Technology72% remote-eligible+4.2% YoY growth

Software Engineer Salary
by City (2026)

Design, develop, and maintain software systems. One of the highest-demand roles in the US labor market. National median: $130K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$130K

Top 10% earn

$210K

Entry level

$95K

Salary growth

+4.2%/yr

Software Engineer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$157K	$215K	$272K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$150K	$205K	$261K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$141K	$193K	$246K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$141K	$192K	$244K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$140K	$192K	$244K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$140K	$192K	$244K	185	11%
Seattle, WA	$135K	$185K	$234K	150	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$135K	$185K	$235K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$134K	$183K	$232K	172	9.3%
Washington, DC	$133K	$182K	$231K	152	8.5%
Boston, MA	$131K	$179K	$228K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$131K	$179K	$228K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$130K	$178K	$226K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$130K	$178K	$226K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$128K	$176K	$223K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$129K	$176K	$223K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$128K	$176K	$223K	148	5.75%
Stamford, CT	$126K	$173K	$220K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$125K	$172K	$218K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$125K	$171K	$217K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$124K	$169K	$215K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$122K	$167K	$213K	150	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$122K	$166K	$211K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$121K	$166K	$211K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$121K	$166K	$211K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$120K	$164K	$208K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$120K	$164K	$208K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$117K	$160K	$203K	140	10.75%
Austin, TX	$116K	$159K	$201K	110	None ✓
Chula Vista, CA	$116K	$159K	$202K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$116K	$159K	$201K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$116K	$159K	$202K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$116K	$159K	$202K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$112K	$153K	$195K	128	9.3%
Tacoma, WA	$112K	$153K	$195K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$112K	$153K	$195K	118	4.55%
Plano, TX	$109K	$150K	$190K	105	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$109K	$150K	$190K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$109K	$150K	$190K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$109K	$150K	$190K	120	5%
Salt Lake City, UT	$109K	$150K	$190K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$109K	$150K	$190K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$109K	$150K	$190K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$108K	$148K	$187K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$106K	$146K	$185K	96	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$106K	$146K	$185K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$106K	$146K	$185K	123	None ✓
Durham, NC	$106K	$146K	$185K	100	4.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$106K	$146K	$185K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$106K	$146K	$185K	106	6.8%
Nashua, NH	$107K	$146K	$186K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$106K	$145K	$184K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$105K	$143K	$182K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$105K	$143K	$182K	99	5.75%
Raleigh, NC	$105K	$143K	$182K	102	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	4.25%
Provo, UT	$105K	$143K	$182K	100	4.85%
Frederick, MD	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$105K	$143K	$182K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$104K	$143K	$181K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$105K	$143K	$182K	128	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$103K	$141K	$178K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$103K	$141K	$178K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$103K	$141K	$178K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$103K	$140K	$178K	97	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$103K	$140K	$178K	118	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$103K	$140K	$178K	105	2.5%
St. Paul, MN	$103K	$140K	$178K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$102K	$139K	$177K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$101K	$138K	$175K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$101K	$138K	$175K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$101K	$138K	$175K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$101K	$138K	$175K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$101K	$138K	$175K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$101K	$138K	$175K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$100K	$137K	$173K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$100K	$137K	$173K	93	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$100K	$137K	$173K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$100K	$137K	$173K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$100K	$137K	$173K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$100K	$137K	$173K	102	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$100K	$137K	$173K	90	3.07%
Reno, NV	$100K	$137K	$173K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$99K	$136K	$172K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$99K	$136K	$172K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$99K	$136K	$172K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$99K	$136K	$172K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$99K	$136K	$172K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$98K	$134K	$169K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$98K	$134K	$169K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$97K	$133K	$168K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$97K	$133K	$168K	91	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$97K	$133K	$168K	100	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$97K	$133K	$168K	88	5%
Denton, TX	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$97K	$132K	$168K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$96K	$131K	$166K	98	7.15%
St. Petersburg, FL	$95K	$130K	$165K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$95K	$130K	$165K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$95K	$130K	$165K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$95K	$130K	$165K	90	3.99%
Madison, WI	$95K	$130K	$165K	102	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$95K	$130K	$165K	105	6.5%
Bakersfield, CA	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$94K	$129K	$163K	95	6.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$93K	$127K	$162K	102	4.55%
Virginia Beach, VA	$93K	$127K	$162K	98	5.75%
Kansas City, MO	$93K	$127K	$162K	90	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$93K	$127K	$162K	102	None ✓
Midland, TX	$92K	$126K	$161K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$92K	$126K	$161K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$92K	$126K	$161K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$92K	$126K	$161K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$92K	$126K	$161K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$91K	$125K	$159K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$91K	$125K	$159K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$91K	$125K	$159K	90	4.95%
Cincinnati, OH	$91K	$125K	$158K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$91K	$125K	$159K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$91K	$125K	$158K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$91K	$125K	$158K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$91K	$125K	$158K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$91K	$125K	$159K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$91K	$125K	$159K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$90K	$124K	$157K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$90K	$124K	$157K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$90K	$124K	$157K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$90K	$124K	$157K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$90K	$124K	$157K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$89K	$122K	$154K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$87K	$120K	$152K	87	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$87K	$120K	$152K	88	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$87K	$120K	$152K	95	None ✓
Louisville, KY	$87K	$120K	$152K	85	5%
Des Moines, IA	$87K	$120K	$152K	88	4.82%
Amarillo, TX	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$87K	$119K	$152K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$86K	$118K	$150K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$85K	$117K	$148K	78	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$86K	$117K	$149K	82	3.99%
Toledo, OH	$85K	$117K	$148K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$86K	$117K	$149K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$85K	$117K	$148K	78	3.23%
New Orleans, LA	$86K	$117K	$149K	92	6%
Shreveport, LA	$85K	$117K	$148K	78	6%
Omaha, NE	$86K	$117K	$149K	88	5.84%
Jackson, MS	$85K	$117K	$148K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$85K	$117K	$148K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$84K	$115K	$145K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$84K	$115K	$145K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$84K	$115K	$145K	75	6.5%
Tucson, AZ	$84K	$114K	$145K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$84K	$114K	$145K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$84K	$114K	$145K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$84K	$114K	$145K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$84K	$114K	$145K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$84K	$114K	$145K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$84K	$114K	$145K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$84K	$114K	$145K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$84K	$114K	$145K	88	5.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$81K	$111K	$140K	84	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$81K	$111K	$140K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$81K	$111K	$140K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$78K	$107K	$135K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$78K	$107K	$135K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$76K	$104K	$132K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$71K	$98K	$124K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $130K Software Engineer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Software Engineer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Software Engineer is $130,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $95,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $165,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Software Engineers nationally earn $210,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Software Engineer compensation is growing at 4.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Software Engineer salary FAQ

How much does a Software Engineer make?

The median Software Engineer salary in the US is $130,000 per year — about $63/hour. Most earn between $95,000 (25th percentile) and $165,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Software Engineer?

Entry-level Software Engineer positions typically start around $95,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Software Engineers earn?

The top 10% of Software Engineers earn $210,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Software Engineers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Software Engineer salary at $215K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Software Engineer salaries going up?

Yes — Software Engineer pay is growing about 4.2% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Software Engineer Salaryby City (2026)