SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · United States
Software Developers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Software Developers across the United States is $135,980 per year, measured over 1,687,890 jobs. The highest state median is in California, at $174,410.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Where the pay is highest for Software Developers
Pay for this occupation varies by 83.0% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. California pays $174,410 and Mississippi pays $95,330.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $174,410 | 284,390 | |
| 2 | Washington | $166,540 | 107,030 | |
| 3 | New York | $166,180 | 113,510 | |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 | 48,190 | |
| 5 | Oregon | $142,720 | 21,830 | |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $139,720 | 10,840 | |
| 7 | Maryland | $138,680 | 31,350 | |
| 8 | Colorado | $138,390 | 43,320 | |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $136,880 | 6,120 | |
| 10 | Virginia | $136,460 | 88,280 |
States with the most Software Developers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 284,390 | $174,410 | |
| 2 | Texas | 163,880 | $132,150 | |
| 3 | New York | 113,510 | $166,180 | |
| 4 | Washington | 107,030 | $166,540 | |
| 5 | Virginia | 88,280 | $136,460 | |
| 6 | Florida | 87,890 | $130,980 | |
| 7 | North Carolina | 58,470 | $134,710 | |
| 8 | Illinois | 56,310 | $132,110 | |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 55,920 | $126,550 | |
| 10 | New Jersey | 51,570 | $135,940 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $213,110 | 87,350 |
| 2 | San Francisco | $186,640 | 69,030 |
| 3 | Seattle | $167,280 | 92,770 |
| 4 | New York | $166,830 | 121,000 |
| 5 | Boston | $166,090 | 42,310 |
| 6 | Boulder | $164,560 | 7,130 |
| 7 | San Diego | $163,270 | 20,610 |
| 8 | Bridgeport | $162,650 | 3,090 |
| 9 | Manchester | $162,090 | 4,370 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | $160,920 | 55,540 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data