Software developer pay varies substantially across the United States. Local demand for technical talent, the concentration of technology companies, industry specialization, competition for experienced workers, and regional living costs all influence what employers pay. Markets with strong artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductor, financial technology, aerospace, or cybersecurity industries frequently offer higher wages.
This ranking uses the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data available as of July 2026.
Publication Date: May 15, 2026
Data Period: May 2025
Occupation: Software Developers, Standard Occupational Classification 15-1252
Wage Measure: Annual mean wage
National Annual Mean Wage: $148,100
Wage Span: Annual wages at the 10th and 90th percentiles
The title uses “salaries” as the familiar term for annual pay, but the article reports BLS annual mean wages. The BLS occupation covers software developers rather than a separately defined “software engineer” category. Many positions advertised as software engineer roles fall within this broader occupational classification.
City names are used for readability, but every figure represents the corresponding metropolitan statistical area rather than the city proper.
Why Software Developer Pay Varies by City
Software developer wages reflect more than the number of technology companies operating in a region. An area dominated by cloud platforms, artificial intelligence laboratories, semiconductor designers, investment banks, or defense contractors may need more specialized technical workers than a market centered on general business applications.
Experience levels also affect metropolitan averages. Cities with large concentrations of senior developers, technical architects, infrastructure specialists, and employees working at major technology companies can report higher average wages even when entry-level offers are comparable with those in other markets.
Regional costs influence both employer pay and the practical value of that compensation. For context, the city profiles use 2024 regional price parities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. An index above 100 indicates that overall prices are higher than the national level. These measures cover consumption goods, services, and housing rents.
Average Software Developer Salaries Across 10 Major U.S. Cities
1. San Jose, California
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $221,710
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $138,420 to $289,150
Data Period: May 2025
San Jose leads the selected metropolitan areas with an annual mean wage 49.7% above the national average. The BLS estimates that the region employs approximately 87,350 software developers. Silicon Valley’s concentration of companies such as Nvidia, Apple, Google, Adobe, and Cisco creates intense competition for developers specializing in artificial intelligence, semiconductor systems, cloud infrastructure, enterprise software, and cybersecurity. The metropolitan area’s 2024 BEA price level was 10.4% above the national level, meaning its wage premium was considerably larger than its overall cost premium. Housing nevertheless remains a major expense. Stock awards and bonuses can also represent a substantial part of compensation at major technology companies, so total compensation may be much higher than the BLS wage figure.
2. San Francisco, California
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $193,430
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $128,090 to $273,400
Data Period: May 2025
Software developers in the San Francisco metropolitan area earned an average 30.6% more than the national figure. The BLS estimates that the region supports approximately 69,030 software developer positions. San Francisco’s strength comes from its dense collection of artificial intelligence companies, software-as-a-service providers, financial technology businesses, consumer platforms, and venture-backed startups. Major regional employers include Salesforce, Uber, and Airbnb alongside newer AI and enterprise-software companies. The metropolitan area had the highest 2024 price level among the markets examined, at 15.6% above the national level. That reduces the practical value of its wage premium, especially for renters. Equity can be a significant component of technology compensation, but stock awards are not captured as part of the reported BLS wage.
3. Seattle, Washington
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $174,920
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $99,190 to $257,960
Data Period: May 2025
Seattle combines high wages with one of the country’s largest software developer workforces. The BLS estimates that the metropolitan area has approximately 92,770 software developer jobs, more than either San Jose or San Francisco. Amazon and Microsoft anchor the regional technology market, supporting extensive demand in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, e-commerce, logistics technology, productivity software, and data infrastructure. Seattle’s annual mean wage was 18.1% above the national average. Its 2024 price level was also elevated, at 11.1% above the national level, although the wage premium still exceeded the broader cost premium. The wide percentile span reflects differences between junior positions, smaller employers, specialized roles, and senior jobs at major technology companies. Stock awards and bonuses can push total compensation substantially above the BLS wage.
4. New York City, New York
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $165,870
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $101,690 to $224,590
Data Period: May 2025
The New York metropolitan area employed approximately 121,000 software developers, the largest workforce among the 10 markets examined. Developers work across investment banking, securities trading, insurance, advertising, media, e-commerce, cybersecurity, financial technology, and major technology-company offices. This broad industry mix makes the region less dependent on conventional software businesses. New York’s annual mean wage was 12.0% above the national average, while its 2024 overall price level was 12.6% higher than the national level. On that broad measure, higher regional costs nearly offset the wage premium. Compensation still varies sharply by employer. Developers working for trading firms, banks, and large technology platforms may receive bonuses or stock awards that raise total compensation well above the reported wage, while smaller employers may offer considerably less.
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $162,440
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $102,950 to $214,100
Data Period: May 2025
Boston’s software labor market benefits from its universities, research institutions, healthcare systems, biotechnology companies, and established technology businesses. The metropolitan area employed approximately 42,310 software developers. Demand extends beyond conventional software into healthcare technology, biotechnology platforms, robotics, cybersecurity, cloud services, defense research, and enterprise applications. Boston’s annual mean wage was 9.7% above the national average. Its 2024 overall price level was 8.3% above the national benchmark, suggesting that the wage premium modestly exceeded the region’s broader cost premium. Housing in Boston and Cambridge can still consume a significant portion of earnings. Developers joining biotechnology startups or venture-backed software businesses may receive equity, while larger employers may offer cash bonuses and stock awards that are not fully represented by the BLS figure.
6. Los Angeles, California
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $161,900
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $98,270 to $223,150
Data Period: May 2025
Los Angeles employed an estimated 55,540 software developers and offered an annual mean wage 9.3% above the national average. Its technology market is unusually diverse, combining streaming and digital entertainment, video games, aerospace, defense, electric vehicles, e-commerce, advertising technology, and consumer applications. Companies such as SpaceX, Snap, and Riot Games demonstrate how software development intersects with industries beyond conventional enterprise technology. The region’s 2024 price level was 13.6% above the national level, meaning its broader cost premium exceeded its software developer wage premium. Housing and commuting expenses can also vary considerably across the metropolitan area. Senior developers in aerospace, gaming, and major digital platforms may earn bonuses or stock awards beyond the BLS wage, while smaller media and entertainment employers may pay closer to the lower percentiles.
7. Washington, D.C.
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $153,100
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $96,450 to $213,660
Data Period: May 2025
The Washington metropolitan area employed approximately 69,060 software developers, supported by federal agencies, defense contractors, consulting firms, cybersecurity companies, cloud providers, and corporate technology offices. Amazon’s operations in Northern Virginia and employers such as Capital One, Leidos, and Booz Allen Hamilton contribute to demand for cloud, cybersecurity, data, and government-technology expertise. Security clearances and experience with regulated or mission-critical systems can increase compensation for certain positions. The annual mean wage was 3.4% above the national figure, while the region’s 2024 price level was 8.9% higher than the national level. Consequently, the headline wage may not stretch as far as compensation in some less expensive markets. Equity is often less central at government contractors than at Silicon Valley companies, although bonuses and clearance-related premiums can still affect total pay.
8. Denver, Colorado
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $149,400
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $99,700 to $209,300
Data Period: May 2025
Denver’s annual mean wage was 0.9% above the national average, while the metropolitan area supported approximately 27,010 software developer jobs. Its employment base includes cloud software, telecommunications, cybersecurity, financial technology, aerospace, geospatial systems, and defense-related engineering. Palantir’s presence and the broader aerospace and communications clusters support demand for developers working with data platforms, secure systems, and large-scale infrastructure. Denver’s median wage of $137,610 was lower than its mean, indicating that higher-paid positions pulled the average upward. The region’s 2024 price level was 5.8% above the national benchmark, reducing the purchasing-power advantage of its wage. Equity and bonuses can increase total compensation at technology and aerospace employers, but the BLS estimate should not be interpreted as an all-in compensation figure.
9. Austin, Texas
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $143,630
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $96,110 to $209,890
Data Period: May 2025
Austin’s annual mean wage was 3.0% below the national average, but its comparatively moderate overall costs improve the practical value of that compensation. The metropolitan area employed approximately 31,960 software developers. Dell, Apple, AMD, Oracle, Tesla, and the region’s startup ecosystem support demand in semiconductor systems, cloud computing, enterprise software, artificial intelligence, automotive technology, and cybersecurity. Austin’s 2024 regional price level was 1.9% below the national level, making it the only selected market with an overall index below 100. Housing expenses can still vary widely across the fast-growing region, but Austin generally provides a lower-cost alternative to coastal technology centers. Developers at major technology companies may receive stock awards and bonuses that raise total compensation significantly above the reported BLS wage.
10. Chicago, Illinois
Average Annual Wage for Software Developers: $141,640
10th-to-90th-Percentile Wage Span: $83,820 to $203,410
Data Period: May 2025
Chicago employed approximately 40,370 software developers across finance, securities and commodities trading, insurance, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, consulting, and enterprise technology. The region’s banks, exchanges, trading firms, corporate headquarters, and major technology-company offices create opportunities for developers outside the conventional technology industry. Chicago’s annual mean wage was 4.4% below the national average. Its 2024 price level was 3.6% above the national benchmark, although it remained less expensive than San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, or Seattle on the BEA measure. Compensation varies markedly by employer. Financial trading firms and companies hiring senior platform developers may pay well above the reported average, while smaller businesses may offer wages closer to the lower percentiles. Performance bonuses and equity can also make total compensation higher than the BLS wage.
Methodology and Limitations
The metropolitan areas were selected because they have substantial software developer employment, recognizable technology or technology-intensive industry clusters, and publishable BLS wage estimates. They were selected before being ranked. This is therefore a comparison of 10 major software labor markets, not a definitive list of the 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas in the country.
Every ranking figure comes from the same May 2025 BLS OEWS metropolitan dataset and covers Software Developers, SOC 15-1252, across all industries. The BLS estimated national employment of 1,687,890 software developers and an annual mean wage of $148,100.
The BLS category is broader than individual employer titles. Positions advertised as software engineers may be included when their duties align with the software developer occupational definition. The estimates do not separately identify front-end developers, back-end developers, mobile developers, platform engineers, or other specializations.
According to the BLS technical notes, OEWS wages represent straight-time gross pay. They include base rates, guaranteed pay, cost-of-living allowances, hazardous-duty pay, and certain incentive payments. They exclude overtime, severance, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer-paid benefit costs, and tuition reimbursements.
The figures should therefore be described as wages, not pure base salaries or comprehensive total compensation. They do not capture stock-based compensation in the way that employee-reported databases such as Levels.fyi may present it.
The May 2025 estimates were constructed from six survey panels collected between November 2022 and May 2025, with earlier wage observations adjusted to the May 2025 reference period. The complete OEWS sample covered approximately 1.1 million establishments.
Salary estimates from Glassdoor, Indeed, Built In, Levels.fyi, and other databases may differ because they rely on employee submissions, job advertisements, modeled estimates, or employer-reported compensation. They may also define software engineering differently or combine base salary, bonuses, and equity awards.
The reported percentile spans are not employer minimums and maximums. They show the estimated annual wages of workers at the 10th and 90th percentiles in each metropolitan labor market.
Metropolitan averages can also conceal substantial differences in seniority, technical specialization, industry, employer size, and neighborhood-level living costs. The BEA regional price parities are broad 2024 price indexes and provide cost context rather than a precise adjustment to an individual developer’s 2025 purchasing power.
Where Software Developer Pay Goes Furthest
San Jose, San Francisco, and Seattle offered the highest annual mean wages among the selected markets. San Jose stood apart at $221,710, nearly $74,000 above the national mean. Its wage premium was also considerably larger than its overall price-level premium, although housing expenses and individual circumstances remain important.
Seattle combined high wages with extensive employment in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. Its software developer workforce exceeded 92,000, and its wage premium remained larger than its broader cost premium. Boston also recorded a wage premium that modestly exceeded its regional price premium.
Austin presented one of the clearest lower-cost alternatives. Its average wage was below the national figure, but its overall price level was also below the national benchmark. Chicago offered a large and diversified employment market, although its average wage ranked lowest among the metropolitan areas examined.
The highest headline wage does not necessarily provide the greatest purchasing power. Housing, taxes, commuting costs, benefits, job stability, bonuses, and equity awards can materially change the value of an employment offer and may be just as important as the reported annual wage.