How much does a Software Developer make?
Confident
Total pay range
$105K - $167K/yr
$132K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$83K - $126K/yrBase pay
$22K - $41K/yrAdditional pay
The estimated total pay for a Software Developer is $131,884 per year, with an average salary of $102,551 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $29,333 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing.
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilizes salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
How accurate is a total pay range of $105K-$167K/yr?
Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
Total pay trajectory
Software Developer
$105K–$167K/yr
Summer Intern Software Developer
$116K–$195K/yr
Software Developer IV
$134K–$184K/yr
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for a Software Developer in United States are Financial Services with a median total pay of $115,691, Agriculture with a median total pay of $114,191, Insurance with a median total pay of $112,692, Real Estate with a median total pay of $111,719, and Telecommunications with a median total pay of $110,827.
Top paying companies in Financial Services for Software Developer are Citadel, Optiver, and Two Sigma.
Top paying companies in Agriculture for Software Developer are Corteva Agriscience and Cargill.
Top paying companies in Insurance for Software Developer are CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, HIH, and Esurance.
Top paying companies in Real Estate for Software Developer are Redfin, SitusAMC, and CoStar Group.
Top paying companies in Telecommunications for Software Developer are Juniper Networks, Gogo, and Ericsson-Worldwide.
Financial Services
$115,691
Financial Services
Agriculture
$114,191
Financial Services
Insurance
$112,692
Financial Services
Real Estate
$111,719
Financial Services
Telecommunications
$110,827
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.Show more
Software Developer salary in US
A Software Developer salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Software Developer in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $25,331 to $65,420 per year, based on 5 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Software Developer in US can make a salary range of $92,257 to $145,713 with at least 2 years of experience, based on 33,786 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Software Developer gets the highest compensation are Oracle Corporation, Intuit Inc. and Macquarie Group Limited. Bigger companies typically pay 42.53% more than smaller companies for a Software Developer.Show more
Recent salaries shared for Software Developer
| Job Title Location | Total Base | Additional | Years of Experience | Date or Time Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
Software Developer United States | $66K /yr $64K | $2K | 1-3 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $45 /hr $45 | $0 | 1-3 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $198K /yr $175K | $23K | 4-6 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $50K /yr $50K | $0 | 1-3 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $120K /yr $120K | $0 | 4-6 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $80K /yr $80K | $0 | 4-6 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $138K /yr $130K | $8K | 1-3 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $65 /hr $65 | $0 | 15+ years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Software Developer United States | $115K /yr $110K | $5K | 7-9 years | Nov 12, 2024 |
Frequently asked questions about Software Developer salaries
How much does a Software Developer in United States make?
The average salary for a Software Developer is $131,884 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 211169 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Software Developer employees in United States.
What is the highest salary for a Software Developer in United States?
The highest salary for a Software Developer in United States is $167,285 per year.
What is the lowest salary for a Software Developer in United States?
The lowest salary for a Software Developer in United States is $105,321 per year.
What is the a Software Developer career path and salary trajectory?
If you are thinking of becoming a Software Developer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Software Developer.
What is the Salary Trend for Software Developers?
Software developers are paid well above average, often receiving six-figure salaries. The pay range reflects the demand for their skillset and the profitability of the products they make. Candidates with prior experience in the field or higher levels of education generally receive higher salaries. Pay is expected to grow as the digital transformation reaches a global level. Software developers can further increase their total pay by pursuing freelance consulting opportunities.
Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research
Do Software Developers Make Good Money in United States?
In anonymous ratings left on Glassdoor, 71% of software developers say they're satisfied with how much they get paid. You could potentially earn an average of $29,331.77 through stock options and profit sharing if you work for a start-up as a software developer.
How Much Does a Software Developer Make Over Time in United States?
During your career as a software developer, you can earn average compensation ranging from $86,133.21 to $205,780.42. In general, jobs working for software publishers tend to pay above the average salary of $102,535.34 for developers. Once you have a few years of experience, you can likely qualify for a higher-paying position as a senior software developer.
How to Make More Money as a Software Developer
Specialty certifications increase your software developer salary by expanding your expertise to new programming languages and skills. Consider boosting your salary with classes in project management, Scrum, Azure, Amazon Web Services, cloud services, Red Hat, Salesforce, or any of countless other areas. You can earn a master's degree in software development to improve your chances of moving into a management role in this field, which also increases the available salary. If you're interested in conducting research or teaching within the realm of software development, consider investing in a Ph.D. in software development.
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as a Software Developer
To successfully negotiate a substantial salary for a software developer job, you'll need to know how much professionals in your region earn in similar roles. You should also show off your relevant skills and indicate how they can drive value for the client. Keep on top of the most profitable programming languages, since you'll have more leverage in the negotiations if you have in-demand expertise that most candidates lack. Emphasize your knowledge of various coding languages, such as Python, Java, Golang, and Ruby. In addition to direct tech skills, demonstrate your ability to manage projects successfully and maintain a high level of quality control.
