Software developers earn a national mean of about $148,100 per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for May 2025. However, that average hides a huge gap between cities. For example, developers in the San Jose area average $221,710, while developers in the Indianapolis area average $114,120. This software developer salary by city guide compares 48 major U.S. metro areas. In addition, it shows where the jobs are and how to read the numbers.
Quick Answer: Software Developer Salary in the U.S.
The table below summarizes national pay. Notably, the mean is higher than the median because a few very high-paying markets pull the average up. As a result, 34 of the 48 large metros in this guide fall below the national mean, even though most of them pay well.
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mean (average) annual wage | about $148,100 |
| Median annual wage | $135,980 |
| Median hourly wage | $65.38 |
| Software developers employed | about 1.69 million |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 15-1252.
Highest-Paying Cities for Software Developers
San Jose leads by a wide margin. San Francisco and Seattle follow, and New York ranks fifth. To keep the ranking reliable, the table only includes metro areas with at least 5,000 software developers. Otherwise, tiny markets would distort the list. For instance, Oxnard, California ranks fourth overall on mean pay, but it has only 2,170 developers.
| Rank | Metro area | Mean annual wage | Median annual wage | Developers employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $221,710 | $213,110 | 87,350 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $193,430 | $186,640 | 69,030 |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $174,920 | $167,280 | 92,770 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $166,480 | $164,560 | 7,130 |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $165,870 | $166,830 | 121,000 |
| 6 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,300 | $163,270 | 20,610 |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $162,440 | $166,090 | 42,310 |
| 8 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,900 | $160,920 | 55,540 |
| 9 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $154,200 | $156,000 | 18,260 |
| 10 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $153,910 | $138,900 | 16,850 |
| 11 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $153,100 | $154,930 | 69,060 |
| 12 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $152,930 | $139,640 | 7,460 |
| 13 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $149,400 | $137,610 | 27,010 |
| 14 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $148,390 | $135,620 | 9,790 |
| 15 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $144,730 | $132,650 | 18,900 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro areas with at least 5,000 software developers, ranked by mean annual wage.
California is strongly represented. In fact, five of the top 12 metros are in California. Meanwhile, several East Coast and Mountain West metros also pay very well.
Cities With the Most Software Developer Jobs
High pay is only part of the story. Because job openings depend on the size of the local market, the number of developers matters too. Here are the 20 largest software developer markets in the country.
Biggest Markets (Ranks 1–10)
| Rank | Metro area | Developers employed | Mean annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 121,000 | $165,870 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 92,770 | $174,920 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 87,350 | $221,710 |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 69,060 | $153,100 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 69,030 | $193,430 |
| 6 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 67,030 | $138,810 |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 55,540 | $161,900 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 42,310 | $162,440 |
| 9 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 40,370 | $141,640 |
| 10 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 36,300 | $135,870 |
Next 10 Largest Markets (Ranks 11–20)
| Rank | Metro area | Developers employed | Mean annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 31,960 | $143,630 |
| 12 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 29,380 | $135,520 |
| 13 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28,480 | $136,050 |
| 14 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 27,410 | $130,410 |
| 15 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 27,010 | $149,400 |
| 16 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 24,870 | $128,200 |
| 17 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 22,940 | $133,130 |
| 18 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 20,820 | $139,030 |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 20,610 | $163,300 |
| 20 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 19,040 | $131,400 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Ranked by number of software developers employed.
New York has the most developers, with 121,000. Seattle and San Jose come next. Notably, Dallas-Fort Worth ranks sixth, ahead of Los Angeles and Boston.
Software Developer Salary in Popular Tech Hubs
Many readers want to compare specific cities. Therefore, the table below covers 12 popular hubs, ranked by mean annual wage.
| Metro area | Mean annual wage | Median annual wage | Developers employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $174,920 | $167,280 | 92,770 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $149,400 | $137,610 | 27,010 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $144,730 | $132,650 | 18,900 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $143,630 | $134,120 | 31,960 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $141,640 | $134,380 | 40,370 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $139,030 | $135,920 | 20,820 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $138,810 | $133,290 | 67,030 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $135,870 | $132,960 | 36,300 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $135,520 | $131,750 | 29,380 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $133,630 | $130,450 | 14,230 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | $124,600 | $126,610 | 7,750 |
| Columbus, OH | $123,630 | $122,340 | 9,880 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Overall, Seattle stands far above the rest of this group. Denver, Miami and Austin form a second tier. Nashville and Columbus pay the least here, yet both still average more than $120,000.
Where Software Developers Are Most Concentrated
Meanwhile, some cities employ far more developers relative to their size. BLS measures this as the number of developers per 1,000 jobs in the area. San Jose has about 77 developers per 1,000 jobs, which is the highest rate among the metros in this guide. Seattle follows with about 44. Boulder (37), San Francisco (29), Durham-Chapel Hill (28) and Huntsville (26) complete the top six.
A high concentration usually means many employers compete for the same workers. As a result, wages tend to be higher there too.
Why Software Developer Pay Varies So Much by City
Several factors explain these gaps. First, local employers matter. Second, the cost of living shapes what companies must offer.
- Employer mix. Large technology companies, in particular, often pay more than other industries.
- Cost of living. Because housing is expensive in the Bay Area, Seattle and New York, employers must pay more to hire.
- Competition for talent. Similarly, cities with many tech employers bid against each other for the same engineers.
- Specialization. In addition, cities focused on defense, government or research, such as Washington and Huntsville, hire for different skills.
- Company size. Finally, startups and small firms often pay less base salary than established employers.
Cost of Living and Remote Work
However, a higher salary does not always mean more spending power. A developer in San Jose may keep less after housing than a developer in a cheaper metro. Therefore, compare rent or mortgage costs before you compare paychecks.
Remote work adds another twist. Some employers adjust pay by location, while others pay one national rate. As a result, ask each employer how it sets pay for remote roles.
Job Outlook for Software Developers
BLS projects employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the average for all occupations. In addition, about 106,100 openings are expected each year. Many of those openings come from workers who retire or move to other occupations.
How to Use This Software Developer Salary Data
Follow these steps to get the most from the numbers above.
- Start with the median. The median shows what a typical developer earns better than the mean.
- Compare nearby metros. Pay can differ a lot between neighboring areas, such as Boulder and Denver.
- Factor in housing and taxes. These costs matter as much as the salary.
- Check the market size. A larger market usually means more openings and more employers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Developer Salaries
Which city pays software developers the most?
San Jose pays the most. Developers there average $221,710 per year, or $106.59 per hour, in the May 2025 BLS data.
Which city has the most software developer jobs?
New York has the most, with about 121,000 developers. Seattle has about 92,770, and San Jose has about 87,350.
What is the average software developer salary in the U.S.?
The national mean is about $148,100 per year. The median, however, is $135,980.
Do these figures include stock and bonuses?
Not fully. BLS wages do not capture benefits or overtime. Equity awards, which can be large at some technology companies, are also not designed to be included.
Are these salaries for entry-level developers?
No, they cover all software developers. As a result, entry-level pay is typically lower than the averages shown here.
Methodology and Sources
Wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, May 2025 reference period. BLS reports pay for metropolitan areas, not for city limits. For example, “Austin” here means the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area. Please note that figures are estimates and exclude self-employed workers. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute career or financial advice.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers · BLS OEWS Tables
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