Software Engineer Salary for 2027
Key takeaways
- Software developers, the BLS occupation that includes software engineers, earned a median of $135,980 a year in May 2025. Half earned more and half earned less. The middle half fell between $105,210 and $171,980, so treat any single salary figure you see as one point in a wide range.
- Location moves pay a long way. California has the highest state median, $174,410, and 10 states sit above the national median. It stays on top after adjusting for prices, at $157,552, but the gap narrows, so a higher figure in an expensive state may not leave you as far ahead as it looks. Check the state table for your own state before comparing offers.
- Industry matters too. Among the 24 industries we checked, web search portals, libraries and archives pays developers the highest median, $213,520, while computer systems design and related services employs the most. Large employers and high payers are not always the same, so weigh both.
- BLS projects software developer jobs to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 95,300 openings a year. New positions account for only about 18% of those openings; the rest open as people retire or change occupations.
- BLS publishes no pay by years of experience or by degree for this occupation, so this page doesn’t either. The 10th and 90th percentiles, $82,460 and $214,670, show the spread; where a new graduate lands in it depends on the employer, the city and the role. Compare degree costs.
The national picture
Software Developers, all industries, BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- 10th percentile
- $82,460
- BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual pay
- $135,980
- BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 90th percentile
- $214,670
- BLS OEWS, May 2025
| Percentile | What it means | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | One in ten earn less | $39.64 | $82,460 |
| 25th | A quarter earn less | $50.58 | $105,210 |
| Median | Half earn more, half less | $65.38 | $135,980 |
| 75th | A quarter earn more | $82.68 | $171,980 |
| 90th | One in ten earn more | $103.21 | $214,670 |
The mean, $148,100, sits above the median because a smaller group at the top of the range pulls the average up. For a sense of what most people earn, the median and the middle half, $105,210 to $171,980, are the better guide.
Engineer or developer? Employers use the two titles for overlapping work, and BLS lists “software engineer” among the job titles it counts as software developers. A posting titled engineer and one titled developer can pay the same; the employer, the location and the scope of the role move pay far more than the word in the title.
Software engineer salary by employer type
National industry-specific medians for software developers, BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Computer systems design and related services employs the most software developers among the industries here, 515,410, at a median of $132,050. That is 30.5% of all software developers. The highest median belongs to web search portals, libraries and archives, $213,520, and the lowest of these to insurance carriers and related activities, $130,720.
- Computer systems design and related services 515,410 employed, 30.5% of the occupation $132,050
- Software publishers 173,080 employed, 10.3% of the occupation $164,550
- Management of companies and enterprises 103,450 employed, 6.1% of the occupation $135,680
- Computing infrastructure providers, data processing and web hosting 77,260 employed, 4.6% of the occupation $156,950
- Banks and other credit intermediation 67,350 employed, 4% of the occupation $136,930
- Insurance carriers and related activities 63,740 employed, 3.8% of the occupation $130,720
- Management, scientific and technical consulting services 55,330 employed, 3.3% of the occupation $133,870
- Scientific research and development services 50,270 employed, 3% of the occupation $158,390
- Architectural, engineering and related services 43,470 employed, 2.6% of the occupation $131,520
- Web search portals, libraries and archives 43,300 employed, 2.6% of the occupation $213,520
Software engineer salary by state
Median annual pay, employment and location quotient in every state BLS publishes, BLS OEWS, May 2025.
California pays the highest state median, $174,410, 28% above the national figure, and Mississippi the lowest, $95,330. California employs the most software developers, 284,390. Search for your state, or sort by any column.
| vs national median | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $174,410+28% | $157,552 | 284,390 | 1.44 | |
| Washington | $166,540+22% | $155,645 | 107,030 | 2.78 | |
| New York | $166,180+22% | $154,013 | 113,510 | 1.08 | |
| Massachusetts | $165,210+21% | $156,153 | 48,190 | 1.22 | |
| Oregon | $142,720+5% | $138,027 | 21,830 | 1.02 | |
| New Hampshire | $139,720+3% | $134,088 | 10,840 | 1.46 | |
| Maryland | $138,680+2% | $132,076 | 31,350 | 1.05 | |
| Colorado | $138,390+2% | $134,229 | 43,320 | 1.39 | |
| District of Columbia | $136,880+1% | $124,550 | 6,120 | 0.80 | |
| Virginia | $136,4600% | $134,975 | 88,280 | 1.98 | |
| New Jersey | $135,9400% | $124,945 | 51,570 | 1.11 | |
| North Carolina | $134,710−1% | $142,853 | 58,470 | 1.09 | |
| Connecticut | $134,120−1% | $129,459 | 13,660 | 0.74 | |
| Delaware | $133,020−2% | $133,287 | 3,380 | 0.64 | |
| Texas | $132,150−3% | $136,097 | 163,880 | 1.07 | |
| Illinois | $132,110−3% | $132,110 | 56,310 | 0.85 | |
| Idaho | $131,590−3% | $137,791 | 5,750 | 0.62 | |
| Georgia | $131,010−4% | $136,044 | 49,700 | 0.94 | |
| Florida | $130,980−4% | $126,673 | 87,890 | 0.82 | |
| Rhode Island | $130,590−4% | $127,654 | 5,070 | 0.93 | |
| Minnesota | $130,050−4% | $131,897 | 35,890 | 1.12 | |
| Arizona | $129,690−5% | $128,788 | 38,050 | 1.08 | |
| South Carolina | $129,450−5% | $138,154 | 13,230 | 0.53 | |
| Nevada | $128,810−5% | $128,810 | 4,520 | 0.27 | |
| Utah | $128,810−5% | $130,243 | 31,940 | 1.70 | |
| Pennsylvania | $126,550−7% | $129,662 | 55,920 | 0.85 | |
| Missouri | $126,120−7% | $138,899 | 20,020 | 0.63 | |
| Michigan | $125,570−8% | $130,530 | 43,460 | 0.91 | |
| Vermont | $125,280−8% | $127,837 | 1,740 | 0.53 | |
| New Mexico | $124,520−8% | $135,054 | 3,960 | 0.42 | |
| Hawaii | $124,040−9% | $112,764 | 1,600 | 0.23 | |
| Maine | $123,120−9% | $126,797 | 2,790 | 0.40 | |
| Wisconsin | $122,660−10% | $130,351 | 21,730 | 0.68 | |
| Alabama | $122,540−10% | $137,995 | 17,450 | 0.76 | |
| Tennessee | $122,430−10% | $133,221 | 19,030 | 0.53 | |
| Montana | $121,990−10% | $128,953 | 2,160 | 0.39 | |
| West Virginia | $121,000−11% | $135,196 | 2,650 | 0.35 | |
| Oklahoma | $118,100−13% | $134,510 | 6,880 | 0.37 | |
| Wyoming | $115,170−15% | $124,239 | 1,510 | 0.49 | |
| Iowa | $114,890−16% | $130,854 | 9,040 | 0.53 | |
| Ohio | $114,090−16% | $122,942 | 44,790 | 0.74 | |
| Kansas | $113,420−17% | $125,882 | 13,580 | 0.87 | |
| Nebraska | $110,900−18% | $123,085 | 7,260 | 0.65 | |
| Kentucky | $109,010−20% | $120,854 | 7,660 | 0.35 | |
| Indiana | $105,920−22% | $113,526 | 14,130 | 0.41 | |
| North Dakota | $105,600−22% | $118,652 | 1,450 | 0.31 | |
| Arkansas | $104,490−23% | $120,242 | 6,050 | 0.43 | |
| Alaska | $104,030Anchorage area−23% | – | 530 | 0.15 | |
| Louisiana | $102,800−24% | $116,553 | 4,080 | 0.19 | |
| South Dakota | $96,310−29% | $108,702 | 2,380 | 0.48 | |
| Mississippi | $95,330−30% | $109,575 | 1,880 | 0.15 |
No state matches.
Alaska: BLS released no statewide median for this occupation, so the row shows the Anchorage metro area’s median from the same release.
Software Developers, BLS OEWS, May 2025. Location quotient: the state’s share of employment in this job divided by the national share; above 1.00 means the job is more concentrated there than nationally. – means no published figure.
A higher median does not always mean more money left over, because prices differ between states. The price-adjusted column divides each state’s median by its all-items Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024, US = 100), which puts every state’s median in national-average prices. Adjusted that way, California comes out highest, at $157,552.
Top-paying metro areas
Among the 50 largest metro areas this site covers with a published median, BLS OEWS metro data, May 2025.
Metro pay spreads wider than state pay. San Jose leads at $213,110, 57% above the national median. The biggest job markets are not always the best paid: New York employs the most software developers of any metro here, 121,000, at a median of $166,830.
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 87,350 employed $213,110
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 69,030 employed $186,640
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 92,770 employed $167,280
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 121,000 employed $166,830
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 42,310 employed $166,090
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 20,610 employed $163,270
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 55,540 employed $160,920
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 18,260 employed $156,000
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 69,060 employed $154,930
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 7,460 employed $139,640
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 16,850 employed $138,900
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 27,010 employed $137,610
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 20,820 employed $135,920
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 40,370 employed $134,380
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 31,960 employed $134,120
The largest job markets
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median $166,830 121,000
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA median $167,280 92,770
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA median $213,110 87,350
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV median $154,930 69,060
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA median $186,640 69,030
What moves your pay
Each lever is the gap between two published medians, BLS OEWS, May 2025, ranked by size. Places run lowest to highest.
BLS does not publish pay by years of experience or by degree for software developers, so this ranking uses the gaps it does publish: between places, between employers and between occupations. Each is a gap between two medians, not a raise anyone is promised.
- L1 +$106,240
Which metro you work in
Among the 50 metro areas this site covers with a published median, Indianapolis metro $106,870 to San Jose metro $213,110
- L2 +$82,800
Which industry employs you
Among the 10 largest employing industries, Insurance carriers and related activities $130,720 to Web search portals, libraries and archives $213,520
- L3 +$79,080
Which state you work in
Among the 50 states (District of Columbia included) with a published median, Mississippi $95,330 to California $174,410
- L4 +$39,160
Moving into management
National medians, Software Developers $135,980 to Computer and Information Systems Managers $175,140
- L5 +$4,320
Moving into a related occupation
National medians, Software Developers $135,980 to Computer and Information Research Scientists $140,300
How to raise your pay
What the figures above suggest, in order of how much they move the numbers.
- Know your market before you negotiate. The gap between the highest and lowest state medians is $79,080. Look up your own state and metro in the tables above, and compare an offer with the local median rather than the national one.
- Look beyond tech companies. Among the industries we checked, the highest median, $213,520, is in web search portals, libraries and archives. Software developers also work in insurance, finance and research, and the industry chart above shows several of those paying at or above the national median.
- Move up the range, not just the title. The 75th percentile is $171,980 and the 90th is $214,670. To move toward them, take on more scope: own a system, lead a project, mentor others, and ask what the next level pays where you work.
- Weigh the degree against its cost. If you are choosing a degree, its price varies widely. Compare tuition, graduation rates and ABET status in our bachelor’s ranking and, if you already have a degree in another field, the master’s ranking.
- Consider a related role. Computer and information research scientists have a median of $140,300. The comparison above shows which neighboring roles pay more and which are growing faster.
How software engineer pay compares
National medians for related BLS occupations, BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Among closely related computer occupations, computer and information research scientists have the highest median, $140,300, and web developers the lowest, $92,650. Software developers sit at $135,980, the second-highest of the 9.
- Computer and Information Research Scientists 21.8% projected change, 2025-35 $140,300
- Software Developers 10.2% projected change, 2025-35 $135,980
- Information Security Analysts 21% projected change, 2025-35 $129,180
- Data Scientists 34.6% projected change, 2025-35 $120,230
- Computer Systems Analysts 7.9% projected change, 2025-35 $105,850
- Database Administrators -0.1% projected change, 2025-35 $104,620
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers 5.7% projected change, 2025-35 $104,300
- Computer Programmers -7.3% projected change, 2025-35 $100,390
- Web Developers 3.8% projected change, 2025-35 $92,650
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.
BLS projects software developers employment to rise from 1,717,800 in 2025 to 1,892,600 in 2035, a gain of 174,700 jobs. Growth is only part of the story: new jobs average about 17,470 a year, about 18% of the 95,300 openings a year; the rest open when people retire, change occupations or leave the workforce.
Among the related occupations above, data scientists have the fastest projected growth, 34.6%. A projection is a model of the next decade, not a promise, and BLS revises it every year.
Keep reading
- Best Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Bachelor’s programs scored on completion, net price, ABET status and size.
- Software Engineering Master’s Programs Master’s programs scored on tuition, size, research activity and ABET status.
- ABET-Accredited Software Engineering Programs Every program on ABET’s accredited list, in score order.
- Software Engineer Career Guide What the job involves and how people get there.
Frequently asked questions
How much do software engineers make?
Software developers, the BLS occupation that includes software engineers, earned a median of $135,980 a year in May 2025, or $65.38 an hour. The 10th percentile was $82,460 and the 90th was $214,670.
Is there a difference between software engineer and software developer pay?
BLS does not separate them. Software engineers are counted in the software developers occupation, so every federal pay figure for one is the figure for both. Job titles differ by employer; the national median for the combined group is $135,980.
What is the hourly pay for a software engineer?
The national median was $65.38 an hour in May 2025. The 10th percentile was $39.64 and the 90th was $103.21, from the BLS hourly percentile series for software developers.
Which state pays software engineers the most?
California, with a median of $174,410 in May 2025, 28% above the national median. Adjusted for prices with the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Regional Price Parities, California comes out highest, at $157,552. California employs the most, 284,390.
Which industries pay software engineers the most?
Among the 24 industries we checked in BLS data, web search portals, libraries and archives has the highest median for software developers, $213,520. Computer systems design and related services employs the most, 515,410, at a median of $132,050.
What do entry-level software engineers make?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. Its 10th and 25th percentiles for software developers, $82,460 and $105,210, show the lower part of the range; it is a reasonable inference, not a published figure, that many first jobs fall in that part of the range.
Is software engineering a growing field?
BLS projects software developer employment to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 95,300 openings a year.
How does software engineering pay compare with QA and data science?
In May 2025, software quality assurance analysts and testers had a median of $104,300 and data scientists $120,230, against $135,980 for software developers. Data scientist jobs are projected to grow 34.6% over 2025 to 2035.
References
Every figure on this page comes from one of these, read by the site’s data scripts and computed at build time, never typed in.
- 1 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: national and state Software developers: employment, annual median and 10th to 90th percentiles, national and by state. The national row is cross-checked against the BLS API. Read .
- 2 BLS OEWS May 2025, via api.bls.gov: hourly, location quotient and industry series Hourly percentiles, location quotient by state, and national industry-specific employment and medians for software developers (24 industries checked).
- 3 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, metropolitan areas, May 2025 Metro employment and median for software developers in the metro areas this site covers.
- 4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, metropolitan areas, May 2025, via api.bls.gov Alaska: the Anchorage metro area median, shown where BLS released no statewide median. Read .
- 5 BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 Projected employment change and annual openings, 2025 to 2035, for software developers and the related occupations compared here.
- 6 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by State (SARPP), 2024 All-items Regional Price Parity by state (US = 100), used for the price-adjusted column in the state table.