Design, develop, and maintain software systems. One of the highest-demand roles in the US labor market. Median salary in Boise: $138K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Boise, Idaho. 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 Boise earn approximately 6% higher than the US national median for this role — a $8,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Boise's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Boise's cost-of-living index (108), the median Software Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $127,778 in a US-average-cost city. That's $2,222 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 Boise-based Software Engineers. Many Boise professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Boise'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 $166K by 2030.
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The median Software Engineer salary in Boise, ID is $138,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Boise–ID 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 Boise with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $101,000 and $138,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $138,000 to $175,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $175,000 to $223,000 or more.
Boise has a cost of living index of 108 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Boise are close to the national average. Idaho has a 5.8% 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 Boise-based professionals.