How much does a software engineer make?
The median software engineer in the United States earns $133,080 per year, about $63.98 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all software engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 15-1252.
Software engineer salary range
Pay for software engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $79,850 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $211,450. The average (mean) wage of $144,570 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $79,850 | $38.39 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $103,050 | $49.55 | |
| Median (50th) | $133,080 | $63.98 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $169,000 | $81.25 | |
| 90th percentile | $211,450 | $101.66 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for software developers (SOC 15-1252), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Software engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Software engineers earn the most in California at $170,910 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $86,460. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $170,910 | 292,630 |
| Washington | $166,910 | 91,470 |
| New York | $161,260 | 104,130 |
| Massachusetts | $150,520 | 54,260 |
| Maryland | $137,890 | 31,940 |
| District of Columbia | $136,040 | 8,250 |
| Oregon | $135,260 | 21,100 |
| Delaware | $135,160 | 3,850 |
| Colorado | $134,540 | 48,980 |
| Virginia | $134,470 | 83,290 |
| New Hampshire | $132,420 | 8,010 |
| New Jersey | $132,400 | 57,120 |
| North Carolina | $131,000 | 57,590 |
| Connecticut | $130,870 | 16,490 |
| Vermont | $130,720 | N/A |
| Texas | $130,500 | 151,460 |
| Nevada | $129,030 | 4,640 |
| Georgia | $128,920 | 47,350 |
| Arizona | $128,690 | 35,650 |
| Rhode Island | $128,660 | 6,010 |
| Illinois | $127,770 | 54,490 |
| Utah | $127,390 | 29,160 |
| Florida | $126,550 | 82,610 |
| Minnesota | $124,540 | 39,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $123,740 | 47,350 |
| New Mexico | $120,820 | 4,810 |
| Hawaii | $119,880 | 1,940 |
| Alaska | $119,600 | 430 |
| Tennessee | $117,340 | 18,750 |
| Nebraska | $116,420 | 8,940 |
| Missouri | $114,550 | 17,060 |
| Maine | $113,800 | 2,740 |
| Alabama | $113,020 | 18,020 |
| Wyoming | $112,590 | 1,020 |
| Iowa | $109,850 | 9,840 |
| South Carolina | $108,690 | 12,230 |
| Idaho | $107,900 | 4,960 |
| Michigan | $107,820 | 41,490 |
| Ohio | $107,690 | 44,280 |
| Oklahoma | $107,420 | 7,150 |
| Kansas | $106,660 | 15,850 |
| Kentucky | $106,200 | 7,070 |
| Indiana | $103,570 | 12,690 |
| West Virginia | $103,550 | 2,280 |
| Wisconsin | $103,360 | 22,170 |
| Louisiana | $102,290 | 3,870 |
| Montana | $100,190 | 2,070 |
| North Dakota | $98,550 | 1,510 |
| Arkansas | $96,820 | 6,390 |
| South Dakota | $87,770 | 2,190 |
| Mississippi | $86,460 | 3,200 |
State median wages for software developers (SOC 15-1252), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for software engineers
The BLS projects employment of software engineers to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,717,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,892,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 95,300 openings a year for software engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a software engineer
The typical entry-level education for software engineers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a software engineer earns
Seniority, employer, location, and specialization matter most. Workers at large tech firms and in expensive metros like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York cluster near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (California, $170,910) and the lowest (Mississippi, $86,460) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 1,654,440 people work as software engineers in the United States. At $133,080 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Software engineer salary FAQ
How much does a software engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a software engineer is $63.98. The middle half of software engineers earn between $49.55 and $81.25 per hour.
What is the highest software engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of software engineers earn more than $211,450 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a software engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for a software engineer is $133,080. The average (mean) wage of $144,570 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a software engineer a well paid job?
At $133,080 a year, a software engineer earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 1,654,440 people work as software engineers in the United States.
Which state pays software engineers the most?
California has the highest median salary for software engineers at $170,910 a year. Washington ($166,910) and New York ($161,260) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a software engineer a good career?
Employment of software engineers is projected to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 95,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a software engineer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for software engineers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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