Average Salary for Software Developers, Systems Software
SOC 15-1133 · Computer and Mathematical Occupations · 2018 data
The median annual wage for Software Developers, Systems Software in the United States is $110,000 ($52.89/hr), based on 2018 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $66,740 at the 10th percentile to $166,960 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 405,330 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 6.9% since 2014.
Median Annual
$110,000
Mean Annual
$114,000
10th Pct
$66,740
75th Pct
$139,550
Employment
405,330
Salary Distribution
$67k
10th
$86k
25th
$110k
Median
$140k
75th
$167k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $144,210 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,530 |
| Boulder, CO | $126,580 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | $124,920 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,480 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $123,080 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $122,560 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $121,840 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $121,410 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $120,380 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $117,420 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $116,880 |
| Waco, TX | $116,760 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $116,620 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $115,940 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $127,670 |
| New Hampshire | $127,470 |
| New Jersey | $121,680 |
| Washington | $121,470 |
| Maryland | $118,300 |
| Virginia | $117,400 |
| Colorado | $117,350 |
| Massachusetts | $115,580 |
| District of Columbia | $115,500 |
| New York | $111,320 |
| Texas | $108,570 |
| Vermont | $107,650 |
| Illinois | $107,390 |
| Minnesota | $106,290 |
| Oregon | $105,870 |
| North Carolina | $104,710 |
| Georgia | $104,640 |
| Utah | $102,640 |
| Arizona | $101,490 |
| Rhode Island | $101,110 |
| Alabama | $99,700 |
| Maine | $99,170 |
| Florida | $99,050 |
| Ohio | $98,830 |
| Connecticut | $98,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,440 |
| Idaho | $96,840 |
| Alaska | $94,540 |
| Nebraska | $94,260 |
| Missouri | $93,870 |
| New Mexico | $93,300 |
| Tennessee | $92,210 |
| Iowa | $92,060 |
| Hawaii | $91,240 |
| Nevada | $90,960 |
| West Virginia | $89,960 |
| Kansas | $89,260 |
| Michigan | $88,800 |
| Wyoming | $88,580 |
| Wisconsin | $88,260 |
| Oklahoma | $87,650 |
| South Dakota | $86,980 |
| Indiana | $86,650 |
| Arkansas | $84,570 |
| Kentucky | $80,100 |
| South Carolina | $77,750 |
| Mississippi | $77,710 |
| Montana | $74,920 |
| Louisiana | $73,560 |
| North Dakota | $65,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,640 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Software Developers, Systems Software broken down by industry sector, 2018 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $129,060 |
| Other Information Services | $126,460 |
| Other Information Services | $126,460 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $124,200 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $124,200 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $124,000 |
| Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | $122,640 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $122,500 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $122,350 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $121,010 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $120,760 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $120,270 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $119,790 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $119,750 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 And 5223 only) | $119,180 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $118,990 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $118,990 |
| Manufacturing | $118,900 |
| Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses | $118,280 |
| Real Estate | $118,000 |
| Home Health Care Services | $117,970 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $117,560 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $117,560 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $117,500 |
| Nonstore Retailers | $117,430 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $116,870 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $116,710 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $116,700 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $115,830 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | $115,770 |
| Retail Trade | $115,550 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $115,450 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $115,450 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $115,350 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $115,170 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) | $115,110 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $115,050 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $114,890 |
| Rail Transportation | $114,680 |
| Rail Transportation | $114,680 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $113,810 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $113,750 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | $113,490 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $113,430 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $113,380 |
| Engineering Services | $113,250 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $112,920 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $112,580 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | $112,580 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $112,460 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $111,580 |
| Finance and Insurance | $111,380 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $111,260 |
| Software Publishers | $110,920 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $110,810 |
| Cross-industry, private ownership only | $110,770 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) | $110,760 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $110,730 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $110,680 |
| Wholesale Trade | $110,200 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $109,610 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $109,610 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $109,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $109,500 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $109,500 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $109,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $109,500 |
| Educational Support Services | $109,480 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $109,220 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $109,080 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $108,890 |
| Air Transportation | $108,820 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $108,810 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $108,790 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $108,740 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $108,560 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $108,380 |
| Temporary Help Services | $107,910 |
| Employment Services | $107,860 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $107,770 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $107,290 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $107,220 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $106,800 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $106,790 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $106,790 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $106,310 |
| Food Manufacturing | $106,260 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $106,260 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $106,230 |
| Information | $105,640 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $105,460 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $105,460 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $105,320 |
| Business Support Services | $105,310 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $105,280 |
| Utilities | $105,060 |
| Utilities | $105,060 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $104,760 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $104,740 |
| Offices of Physicians | $104,580 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $103,920 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $103,780 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $103,680 |
| Other Insurance Related Activities | $103,580 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $103,400 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $103,340 |
| Specialized Design Services | $103,270 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $103,220 |
| Machine Shops | $103,140 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $102,690 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $101,750 |
| Legal Services | $101,520 |
| Other Support Services | $101,420 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $101,180 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $101,180 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $101,150 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $101,020 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $100,990 |
| Insurance Carriers | $100,390 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $100,210 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $100,160 |
| Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $100,000 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $99,870 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $99,720 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $99,560 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $99,410 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $99,370 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $99,210 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $99,140 |
| Office Administrative Services | $98,750 |
| Direct Selling Establishments | $98,620 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | $98,170 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $98,090 |
| Other Personal Services | $98,090 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $98,080 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $97,980 |
| Postal Service (federal government) | $97,890 |
| Postal Service (federal government) | $97,890 |
| Federal government, including the US Postal Service | $97,890 |
| Construction | $97,750 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $97,680 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $97,570 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $97,570 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $97,490 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $97,490 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $97,340 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $97,340 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $97,100 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $96,770 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $96,760 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $96,760 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $96,290 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $95,910 |
| Telecommunications | $95,400 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $95,340 |
| Construction of Buildings | $95,300 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $95,230 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $94,820 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $94,820 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $94,820 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | $94,800 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers | $94,620 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $94,550 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | $94,550 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $94,500 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $94,380 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | $94,250 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $93,810 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $93,450 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $93,170 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $93,130 |
| Hospitals | $93,130 |
| State government, including schools and hospitals | $92,790 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $92,710 |
| Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospitals, and the US Postal Service | $92,550 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $92,370 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $91,770 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | $91,580 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $91,330 |
| Educational Services | $91,130 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $91,080 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores | $91,080 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $90,330 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $90,170 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $89,970 |
| Local government, including schools and hospitals | $89,860 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $89,540 |
| Security Systems Services | $89,480 |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | $89,180 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | $88,980 |
| Social Assistance | $88,860 |
| Casino Hotels | $88,250 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $88,250 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $88,110 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $88,060 |
| Truck Transportation | $87,960 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $86,200 |
| Junior Colleges | $85,510 |
| Accommodation | $84,910 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $83,230 |
| Educational Services | $83,140 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $82,450 |
| Facilities Support Services | $82,190 |
| Testing Laboratories | $79,000 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $74,150 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $74,150 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $110,000 |
| 2017 | $107,600 |
| 2016 | $106,860 |
| 2015 | $105,570 |
| 2014 | $102,880 |