Software Developer Salary
Overall Score 8.3 / 10
- #1 in 100 Best Jobs
- #1 in Best STEM Jobs
- #1 in Best Technology Jobs
How Much Does a Software Developer Make?
Software Developers made a median salary of $101,790 in 2017. The best-paid 25 percent made $128,960 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $77,710.
Salary Outlook
What Is the Outlook for Software Developers?
The software developer field is growing in both salary and job volume. The BLS projects the software development field will grow by about 31 percent by 2026, with 255,400 jobs added by that time. This is compared with an estimated 13 percent growth for those in computer occupations.
Find a Job
Best-Paying Cities for Software Developers
The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the software developer profession are San Francisco, Seattle, San Jose, Silver Spring, and Oakland.
San Francisco, California
$147,590
Seattle, Washington
$133,810
San Jose, California
$132,170
Silver Spring, Maryland
$126,260
Oakland, California
$125,120
The 5 Best-Paying Cities for Software Developers

Best-Paying States for Software Developers
The states and districts that pay Software Developers the highest mean salary are Washington ($131,430), California ($126,470), District of Columbia ($115,900), New York ($115,530), and Maryland ($112,190).
Washington
$131,430
California
$126,470
District of Columbia
$115,900
New York
$115,530
Maryland
$112,190
What Is the Software Developer Salary by Place of Employment?
In addition to region and education, factors such as specialty, industry and employer have an effect on a software developer's salary. The places of employment with the highest average annual salaries for software developers are audio and video equipment manufacturing ($126,590), securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage ($124,190), securities and commodity exchanges ($123,390), computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing ($122,380), and aerospace product and parts manufacturing ($121,560).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a software developer’s salary per month?
A: A software developer earned approximately $8,893 a month in 2017.
Q: What is a software developer’s salary in California?
A: On average, a software developer made $126,470 in California in 2017.
A: A software developer earned approximately $8,893 a month in 2017.
Q: What is a software developer’s salary in California?
A: On average, a software developer made $126,470 in California in 2017.
Average Software Developer Pay vs. Other Best Jobs
Software Developers earned an average salary of $106,710 in 2017. Comparable jobs earned the following average salary in 2017: IT Managers made $149,730, Computer Network Architects made $107,870, Computer Systems Analysts made $92,740, and Computer Programmers made $87,530.
IT Manager
Computer Network Architect
Software Developer
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Programmer
Jobs Related to Software Developer
Computer Systems Analyst – Average Salary $92,740
A computer systems analyst constructs computer systems and processes.
Computer Programmer – Average Salary $87,530
A computer programmer writes code that instructs everyday software programs to run.
IT Manager – Average Salary $149,730
An IT manager coordinates technology matters for an organization.
Computer Network Architect – Average Salary $107,870
A computer network architect designs and maintains data communication networks.
A computer systems analyst constructs computer systems and processes.
Computer Programmer – Average Salary $87,530
A computer programmer writes code that instructs everyday software programs to run.
IT Manager – Average Salary $149,730
An IT manager coordinates technology matters for an organization.
Computer Network Architect – Average Salary $107,870
A computer network architect designs and maintains data communication networks.