Design, develop, and maintain software systems. One of the highest-demand roles in the US labor market. Median salary in Arlington: $176K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Arlington, Virginia. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Software Engineers in Arlington earn approximately 35% higher than the US national median for this role — a $46,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Arlington's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Arlington's cost-of-living index (148), the median Software Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $118,919 in a US-average-cost city. That's $11,081 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Arlington-based Software Engineers. Many Arlington professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Arlington's local rate — verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $212K by 2030.
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The median Software Engineer salary in Arlington, VA is $176,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Arlington–VA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Software Engineers in Arlington with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $128,000 and $176,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $176,000 to $223,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $223,000 to $284,000 or more.
Arlington has a cost of living index of 148 compared to the US national average of 100. Arlington's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Virginia has a 5.75% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in CS or related. This role is 72% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Arlington-based professionals.