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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
1,364,180 0.7 % $ 58.17 $ 120,990 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Software Developers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 30.99 $ 43.69 $ 58.05 $ 73.06 $ 81.04
Annual Wage (2) $ 64,470 $ 90,870 $ 120,730 $ 151,960 $ 168,570


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 455,050 20.08 $ 55.56 $ 115,550
Software Publishers 133,340 25.34 $ 62.99 $ 131,020
Management of Companies and Enterprises 70,070 2.76 $ 56.92 $ 118,380
Other Information Services 58,420 16.10 $ 75.39 $ 156,800
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 52,690 13.91 $ 59.63 $ 124,040

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 133,340 25.34 $ 62.99 $ 131,020
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 455,050 20.08 $ 55.56 $ 115,550
Other Information Services 58,420 16.10 $ 75.39 $ 156,800
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 23,080 14.82 $ 73.48 $ 152,840
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 52,690 13.91 $ 59.63 $ 124,040

Top paying industries for Software Developers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Information Services 58,420 16.10 $ 75.39 $ 156,800
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 23,080 14.82 $ 73.48 $ 152,840
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (8) (8) $ 72.13 $ 150,030
Scientific Research and Development Services 39,960 5.02 $ 68.30 $ 142,070
Personal Care Services 90 0.01 $ 67.35 $ 140,080


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 2021


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 228,240 13.81 1.43 $ 70.56 $ 146,770
Texas 103,510 8.47 0.87 $ 53.77 $ 111,830
Washington 81,520 25.43 2.63 $ 69.78 $ 145,150
New York 75,790 8.74 0.90 $ 62.48 $ 129,950
Virginia 68,250 18.18 1.88 $ 61.46 $ 127,830


Map of location quotient of software developers by state, May 2021


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 81,520 25.43 2.63 $ 69.78 $ 145,150
Virginia 68,250 18.18 1.88 $ 61.46 $ 127,830
Massachusetts 58,980 17.38 1.79 $ 61.63 $ 128,190
Colorado 38,860 14.83 1.53 $ 57.76 $ 120,140
District of Columbia 9,460 14.29 1.48 $ 59.99 $ 124,770


Map of annual mean wages of software developers by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Software Developers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 228,240 13.81 1.43 $ 70.56 $ 146,770
Washington 81,520 25.43 2.63 $ 69.78 $ 145,150
Maryland 25,710 10.10 1.04 $ 63.09 $ 131,240
New York 75,790 8.74 0.90 $ 62.48 $ 129,950
Rhode Island 3,490 7.63 0.79 $ 61.92 $ 128,790



Map of employment of software developers by area, May 2021


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 93,100 10.73 1.11 $ 64.24 $ 133,620
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 73,860 38.52 3.98 $ 71.26 $ 148,220
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 67,780 63.43 6.55 $ 80.49 $ 167,420
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 64,460 28.75 2.97 $ 76.12 $ 158,320
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 63,360 21.61 2.23 $ 64.35 $ 133,850
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,690 21.54 2.22 $ 62.21 $ 129,400
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 49,020 8.57 0.89 $ 60.20 $ 125,210
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 42,880 11.95 1.23 $ 56.30 $ 117,100
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 38,110 9.00 0.93 $ 54.81 $ 114,000
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 36,080 13.94 1.44 $ 56.78 $ 118,100


Map of location quotient of software developers by area, May 2021


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 67,780 63.43 6.55 $ 80.49 $ 167,420
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 73,860 38.52 3.98 $ 71.26 $ 148,220
Boulder, CO 5,480 30.14 3.11 $ 60.09 $ 124,990
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 64,460 28.75 2.97 $ 76.12 $ 158,320
Huntsville, AL 6,540 28.39 2.93 $ 54.60 $ 113,570
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 8,260 26.47 2.73 $ 58.16 $ 120,980
Cedar Rapids, IA 3,010 22.11 2.28 $ 54.69 $ 113,750
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 63,360 21.61 2.23 $ 64.35 $ 133,850
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,690 21.54 2.22 $ 62.21 $ 129,400
Raleigh, NC 13,110 20.70 2.14 $ 58.36 $ 121,400