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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

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)
1,656,880 0.7 % $ 66.40 $ 138,110 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Software Developers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 37.03 $ 48.65 $ 63.59 $ 80.55 $ 100.30
Annual Wage (2) $ 77,020 $ 101,200 $ 132,270 $ 167,540 $ 208,620


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 547,150 21.62 $ 62.69 $ 130,390
Software Publishers 165,260 25.27 $ 71.45 $ 148,610
Management of Companies and Enterprises 86,460 3.12 $ 64.08 $ 133,280
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services 73,990 15.35 $ 68.72 $ 142,940
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 57,300 3.10 $ 59.02 $ 122,760

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 165,260 25.27 $ 71.45 $ 148,610
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 44,730 24.26 $ 103.77 $ 215,840
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 547,150 21.62 $ 62.69 $ 130,390
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 26,230 16.27 $ 86.29 $ 179,480
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services 73,990 15.35 $ 68.72 $ 142,940

Top paying industries for Software Developers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 44,730 24.26 $ 103.77 $ 215,840
Taxi and Limousine Service 1,700 2.88 $ 90.17 $ 187,550
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers 26,220 11.25 $ 86.81 $ 180,570
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 26,230 16.27 $ 86.29 $ 179,480
Gambling Industries (8) (8) $ 83.89 $ 174,480


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 2023


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 304,390 16.96 1.55 $ 83.55 $ 173,780
Texas 138,510 10.22 0.94 $ 60.52 $ 125,890
New York 105,460 11.23 1.03 $ 72.12 $ 150,020
Washington 89,110 25.49 2.34 $ 76.92 $ 159,990
Virginia 86,680 21.77 2.00 $ 67.27 $ 139,920


Map of location quotient of software developers by state, May 2023


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 89,110 25.49 2.34 $ 76.92 $ 159,990
Virginia 86,680 21.77 2.00 $ 67.27 $ 139,920
California 304,390 16.96 1.55 $ 83.55 $ 173,780
Massachusetts 59,960 16.46 1.51 $ 70.47 $ 146,580
Colorado 45,270 15.98 1.47 $ 69.92 $ 145,420


Map of annual mean wages of software developers by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Software Developers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 304,390 16.96 1.55 $ 83.55 $ 173,780
Washington 89,110 25.49 2.34 $ 76.92 $ 159,990
Maryland 30,700 11.47 1.05 $ 72.47 $ 150,740
New York 105,460 11.23 1.03 $ 72.12 $ 150,020
Massachusetts 59,960 16.46 1.51 $ 70.47 $ 146,580



Map of employment of software developers by area, May 2023


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 119,010 12.53 1.15 $ 73.12 $ 152,100
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 96,590 84.60 7.75 $ 96.06 $ 199,800
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 83,920 34.65 3.18 $ 87.13 $ 181,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 75,960 36.54 3.35 $ 78.91 $ 164,130
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 72,010 23.29 2.13 $ 71.39 $ 148,480
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 59,570 15.02 1.38 $ 61.59 $ 128,100
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 58,450 9.45 0.87 $ 72.97 $ 151,780
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,240 20.00 1.83 $ 71.20 $ 148,100
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 41,210 9.14 0.84 $ 61.52 $ 127,960
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 40,430 14.35 1.32 $ 61.41 $ 127,720


Map of location quotient of software developers by area, May 2023


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 96,590 84.60 7.75 $ 96.06 $ 199,800
Boulder, CO 7,840 40.31 3.69 $ 87.81 $ 182,650
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 75,960 36.54 3.35 $ 78.91 $ 164,130
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 83,920 34.65 3.18 $ 87.13 $ 181,220
Huntsville, AL 7,270 28.96 2.65 $ 57.82 $ 120,260
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 72,010 23.29 2.13 $ 71.39 $ 148,480
Raleigh, NC 16,160 22.99 2.11 $ 63.61 $ 132,300
Provo-Orem, UT 6,490 22.12 2.03 $ 60.56 $ 125,970
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 7,420 22.07 2.02 $ 67.98 $ 141,390
Austin-Round Rock, TX 26,850 21.74 1.99 $ 63.70 $ 132,500