Software Developers
SOC 15-1252 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Software Developers is $166,616, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $177,681, and an estimated 282,011 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2021 and 2023, pay rose +9.6% while consumer prices rose 12.4% — a real change of -2.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Software Developers 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 | $132,270 | $132,270 | 1,656,880 |
| 2022 | $127,260 | $132,499 | 1,534,790 |
| 2021 | $120,730 | $135,759 | 1,364,180 |
Nominal change
+9.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+12.4%
Real change
-2.6%
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
+15.8%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
1,693,800
Projected 2034
1,961,400
Annual Openings
115,200
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Software Developers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $166,616. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $168,660 | +1.2% | 304,390 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $164,120 | -1.5% | 40 |
| Washington | $162,390 | -2.5% | 89,110 |
| Virgin Islands | $159,120 | -4.5% | 30 |
| Virgin Islands | $159,120 | -4.5% | 30 |
| Alaska | $151,400 | -9.1% | 280 |
| Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $147,910 | -11.2% | 170 |
| New York | $145,470 | -12.7% | 105,460 |
| District of Columbia | $140,360 | -15.8% | 8,470 |
| Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $139,980 | -16% | — |
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
$91,638
25th Pct
$124,962
Median
$166,616
75th Pct
$216,600
90th Pct
$274,916
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | NY | 1,950 | $112,576 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | NJ | 1,928 | $144,684 |
| Infosys BPO Limited | NY | 1,634 | $158,764 |
| Amazon | WA | 1,332 | $158,606 |
| Wipro Limited | NJ | 959 | $144,206 |
| Microsoft Corporation | WA | 871 | $164,873 |
| Ernst and Young LLP | NY | 794 | $167,876 |
| Google LLC | CA | 678 | $186,000 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | WA | 449 | $172,500 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | CA | 318 | $187,000 |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions | NJ | 280 | $199,108 |
| Apple Inc. | CA | 263 | $215,182 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | CA | 206 | $197,922 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | AR | 183 | $114,821 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | CA | 161 | $180,786 |
| Fidelity Technology Group, LLC | NC | 149 | $143,448 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | WA | 138 | $198,940 |
| Google LLC | WA | 117 | $167,890 |
| Microsoft Corporation | CA | 114 | $179,445 |
| LINKEDIN CORPORATION | CA | 104 | $211,136 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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