Programming Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Programming Associate make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Programming Associate in the United States is $50,990 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,778
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,473 to $56,637
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,539
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View as table View as graph 25% $44,473 10% $38,539 90% $61,778 75% $56,637 $50,990 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Programming Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $56,637 $4,720 $1,089 $27
Average $50,990 $4,249 $981 $25
25th Percentile $44,473 $3,706 $855 $21
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Key Factors That Influence Programming Associate Salaries

A Programming Associate'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 Programming Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Programming Associate'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): $49,575
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,875
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $50,990
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $52,236
  • Expert (over 8 years): $52,402
Levels Salary
Entry Level Programming Associate$49,575
Intermediate Level Programming Associate$49,875
Senior Level Programming Associate$50,990
Specialist Level Programming Associate$52,236
Expert Level Programming Associate$52,402
$49,575 0 yr
$49,875 < 2 yrs
$50,990 2-4 yrs
$52,236 5-8 yrs
$52,402 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Programming Associate 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 Programming Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $56,456.
  • California: $56,242.
  • Massachusetts: $55,493.

Top Paying Cities for Programming Associates

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: $64,314
  • San Francisco: $63,682
  • Oakland: $62,269

What Skills Can Increase a Programming Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 9.38% 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.
  • Programming (Mentioned in 3.18% Job Postings): Executing logic to facilitate computing operations and functionality in one or more languages.
  • Word Processing (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): word processing, operation in which a text-editing software program called a word processor is used to create a document on a computer. A word-processing system can produce a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 9.38%
Programming 3.18%
Word Processing 1.77%
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 Programming Associate's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$62,208
22%
Presentation
$62,208
22%
PowerPoint
$60,168
18%
Attention to Detail
$60,168
18%
Billing
$59,658
17%
Administrative Support
$59,149
16%
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Programming Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Programming Associate'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 Programming Associate

Salaries for a Programming Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,217 in 2023 to around $49,274 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Programming Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Programming Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,217
2024
$50,095
2025
$49,274
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,217
2024 $50,095
2025 $49,274
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Programming Associate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Programming Associate

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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.)

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