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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

15-1252 Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.


National estimates for Software Developers
Industry profile for Software Developers
Geographic profile for Software Developers

National estimates for Software Developers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Software Developers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
1,534,790 0.4 % $ 63.91 $ 132,930 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Software Developers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 34.27 $ 46.54 $ 61.18 $ 77.64 $ 95.24
Annual Wage (2) $ 71,280 $ 96,790 $ 127,260 $ 161,480 $ 198,100


Industry profile for Software Developers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Software Developers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Software Developers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Software Developers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 526,240 21.30 $ 58.30 $ 121,270
Software Publishers 162,130 26.43 $ 68.00 $ 141,440
Management of Companies and Enterprises 78,280 2.92 $ 60.44 $ 125,720
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services 67,690 14.90 $ 64.79 $ 134,750
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) 50,640 2.50 $ 64.54 $ 134,250

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Software Developers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Software Publishers 162,130 26.43 $ 68.00 $ 141,440
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 41,590 23.66 (8) (8)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 526,240 21.30 $ 58.30 $ 121,270
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services 67,690 14.90 $ 64.79 $ 134,750
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 20,850 13.23 $ 77.76 $ 161,730

Top paying industries for Software Developers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 13,260 5.70 $ 80.93 $ 168,330
Local Messengers and Local Delivery 320 0.18 $ 80.39 $ 167,200
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 20,850 13.23 $ 77.76 $ 161,730
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers 1,380 0.16 $ 75.91 $ 157,890
Other Support Activities for Transportation 140 0.39 $ 74.89 $ 155,760


Geographic profile for Software Developers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Software Developers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Software Developers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of software developers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Software Developers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 258,170 14.64 1.41 $ 87.77 $ 182,570
Texas 116,970 9.00 0.87 $ 56.46 $ 117,440
New York 92,040 10.10 0.97 $ 67.85 $ 141,130
Washington 91,200 26.78 2.58 $ 73.08 $ 152,010
Virginia 84,220 21.74 2.10 $ 63.87 $ 132,850


Map of location quotient of software developers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Software Developers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington 91,200 26.78 2.58 $ 73.08 $ 152,010
Virginia 84,220 21.74 2.10 $ 63.87 $ 132,850
Massachusetts 60,310 16.91 1.63 $ 64.30 $ 133,750
Colorado 40,930 14.80 1.43 $ 65.49 $ 136,230
California 258,170 14.64 1.41 $ 87.77 $ 182,570


Map of annual mean wages of software developers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Software Developers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 258,170 14.64 1.41 $ 87.77 $ 182,570
Washington 91,200 26.78 2.58 $ 73.08 $ 152,010
Rhode Island (8) (8) (8) $ 70.69 $ 147,030
New York 92,040 10.10 0.97 $ 67.85 $ 141,130
Alaska 390 1.27 0.12 $ 66.32 $ 137,940



Map of employment of software developers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Software Developers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 108,650 11.83 1.14 $ 68.67 $ 142,830
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 83,860 74.67 7.20 $ 112.76 $ 234,540
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 80,770 39.64 3.82 $ 74.85 $ 155,680
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 69,360 22.91 2.21 $ 67.23 $ 139,850
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 67,010 28.01 2.70 $ 87.32 $ 181,620
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,590 20.56 1.98 $ 65.16 $ 135,530
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 53,220 8.72 0.84 $ 71.83 $ 149,410
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 50,370 13.24 1.28 $ 57.94 $ 120,520
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 41,920 15.37 1.48 $ 58.96 $ 122,630
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 40,840 9.25 0.89 $ 59.54 $ 123,830


Map of location quotient of software developers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Software Developers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 83,860 74.67 7.20 $ 112.76 $ 234,540
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 80,770 39.64 3.82 $ 74.85 $ 155,680
Boulder, CO 6,590 34.34 3.31 $ 81.61 $ 169,750
Huntsville, AL 6,960 29.11 2.80 $ 57.76 $ 120,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 67,010 28.01 2.70 $ 87.32 $ 181,620
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 8,330 25.42 2.45 $ 63.77 $ 132,640
Raleigh, NC 15,520 23.08 2.22 $ 61.48 $ 127,870
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 69,360 22.91 2.21 $ 67.23 $ 139,850
Provo-Orem, UT 6,160 21.62 2.08 $ 55.97 $ 116,420
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,590 20.56 1.98 $ 65.16 $ 135,530


Map of annual mean wages of software developers by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Software Developers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 83,860 74.67 7.20 $ 112.76 $ 234,540
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 67,010 28.01 2.70 $ 87.32 $ 181,620
Boulder, CO 6,590 34.34 3.31 $ 81.61 $ 169,750
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 80,770 39.64 3.82 $ 74.85 $ 155,680
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 2,270 11.01 1.06 $ 74.61 $ 155,200
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 53,220 8.72 0.84 $ 71.83 $ 149,410
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 17,380 11.67 1.12 $ 70.47 $ 146,580
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 108,650 11.83 1.14 $ 68.67 $ 142,830
Santa Rosa, CA 630 3.10 0.30 $ 68.04 $ 141,530
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 14,230 10.99 1.06 $ 67.24 $ 139,870

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Software Developers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 950 2.47 0.24 $ 48.09 $ 100,020
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 800 5.35 0.52 $ 48.71 $ 101,330
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 770 5.33 0.51 (8) (8)
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area 700 3.65 0.35 $ 43.58 $ 90,640
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 700 7.02 0.68 $ 54.23 $ 112,800

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Software Developers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 690 14.06 1.35 $ 49.19 $ 102,310
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 700 7.02 0.68 $ 54.23 $ 112,800
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 800 5.35 0.52 $ 48.71 $ 101,330
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 770 5.33 0.51 (8) (8)
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 520 5.25 0.51 $ 59.38 $ 123,500

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Software Developers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 50 0.45 0.04 $ 66.55 $ 138,420
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area 370 3.20 0.31 $ 65.20 $ 135,610
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 330 2.66 0.26 $ 65.12 $ 135,450
Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area 250 3.46 0.33 $ 64.46 $ 134,070
Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area 150 1.10 0.11 $ 62.21 $ 129,410


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023