Computer Programmers
SOC 15-1251 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Computer Programmers is $68,263, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $81,484, and an estimated 265,597 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +11.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -5.1% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 6% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Computer Programmers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $99,700 | $99,700 | 120,370 |
| 2022 | $97,800 | $101,826 | 132,740 |
| 2021 | $93,000 | $104,577 | 152,610 |
| 2020 | $89,190 | $105,005 | 178,140 |
Nominal change
+11.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-5.1%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-6%
Declining
Employment 2024
121,200
Projected 2034
113,900
Annual Openings
5,500
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Computer Programmers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $68,263. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $162,440 | +138% | 3,460 |
| Tennessee | $118,080 | +73% | 1,410 |
| California | $114,780 | +68.1% | 20,680 |
| Massachusetts | $112,820 | +65.3% | 4,120 |
| Oregon | $112,270 | +64.5% | 1,800 |
| New Jersey | $108,760 | +59.3% | 5,460 |
| Oklahoma | $107,990 | +58.2% | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $103,380 | +51.4% | 2,980 |
| Connecticut | $102,560 | +50.2% | 1,850 |
| New York | $102,370 | +50% | 8,430 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$37,544
25th Pct
$51,197
Median
$68,263
75th Pct
$88,741
90th Pct
$112,633
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infosys BPO Limited | NY | 1,954 | $166,652 |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions | NJ | 1,592 | $95,449 |
| Apple Inc | CA | 1,588 | $170,505 |
| Meta Platforms Inc | CA | 1,453 | $122,163 |
| Ernst and Young LLP | NY | 1,268 | $177,108 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | NJ | 1,103 | $141,116 |
| Salesforce Inc | CA | 1,102 | $189,789 |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | NY | 1,028 | $102,506 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | NY | 675 | $124,099 |
| KPMG LLP | NY | 612 | $187,741 |
| Amazon | WA | 488 | $184,124 |
| Microsoft Corporation | WA | 243 | $192,661 |
| WIPRO LIMITED | TX | 84 | $76,731 |
| TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED | TX | 71 | $92,924 |
| Mphasis Corporation | TX | 60 | $103,600 |
| HCL America, Inc. | TX | 47 | $106,950 |
| CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | IL | 43 | $95,000 |
| HTC GLOBAL SERVICES INC. | IL | 43 | $87,691 |
| SATIN SOLUTIONS LLC | NJ | 39 | $97,000 |
| Mphasis Corporation | NJ | 33 | $130,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Computer & Mathematical
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
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