Software Development Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Software Development in the United States is $87,505 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,232
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,679 to $94,167
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,195
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
View as table View as graph 25% $83,679 10% $80,195 90% $100,232 75% $94,167 $87,505 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Development Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $94,167 $7,847 $1,811 $45
Average $87,505 $7,292 $1,683 $42
25th Percentile $83,679 $6,973 $1,609 $40
Check out Software Development Job Openings in the United States
Software Development Manager

TherapyNotes.com - HORSHAM, PA

System Software Engineer

FUSE Engineering - FORT MEADE, MD

Software Engineer II

Shadow Strategies, LLC - COLUMBIA, MD

Full

Talos Mission Solutions - ARLINGTON, VA

Search More Software Development Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Software Development Salaries

A Software Development'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 Development Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Software Development'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): $86,442
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $86,601
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,770
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $90,197
  • Expert (over 8 years): $90,527
Levels Salary
Entry Level Software Development$86,442
Intermediate Level Software Development$86,601
Senior Level Software Development$87,770
Specialist Level Software Development$90,197
Expert Level Software Development$90,527
$86,442 0 yr
$86,601 < 2 yrs
$87,770 2-4 yrs
$90,197 5-8 yrs
$90,527 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Software Developments

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: $110,370
  • San Francisco: $109,285
  • Oakland: $106,861

What Skills Can Increase a Software Development's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 6.3% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Hospice Care (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Hospice care is a type of care and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a chronically ill, terminally ill or seriously ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs. In Western society, the concept of hospice has been evolving in Europe since the 11th century. Then, and for centuries thereafter in Roman Catholic tradition, hospices were places of hospitality for the sick, wounded, or dying, as well as those for travelers and pilgrims. The modern concept of hospice includes palliative care for the incurably ill given in such institutions as hospitals or nursing homes, but also care provided to those who would rather spend their last months and days of life in their own homes. The first modern hospice care was created by Cicely Saunders in 1967. In the United States the term is largely defined by the practices of the Medicare system and other health insurance providers, which make hospice care available, either in an inpatient facility or at the patient's home, to patients with a terminal prognosis who are medically certified at hospice onset to have less than six months to live. According to the NHPCO [National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization] 2012 report on facts and figures of Hospice care, 66.4% received care in their place of residence and 26.1% in a Hospice inpatient facility. In the late 1970s the U.S. government began to view hospice care as a humane care option for the terminally ill. In 1982 Congress initiated the creation of the Medicare Hospice Benefit which became permanent in 1986. In 1993, President Clinton installed hospice as a guaranteed benefit and an accepted component of health care provisions. Outside the United States, the term hospice tends to be primarily associated with the particular buildings or institutions that specialize in such care (although so-called "hospice at home" services may also be available).[citation needed] Outside the United States such institutions may similarly provide care mostly in an end-of-life setting, but they may also be available for patients with other specific palliative care needs. Hospice care also involves assistance for patients’ families to help them cope with what is happening and provide care and support to keep the patient at home. Although the movement has met with some resistance, hospice has rapidly expanded through the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 6.3%
Hospice Care 2.2%
Microsoft Office 1.52%
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 Development's salary.
  • Managed Care: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Management Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Managed Care
$91,880
5%
Management Skills
$91,005
4%
Client Service
$91,005
4%
Initiative
$89,255
2%
Accountability
$89,255
2%
Collaboration
$89,255
2%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Software Development's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Developments enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Development with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $86,053 and $90,741).

Software Development Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Development
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 6.7%
Associates 31.1%
Bachelors 47.2%
Masters 14.0%
Doctorate 0.5%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Software Development'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 Development

Salaries for a Software Development can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $208,486 in 2023 to around $202,518 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Development salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Development Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$208,486
2024
$208,501
2025
$202,518
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $208,486
2024 $208,501
2025 $202,518
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Development

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Software Development

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

Find Your Next Software Development Job

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

United States
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.

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