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Software engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$135,980median pay per year, or $65.38 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $82,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $105,21025th percentile
  3. $135,980median
  4. $171,98075th percentile
  5. $214,670top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Software engineers, counted by BLS as Software Developers, earned a median wage of $135,980 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS expects jobs to rise 10.2% between 2025 and 2035, and it lists a bachelor's degree as the usual way in[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+10.2%[2]
Openings per year
95,300[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[3]

How much do software engineers make?

The median wage for software developers was $135,980 a year, or $65.38 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more than the median and half earned less[7]. The average (mean) wage was higher, at $148,100 a year and $71.20 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5].

Pay covers a wide range. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,460 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $214,670[4]. These percentiles are boundaries between groups of workers, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[7].

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[4][9] $82,460 $39.64
25th[4][9] $105,210 $50.58
Median[1] $135,980 $65.38
75th[4][9] $171,980 $82.68
90th[4][9] $214,670 $103.21

These wage numbers count people paid a wage or salary, full time or part time. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and what employers spend on benefits like health insurance[10].

The numbers on this page are for the BLS category Software Developers. People in it report job titles such as Software Development Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Application Developer and Software Architect[11].

Pay by state and city

Of the 49 states and DC with published data, California had the highest median wage, $174,410[12]. Washington ($166,540), New York ($166,180), Massachusetts ($165,210) and Oregon ($142,720) came next[12]. At the bottom of the list were South Dakota at $96,310 and Mississippi at $95,330[12].

California also had the most jobs, 284,390[13]. Texas was second with 163,880, followed by New York (113,510), Washington (107,030) and Virginia (88,280)[13].

Among metro areas with 100 or more jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median, $213,110[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ($186,640), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ($167,280), New York-Newark-Jersey City ($166,830) and Boston-Cambridge-Newton ($166,090) followed[14]. The New York metro had the most jobs, 121,000, ahead of Seattle with 92,770 and San Jose with 87,350[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$174,410284,390
Washington$166,540107,030
New York$166,180113,510
Massachusetts$165,21048,190
Oregon$142,72021,830
New Hampshire$139,72010,840
Maryland$138,68031,350
Colorado$138,39043,320
District of Columbia$136,8806,120
Virginia$136,46088,280
New Jersey$135,94051,570
North Carolina$134,71058,470
Connecticut$134,12013,660
Delaware$133,0203,380
Texas$132,150163,880
Illinois$132,11056,310
Idaho$131,5905,750
Georgia$131,01049,700
Florida$130,98087,890
Rhode Island$130,5905,070
Minnesota$130,05035,890
Arizona$129,69038,050
South Carolina$129,45013,230
Nevada$128,8104,520
Utah$128,81031,940
Pennsylvania$126,55055,920
Missouri$126,12020,020
Michigan$125,57043,460
Vermont$125,2801,740
New Mexico$124,5203,960
Hawaii$124,0401,600
Maine$123,1202,790
Wisconsin$122,66021,730
Alabama$122,54017,450
Tennessee$122,43019,030
Montana$121,9902,160
West Virginia$121,0002,650
Oklahoma$118,1006,880
Wyoming$115,1701,510
Iowa$114,8909,040
Ohio$114,09044,790
Kansas$113,42013,580
Nebraska$110,9007,260
Kentucky$109,0107,660
Indiana$105,92014,130
North Dakota$105,6001,450
Arkansas$104,4906,050
Louisiana$102,8004,080
South Dakota$96,3102,380
Mississippi$95,3301,880

How to become a software engineer

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical requirements[3]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers software developers together with quality assurance analysts and testers, so they describe that wider group[16].

1) Earn a bachelor's degree, usually in computer and information technology, engineering, mathematics or a similar subject[17]. 2) Build strong programming skills, which are usually gained in school, even though writing code is not the main part of a developer's job[18]. 3) Look for an internship, for example at a software company, to get real software experience while still in college[17]. 4) Consider a master's degree, since some employers prefer one for certain developer jobs[19][17]. 5) Keep learning, because developers need to stay current with new tools and programming languages over their whole career[18].

In an ONET survey of 22 workers, 85% said a bachelor's degree is required and 5% said an associate's degree[20]. ONET puts the job in Job Zone Four, where considerable preparation is needed[21].

BLS names the qualities that help in this work: analytical skills, communication, creativity, attention to detail, interpersonal skills and problem solving[22][23][24][25][26][27]. With experience, developers can advance into project management specialist roles or into jobs as computer and information systems managers, who oversee how software gets built[28].

What software engineers do

ONET describes the job as researching, designing and building computer and network software, starting from what users need[29]. Some developers also work with computer hardware engineers to fit hardware and software together, and some maintain databases[29]. Tasks ONET ranks as most important include[30]:

Where they work

Building software is usually a team effort. Developers, testers and quality assurance analysts work alongside others who help design and program the software[31]. Most people in this wider group work full time[32].

Few software developers work for themselves. In 2025, 1.5% were self-employed[33].

Job outlook

BLS expects employment of software developers to rise 10.2% between 2025 and 2035, much faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][34]. That is a gain of about 174,700 jobs, from about 1,717,800 to 1,892,600[2]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The 1,687,890 jobs in the May 2025 wage data do not[35].

About 95,300 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. That figure counts jobs that open when people retire or switch to other occupations, not only new positions[6]. Each year, on average, 1.4% of software developers leave the labor force and 2.9% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to high pay and strong growth. The median of $135,980 is far above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][5], and jobs are projected to grow 10.2% versus 3.5% overall[2][34]. The usual way in is a bachelor's degree with no required work experience[3], so it fits people ready to study computing or a related field. Pay depends a lot on where you work, from a $95,330 median in Mississippi to $174,410 in California[12]. The work is done in teams and calls for learning new tools throughout your career[18][31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a software engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for software developers was $65.38 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39.64 an hour and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $103.21[9].
What degree do you need to be a software engineer?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[3]. Common fields are computer and information technology, engineering and mathematics, and some employers prefer a master's degree for certain jobs[17].
Are software engineers in demand?
BLS expects employment to rise 10.2% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][34]. About 95,300 openings are projected each year on average[6].
What is the highest paying state for software engineers?
California, with a median wage of $174,410 in May 2025[12]. Washington ($166,540) and New York ($166,180) came next[12].
Which city pays software engineers the most?
Among metro areas with 100 or more jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median wage, $213,110[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Software Developers in the US was $135,980 per year and $65.38 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Software Developers is projected to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,717,800 to 1,892,600 jobs (a change of +174,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Software Developers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Software Developers: 10th percentile $82,460, 25th percentile $105,210, 75th percentile $171,980, 90th percentile $214,670. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 95,300 openings for Software Developers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Software Developers was $148,100 per year and $71.20 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Software Developers: 10th percentile $39.64, 25th percentile $50.58, 75th percentile $82.68, 90th percentile $103.21. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. O*NET 15-1252.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Application Developer, Application Integration Engineer, Developer, DevOps Engineer (Development Operations Engineer), Infrastructure Engineer, Software Architect, Software Developer, Software Development Engineer. O*NET OnLine
  12. Median annual wage for Software Developers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Software Developers jobs: California 284,390; Texas 163,880; New York 113,510; Washington 107,030; Virginia 88,280. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Software Developers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $213,110; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $186,640; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $167,280; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $166,830; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $166,090; Boulder, CO $164,560; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $163,270; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $162,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Software Developers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 121,000 (median $166,830); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 92,770 (median $167,280); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 87,350 (median $213,110); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 69,060 (median $154,930); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 69,030 (median $186,640); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 67,030 (median $133,290). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers" covers Software Developers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 15-1252.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 85%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 15-1252.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Software Developers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Software Developers. O*NET OnLine
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: 1.5% of Software Developers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,687,890 people were employed as Software Developers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Software Developers: 1.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.