Software Engineer Salary (2026): How Much Do Software Developers Make?

National and state-by-state median wages · BLS OEWS data · Updated August 12, 2026

National Median$142,991
Per Hour$68.75
Total Jobs$1,687,370
Highest Paying StateCalifornia

Software Engineer Salary by State (All 50 States + DC)

#StateMedian Annual Salaryvs. NationalJobs
1California$174,410▲ 22%$284,390
2Washington$166,540▲ 16%$107,030
3New York$166,180▲ 16%$113,510
4Massachusetts$165,210▲ 16%$48,190
5Oregon$142,720▲ 0%$21,830
6New Hampshire$139,720▼ 2%$10,840
7Maryland$138,680▼ 3%$31,350
8Colorado$138,390▼ 3%$43,320
9District of Columbia$136,880▼ 4%$6,120
10Virginia$136,460▼ 5%$88,280
11New Jersey$135,940▼ 5%$51,570
12North Carolina$134,710▼ 6%$58,470
13Connecticut$134,120▼ 6%$13,660
14Delaware$133,020▼ 7%$3,380
15Texas$132,150▼ 8%$163,880
16Illinois$132,110▼ 8%$56,310
17Idaho$131,590▼ 8%$5,750
18Georgia$131,010▼ 8%$49,700
19Florida$130,980▼ 8%$87,890
20Rhode Island$130,590▼ 9%$5,070
21Minnesota$130,050▼ 9%$35,890
22Arizona$129,690▼ 9%$38,050
23South Carolina$129,450▼ 9%$13,230
24Nevada$128,810▼ 10%$4,520
25Utah$128,810▼ 10%$31,940
26Pennsylvania$126,550▼ 11%$55,920
27Missouri$126,120▼ 12%$20,020
28Michigan$125,570▼ 12%$43,460
29Vermont$125,280▼ 12%$1,740
30New Mexico$124,520▼ 13%$3,960
31Hawaii$124,040▼ 13%$1,600
32Maine$123,120▼ 14%$2,790
33Wisconsin$122,660▼ 14%$21,730
34Alabama$122,540▼ 14%$17,450
35Tennessee$122,430▼ 14%$19,030
36Montana$121,990▼ 15%$2,160
37West Virginia$121,000▼ 15%$2,650
38Oklahoma$118,100▼ 17%$6,880
39Wyoming$115,170▼ 19%$1,510
40Iowa$114,890▼ 20%$9,040
41Ohio$114,090▼ 20%$44,790
42Kansas$113,420▼ 21%$13,580
43Nebraska$110,900▼ 22%$7,260
44Kentucky$109,010▼ 24%$7,660
45Indiana$105,920▼ 26%$14,130
46North Dakota$105,600▼ 26%$1,450
47Arkansas$104,490▼ 27%$6,050
48Louisiana$102,800▼ 28%$4,080
49South Dakota$96,310▼ 33%$2,380
50Mississippi$95,330▼ 33%$1,880

FAQ

How much does a Software Engineer make?

The national median annual salary for software developers is $142,991, about $68.75 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.

What state pays software developers the most?

California tops the list at $174,410 per year.

What state pays software developers the least?

Mississippi has the lowest median at $95,330.

How much does a Software Engineer make per hour?

At the national median, software developers earn about $68.75 per hour (based on a 2,080-hour work year).

Where are the most software developers employed?

The table above shows total jobs per state; states with the largest numbers of software developers include California.