FL $78,679

Amarillo, TX $78,644

Killeen, TX $78,618

Fayetteville, AR $78,549

Sioux Falls, SD $78,488

Chattanooga, TN $78,436

Idaho Falls, ID $78,428

Gainesville, FL $78,246

Portsmouth, OH $78,203

Little Rock, AR $78,186

Lynchburg, VA $78,186

Lafayette, LA $78,151

Youngstown, OH $78,151

Temple, TX $78,117

Daytona Beach, FL $78,099

Clarksville, TN $78,091

Pensacola, FL $78,082

Hopkinsville, KY $77,823

Charleston, WV $77,814

Florence, SC $77,771

Sioux City, IA $77,719

Macon, GA $77,468

Tallahassee, FL $77,459

Fayetteville, NC $77,442

Waco, TX $77,425

Wichita Falls, TX $77,425

Pine Bluff, AR $77,390

Vincennes, IN $77,226

Lubbock, TX $77,191

Great Falls, MT $77,139

Alamogordo, NM $77,131

Abilene, TX $77,062

Rapid City, SD $76,949

Monroe, LA $76,949

Albany, GA $76,897

Huntington, WV $76,889

Jackson, MS $76,880

Greenville, MS $76,871

Parkersburg, WV $76,785

Montgomery, AL $76,768

Johnstown, PA $76,750

Springfield, MO $76,681

Biloxi, MS $76,638

Sumter, SC $76,456

Columbus, GA $76,448

Twin Falls, ID $76,396

Pascagoula, MS $76,283

Kingsport, TN $76,059

Gulfport, MS $76,033

Alexandria, LA $75,747

Fort Smith, AR $75,531

El Paso, TX $75,298

Helena, MT $75,185

Las Cruces, NM $74,909

Harlingen, TX $74,666

Pocatello, ID $74,589

Florence, AL $74,563

Brownsville, TX $74,545

Dothan, AL $74,407

Mcallen, TX $74,364

Columbus, MS $73,724

Altus, OK $73,326

Lawton, OK $73,162

Pierre, SD $72,851

What Skills Can Increase a Software Dev's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Analysis (Mentioned in 4.66% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Installation (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Programming (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Analysis	4.66%
Installation	2.46%
Programming	1.29%

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 Dev's salary.

Systems Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Linux: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Systems Engineering	$96,846	12%
Insight	$95,981	11%
Linux	$95,116	10%
Python	$95,116	10%
AWS	$95,116	10%
Sustainability	$93,387	8%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Software Dev's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Devs enter the field with a Associate'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 Dev with a Associate's Degree is between $93,125 and $98,555).

Software Dev Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Dev

No Diploma 16.1%

High School 16.1%

Associates 8.9%

Bachelors 41.1%

Masters 33.9%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	16.1%
High School	16.1%
Associates	8.9%
Bachelors	41.1%
Masters	33.9%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

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

Understanding how a Software Dev'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 April 01, 2026

$77,852

Average $86,470/year

$90,378

$6,488

Average $7,206/month

$7,531

$1,497

Average $1,663/week

$1,738

$37

Average $42/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$90,378	$7,531	$1,738	$43
Average	$86,470	$7,206	$1,663	$42
25th Percentile	$77,852	$6,488	$1,497	$37

Salaries of jobs related to Software Dev

Salary Trends for Software Dev

Salaries for a Software Dev can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $94,413 in 2023 to around $92,510 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Dev salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Dev Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$94,413

2024

$93,962

2025

$92,510

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$94,413
2024	$93,962
2025	$92,510
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Software Dev

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401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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.)

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