Software Engineer Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Research, design, and develop computer software systems, backend platforms, and cloud infrastructure.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New Hampshire NH | $162,090 | $77.93/hr | $141,439 | 4,370 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | 114.6 |
| #2 | District of Columbia DC | $154,930 | $74.49/hr | $97,501 | 69,060 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
| #3 | California CA | $144,791 | $69.61/hr | $98,030 | 253,480 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 147.7 |
| #4 | Massachusetts MA | $142,666 | $68.59/hr | $109,072 | 45,510 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 130.8 |
| #5 | Connecticut CT | $136,656 | $65.70/hr | $108,199 | 12,080 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 126.3 |
| #6 | Colorado CO | $135,241 | $65.02/hr | $115,393 | 41,690 | Boulder, CO | 117.2 |
| #7 | Rhode Island RI | $130,690 | $62.83/hr | $117,526 | 5,020 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 111.2 |
| #8 | Oregon OR | $130,648 | $62.81/hr | $108,692 | 21,560 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 120.2 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
CS degree or equivalent bootcamp/portfolio, foundational data structures
Independent feature delivery, system design, CI/CD and DB optimization
Architectural leadership, cross-team design reviews, mentorship
Company-wide tech strategy, distributed system fault tolerance, high scale
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Software Engineer: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Technology Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Technology occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Software Engineer. Official 2026 economic data for Software Engineer compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Software Engineer range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Software Engineer: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Software Engineer is $135,980 per year ($65.38/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 377 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $91,840 in Rapid City, SD to $213,110 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Software Engineer
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $213,110 | +56.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,640 | +37.3% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,280 | +23.0% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | +22.7% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $166,090 | +22.1% |
| Boulder, CO | $164,560 | +21.0% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $163,270 | +20.1% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $162,650 | +19.6% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $162,090 | +19.2% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,920 | +18.3% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $159,430 | +17.2% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $158,290 | +16.4% |