Average Salary for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
SOC 15-1256 · Computer and Mathematical Occupations · 2020 data
The median annual wage for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers in the United States is $110,140 ($52.95/hr), based on 2020 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $65,210 at the 10th percentile to $170,100 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 1,476,800 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 2.4% since 2019.
Median Annual
$110,140
Mean Annual
$114,270
10th Pct
$65,210
75th Pct
$140,470
Employment
1,476,800
Salary Distribution
$65k
10th
$84k
25th
$110k
Median
$140k
75th
$170k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $144,230 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,250 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $126,050 |
| Leominster-Gardner, MA | $125,730 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $119,490 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $119,120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $119,060 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,940 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $118,190 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $117,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $117,280 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $116,710 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $116,560 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $116,200 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington | $139,450 |
| California | $135,930 |
| District of Columbia | $119,960 |
| New York | $117,910 |
| Massachusetts | $117,630 |
| Maryland | $113,140 |
| Virginia | $112,730 |
| Delaware | $112,220 |
| Colorado | $110,900 |
| New Hampshire | $109,840 |
| New Jersey | $108,750 |
| Texas | $108,150 |
| Minnesota | $105,990 |
| Illinois | $105,700 |
| Oregon | $104,910 |
| Georgia | $104,730 |
| North Carolina | $103,250 |
| Connecticut | $102,430 |
| Arizona | $101,300 |
| Utah | $100,330 |
| Rhode Island | $100,250 |
| Alabama | $98,530 |
| Alaska | $97,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,840 |
| Vermont | $97,440 |
| Hawaii | $97,180 |
| Iowa | $96,830 |
| Florida | $96,210 |
| Ohio | $95,870 |
| Missouri | $94,970 |
| Nebraska | $94,160 |
| Nevada | $93,180 |
| New Mexico | $92,000 |
| Wisconsin | $91,810 |
| Kansas | $91,770 |
| Idaho | $91,750 |
| Maine | $91,470 |
| Michigan | $89,970 |
| Indiana | $89,900 |
| Tennessee | $89,200 |
| Louisiana | $88,370 |
| Kentucky | $88,090 |
| Oklahoma | $87,660 |
| Montana | $85,940 |
| North Dakota | $85,570 |
| Arkansas | $84,750 |
| South Carolina | $84,520 |
| Mississippi | $82,290 |
| West Virginia | $76,140 |
| South Dakota | $75,260 |
| Wyoming | $69,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,700 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers broken down by industry sector, 2020 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $168,290 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $156,940 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $148,990 |
| Sporting Goods Stores | $139,150 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores | $137,930 |
| Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses | $132,500 |
| Nonstore Retailers | $132,260 |
| Retail Trade | $131,250 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $129,270 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $126,470 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $125,710 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $124,640 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $124,230 |
| Other Information Services | $124,220 |
| Other Information Services | $124,220 |
| Software Publishers | $124,050 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $123,870 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) | $123,020 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) | $122,130 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $120,840 |
| Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds | $120,150 |
| Manufacturing | $119,280 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $119,210 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $119,140 |
| Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | $119,120 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $119,120 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $118,000 |
| Information | $117,990 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $117,430 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $117,180 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $117,180 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $116,780 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $116,560 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | $116,560 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 And 5223 only) | $116,540 |
| Real Estate | $116,360 |
| Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations | $116,330 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $116,290 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $116,290 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $116,210 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $115,760 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles | $115,460 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $115,410 |
| Veterinary Services | $115,390 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $113,790 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $113,400 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $113,230 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $113,160 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $113,150 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $113,100 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $113,070 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $113,070 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $113,070 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $112,810 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $112,240 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery | $111,920 |
| Sound Recording Industries | $111,840 |
| Finance and Insurance | $111,610 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $111,530 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $111,520 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $111,320 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $111,300 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $111,300 |
| Offices of All Other Health Practitioners | $111,280 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $111,170 |
| Cross-industry, private ownership only | $110,860 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $110,740 |
| Engineering Services | $110,670 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $110,220 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | $110,020 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $109,860 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $109,840 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $109,840 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $109,840 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $109,650 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $109,590 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $109,570 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $109,570 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | $109,390 |
| Other Support Services | $109,010 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $108,370 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $108,350 |
| Other Investment Pools and Funds | $108,340 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $108,100 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $107,870 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $107,870 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $107,580 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $107,410 |
| Employment Services | $107,290 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $107,290 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores | $107,280 |
| Water Transportation | $107,240 |
| Wholesale Trade | $107,100 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | $107,090 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $107,080 |
| Utilities | $107,030 |
| Utilities | $107,030 |
| Other Personal Services | $107,010 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $107,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $107,000 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $106,990 |
| Temporary Help Services | $106,970 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $106,800 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $106,800 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $106,620 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $106,610 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $106,540 |
| Legal Services | $106,410 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $106,390 |
| Construction of Buildings | $106,170 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $106,160 |
| Telecommunications | $106,010 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $105,760 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $105,720 |
| Photographic Services | $105,720 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $105,710 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $105,700 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $105,600 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $105,580 |
| Direct Selling Establishments | $105,550 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $105,110 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $105,080 |
| Pipeline Transportation | $105,000 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $104,870 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $104,820 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $104,820 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $104,790 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $104,560 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $104,550 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $104,530 |
| Business Support Services | $104,480 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $104,100 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $104,080 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $103,960 |
| Television Broadcasting | $103,920 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $103,910 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $103,800 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $103,800 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $103,720 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $103,720 |
| Specialized Design Services | $103,570 |
| Automobile Dealers | $103,350 |
| Apparel Manufacturing | $103,310 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $103,290 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $103,270 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $103,150 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $103,150 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $103,070 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $103,000 |
| Insurance Carriers | $102,970 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $102,780 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $102,740 |
| Other Insurance Related Activities | $102,530 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $102,490 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $102,460 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $102,380 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $102,290 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $102,230 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $102,170 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $102,160 |
| Rail Transportation | $102,020 |
| Rail Transportation | $102,020 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $101,790 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $101,630 |
| Postal Service (federal government) | $101,470 |
| Postal Service (federal government) | $101,470 |
| Federal government, including the US Postal Service | $101,470 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $101,250 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | $101,120 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | $100,800 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $100,750 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $100,740 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | $100,730 |
| Office Administrative Services | $100,730 |
| Home Furnishings Stores | $100,670 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $100,570 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $100,520 |
| Residential Building Construction | $100,450 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $100,350 |
| Utility System Construction | $100,110 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | $99,960 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | $99,860 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $99,650 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $99,620 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $99,370 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $99,090 |
| Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers | $99,090 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | $99,080 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $98,940 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $98,650 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $98,650 |
| Security Systems Services | $98,630 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $98,610 |
| Testing Laboratories | $98,530 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $98,510 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $98,500 |
| Construction | $98,490 |
| Home Health Care Services | $98,480 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $98,010 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $97,750 |
| Educational Support Services | $97,620 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $97,580 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $97,550 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $97,420 |
| Textile Mills | $97,340 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $97,320 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $97,260 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $97,210 |
| Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services | $97,200 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $97,180 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $97,110 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $97,110 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $96,970 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | $96,880 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $96,870 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $96,620 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $96,580 |
| Gambling Industries | $96,570 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $96,330 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | $96,190 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | $96,190 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $96,120 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $95,880 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $95,790 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $95,670 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $95,670 |
| Hospitals | $95,650 |
| Educational Services | $95,350 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $95,270 |
| Foundries | $95,250 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $95,150 |
| Spectator Sports | $95,120 |
| Support Activities for Animal Production | $95,070 |
| Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $95,020 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $94,940 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $94,930 |
| Local government, including schools and hospitals | $94,930 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $94,910 |
| Machine Shops | $94,900 |
| Food Manufacturing | $94,720 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $94,660 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $94,160 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $93,920 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | $93,910 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $93,700 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $93,610 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores | $93,600 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $93,490 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $93,490 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $93,400 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $93,280 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $93,200 |
| Individual and Family Services | $92,970 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $92,860 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $92,830 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $92,830 |
| Offices of Physicians | $92,740 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $92,710 |
| Facilities Support Services | $92,710 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $92,520 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | $92,430 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4532 and 4533 only) | $92,330 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $92,260 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers | $92,140 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $91,970 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $91,870 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $91,620 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $91,580 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $91,410 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $91,090 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $91,090 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $91,020 |
| Accommodation | $91,020 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $90,920 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $90,740 |
| Casino Hotels | $90,700 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $90,630 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $90,420 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $89,830 |
| Social Assistance | $89,810 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $89,650 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $89,500 |
| Radio Broadcasting | $89,500 |
| Federal, state, and local government, including government-owned schools and hospitals, and the U.S. Postal Service | $89,080 |
| Air Transportation | $88,940 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores | $88,930 |
| Educational Services | $88,480 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $87,830 |
| Religious Organizations | $87,750 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $87,430 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $86,040 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $85,720 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $85,700 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $85,370 |
| State government, including schools and hospitals | $85,250 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $84,990 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $84,980 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $83,340 |
| Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | $82,710 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $82,070 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $81,620 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $81,610 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $81,100 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $80,860 |
| Junior Colleges | $80,170 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $79,350 |
| Truck Transportation | $79,340 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $78,220 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | $75,900 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $75,400 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $73,580 |
| Textile Product Mills | $59,520 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | $52,650 |
| Other Support Activities for Transportation | $36,150 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $110,140 |
| 2019 | $107,510 |