Software Developers
Software Developers (SOC 15-1252) earn a median $135,980 a year ($65.38 an hour) in the United States, with 1,687,890 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What software developers do
Software developers research, design, and build computer and network software and specialized utility programs. Developers study what users need and what the software must do to judge whether a design is workable, then draw on computer science, engineering, and mathematics to design a solution. They confer with systems analysts, engineers, and programmers on system design, modify existing software to correct errors or adapt it to new hardware, and develop or direct testing and validation procedures. Some also maintain databases within an application area. Titles include application developer, software engineer, and application architect. The occupation differs from computer programmers, who write code from specifications, from web developers, who build websites and web applications, and from software quality assurance analysts and testers. Computer and information research scientists work on new computing theory and technology. Reports on project specifications and status, plus analysis for planning a new system or a modification, round out the work, and developers may work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: AI Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Specialist), Application Analyst, Application Architect, Application Developer, Application Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $39.64 | $50.58 | $65.38 | $82.68 | $103.21 | $71.20 | 1,687,890 |
| Annual | $82,460 | $105,210 | $135,980 | $171,980 | $214,670 | $148,100 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where software developers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $50.51 | $65.86 | $83.85 | $104.17 | $131.09 | $89.80 | 284,390 | 15.61 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $105,060 | $136,990 | $174,410 | $216,670 | $272,670 | $186,770 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $46.54 | $63.60 | $80.07 | $101.86 | $122.76 | $82.23 | 107,030 | 30.14 | 2.78 |
| Annual | $96,810 | $132,290 | $166,540 | $211,860 | $255,350 | $171,040 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $46.84 | $61.13 | $79.89 | $98.82 | $107.97 | $78.76 | 113,510 | 11.72 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $97,430 | $127,160 | $166,180 | $205,540 | $224,590 | $163,820 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $49.43 | $63.16 | $79.43 | $91.48 | $102.87 | $77.76 | 48,190 | 13.25 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $102,810 | $131,370 | $165,210 | $190,280 | $213,970 | $161,730 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $39.94 | $53.73 | $68.62 | $82.02 | $102.66 | $71.66 | 21,830 | 11.10 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $83,070 | $111,750 | $142,720 | $170,600 | $213,540 | $149,060 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $50.51 | $65.86 | $83.85 | $104.17 | $131.09 | $89.80 | 284,390 | 15.61 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $105,060 | $136,990 | $174,410 | $216,670 | $272,670 | $186,770 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $39.71 | $49.69 | $63.54 | $78.14 | $88.31 | $65.60 | 163,880 | 11.65 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $82,600 | $103,350 | $132,150 | $162,530 | $183,680 | $136,450 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $46.84 | $61.13 | $79.89 | $98.82 | $107.97 | $78.76 | 113,510 | 11.72 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $97,430 | $127,160 | $166,180 | $205,540 | $224,590 | $163,820 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $46.54 | $63.60 | $80.07 | $101.86 | $122.76 | $82.23 | 107,030 | 30.14 | 2.78 |
| Annual | $96,810 | $132,290 | $166,540 | $211,860 | $255,350 | $171,040 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $40.07 | $51.25 | $65.61 | $82.26 | $101.89 | $70.36 | 88,280 | 21.48 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $83,350 | $106,600 | $136,460 | $171,090 | $211,930 | $146,340 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $66.55 | $83.49 | $102.46 | $108.69 | $139.02 | $106.59 | 87,350 | 76.96 | 7.09 |
| Annual | $138,420 | $173,650 | $213,110 | $226,080 | $289,150 | $221,710 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $61.58 | $78.61 | $89.73 | $105.61 | $131.44 | $93.00 | 69,030 | 29.08 | 2.68 |
| Annual | $128,090 | $163,500 | $186,640 | $219,670 | $273,400 | $193,430 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $47.69 | $63.85 | $80.42 | $101.86 | $124.02 | $84.09 | 92,770 | 44.47 | 4.10 |
| Annual | $99,190 | $132,800 | $167,280 | $211,860 | $257,960 | $174,920 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $48.89 | $62.81 | $80.21 | $99.02 | $107.97 | $79.75 | 121,000 | 12.75 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $101,690 | $130,650 | $166,830 | $205,970 | $224,590 | $165,870 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $49.50 | $63.40 | $79.85 | $88.34 | $102.93 | $78.10 | 42,310 | 15.65 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $102,950 | $131,880 | $166,090 | $183,740 | $214,100 | $162,440 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $48.89 | $62.81 | $80.21 | $99.02 | $107.97 | $79.75 | 121,000 | 12.75 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $101,690 | $130,650 | $166,830 | $205,970 | $224,590 | $165,870 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $47.69 | $63.85 | $80.42 | $101.86 | $124.02 | $84.09 | 92,770 | 44.47 | 4.10 |
| Annual | $99,190 | $132,800 | $167,280 | $211,860 | $257,960 | $174,920 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $66.55 | $83.49 | $102.46 | $108.69 | $139.02 | $106.59 | 87,350 | 76.96 | 7.09 |
| Annual | $138,420 | $173,650 | $213,110 | $226,080 | $289,150 | $221,710 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $46.37 | $59.48 | $74.49 | $84.73 | $102.72 | $73.61 | 69,060 | 22.02 | 2.03 |
| Annual | $96,450 | $123,720 | $154,930 | $176,230 | $213,660 | $153,100 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $61.58 | $78.61 | $89.73 | $105.61 | $131.44 | $93.00 | 69,030 | 29.08 | 2.68 |
| Annual | $128,090 | $163,500 | $186,640 | $219,670 | $273,400 | $193,430 | ||||
Top industries employing software developers
Computer Systems Design and Related Services employ 30.5% of software developers nationally (515,410 jobs) at a median $132,050 a year ($63.48 an hour), followed by Software Publishers (10.3%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (6.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 515,410 | 30.5% | $132,050 | $63.48 |
| Software Publishers NAICS 513200 | 173,080 | 10.3% | $164,550 | $79.11 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 103,450 | 6.1% | $135,680 | $65.23 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services NAICS 518200 | 77,260 | 4.6% | $156,950 | $75.46 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 55,330 | 3.3% | $133,870 | $64.36 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,687,890). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $120,730 for software developers in May 2021 and $135,980 in May 2025, with employment of 1,364,180 and 1,687,890.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $120,730 | $58.05 | 1,364,180 |
| May 2022 | $127,260 | $61.18 | 1,534,790 |
| May 2023 | $132,270 | $63.59 | 1,656,880 |
| May 2024 | $133,080 | $63.98 | 1,654,440 |
| May 2025 | $135,980 | $65.38 | 1,687,890 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $83.85 | $174,410 | $105,060 | $272,670 | 284,390 | 15.61 | 1.44 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $80.07 | $166,540 | $96,810 | $255,350 | 107,030 | 30.14 | 2.78 |
| 3 | New York profile | $79.89 | $166,180 | $97,430 | $224,590 | 113,510 | 11.72 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $79.43 | $165,210 | $102,810 | $213,970 | 48,190 | 13.25 | 1.22 |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $68.62 | $142,720 | $83,070 | $213,540 | 21,830 | 11.10 | 1.02 |
| 6 | New Hampshire profile | $67.17 | $139,720 | $92,510 | $205,370 | 10,840 | 15.87 | 1.46 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $66.67 | $138,680 | $87,690 | $222,610 | 31,350 | 11.35 | 1.05 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $66.53 | $138,390 | $96,480 | $213,010 | 43,320 | 15.07 | 1.39 |
| 9 | District of Columbia profile | $65.81 | $136,880 | $85,140 | $197,000 | 6,120 | 8.72 | 0.80 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | $65.61 | $136,460 | $83,350 | $211,930 | 88,280 | 21.48 | 1.98 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $65.36 | $135,940 | $84,880 | $207,200 | 51,570 | 12.03 | 1.11 |
| 12 | North Carolina profile | $64.76 | $134,710 | $83,840 | $179,310 | 58,470 | 11.83 | 1.09 |
| 13 | Connecticut profile | $64.48 | $134,120 | $85,930 | $205,160 | 13,660 | 8.06 | 0.74 |
| 14 | Delaware profile | $63.95 | $133,020 | $96,620 | $174,390 | 3,380 | 6.98 | 0.64 |
| 15 | Texas profile | $63.54 | $132,150 | $82,600 | $183,680 | 163,880 | 11.65 | 1.07 |
| 16 | Illinois profile | $63.52 | $132,110 | $80,980 | $194,740 | 56,310 | 9.23 | 0.85 |
| 17 | Idaho profile | $63.26 | $131,590 | $71,030 | $178,980 | 5,750 | 6.71 | 0.62 |
| 18 | Georgia profile | $62.99 | $131,010 | $80,110 | $176,000 | 49,700 | 10.16 | 0.94 |
| 19 | Florida profile | $62.97 | $130,980 | $80,050 | $204,400 | 87,890 | 8.85 | 0.82 |
| 20 | Rhode Island profile | $62.78 | $130,590 | $83,540 | $168,630 | 5,070 | 10.12 | 0.93 |
| 21 | Minnesota profile | $62.52 | $130,050 | $79,900 | $169,810 | 35,890 | 12.17 | 1.12 |
| 22 | Arizona profile | $62.35 | $129,690 | $81,740 | $178,500 | 38,050 | 11.75 | 1.08 |
| 23 | South Carolina profile | $62.24 | $129,450 | $76,010 | $212,460 | 13,230 | 5.74 | 0.53 |
| 24 | Nevada profile | $61.93 | $128,810 | $73,990 | $194,470 | 4,520 | 2.91 | 0.27 |
| 25 | Utah profile | $61.93 | $128,810 | $77,810 | $177,970 | 31,940 | 18.40 | 1.70 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania profile | $60.84 | $126,550 | $77,750 | $178,080 | 55,920 | 9.22 | 0.85 |
| 27 | Missouri profile | $60.64 | $126,120 | $72,570 | $169,340 | 20,020 | 6.82 | 0.63 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $60.37 | $125,570 | $78,930 | $166,510 | 43,460 | 9.87 | 0.91 |
| 29 | Vermont profile | $60.23 | $125,280 | $82,480 | $209,420 | 1,740 | 5.72 | 0.53 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $59.86 | $124,520 | $77,110 | $184,710 | 3,960 | 4.54 | 0.42 |
| 31 | Hawaii profile | $59.64 | $124,040 | $64,690 | $238,930 | 1,600 | 2.55 | 0.23 |
| 32 | Maine profile | $59.19 | $123,120 | $82,930 | $179,990 | 2,790 | 4.35 | 0.40 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $58.97 | $122,660 | $77,710 | $168,630 | 21,730 | 7.39 | 0.68 |
| 34 | Alabama profile | $58.91 | $122,540 | $71,590 | $175,330 | 17,450 | 8.26 | 0.76 |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | $58.86 | $122,430 | $75,280 | $166,380 | 19,030 | 5.80 | 0.53 |
| 36 | Montana profile | $58.65 | $121,990 | $73,370 | $221,400 | 2,160 | 4.23 | 0.39 |
| 37 | West Virginia profile | $58.18 | $121,000 | $60,480 | $168,620 | 2,650 | 3.77 | 0.35 |
| 38 | Oklahoma profile | $56.78 | $118,100 | $75,190 | $169,700 | 6,880 | 4.03 | 0.37 |
| 39 | Wyoming profile | $55.37 | $115,170 | $72,950 | $156,620 | 1,510 | 5.37 | 0.49 |
| 40 | Iowa profile | $55.24 | $114,890 | $74,390 | $165,880 | 9,040 | 5.80 | 0.53 |
| 41 | Ohio profile | $54.85 | $114,090 | $77,790 | $168,400 | 44,790 | 8.07 | 0.74 |
| 42 | Kansas profile | $54.53 | $113,420 | $71,690 | $165,740 | 13,580 | 9.44 | 0.87 |
| 43 | Nebraska profile | $53.32 | $110,900 | $77,520 | $158,720 | 7,260 | 7.09 | 0.65 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $52.41 | $109,010 | $76,310 | $168,110 | 7,660 | 3.83 | 0.35 |
| 45 | Indiana profile | $50.92 | $105,920 | $74,850 | $164,650 | 14,130 | 4.42 | 0.41 |
| 46 | North Dakota profile | $50.77 | $105,600 | $62,900 | $158,060 | 1,450 | 3.38 | 0.31 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $50.23 | $104,490 | $60,570 | $162,380 | 6,050 | 4.64 | 0.43 |
| 48 | Louisiana profile | $49.42 | $102,800 | $66,350 | $151,780 | 4,080 | 2.11 | 0.19 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | $46.30 | $96,310 | $65,530 | $160,380 | 2,380 | 5.21 | 0.48 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $45.83 | $95,330 | $44,700 | $158,300 | 1,880 | 1.61 | 0.15 |
| – | Alaska profile | * | * | * | * | 530 | 1.64 | 0.15 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (15-1250), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-1252 Software Developers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-1252, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-1252.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.