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Occupation · SOC 15-1252

Software Developers

There are 1,687,890 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $135,980 a year. The most jobs are in New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ.

Computer & MathTypical education: Bachelor's degree
1,687,890
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$135,980
Median pay a year
Middle half: $105,210–$171,980
95,300
Annual openings
10-year change: +10.2%
161,874
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
−0.4% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 382 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $166,830 · LCA filings 14,491121,000$166,83014,491
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $167,280 · LCA filings 16,11092,770$167,28016,110
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAMedian pay $213,110 · LCA filings 18,44387,350$213,11018,443
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $154,930 · LCA filings 5,32969,060$154,9305,329
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $186,640 · LCA filings 11,79869,030$186,64011,798
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $133,290 · LCA filings 23,52067,030$133,29023,520
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $160,920 · LCA filings 2,90655,540$160,9202,906
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $166,090 · LCA filings 3,94842,310$166,0903,948
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $134,380 · LCA filings 5,78140,370$134,3805,781
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $132,960 · LCA filings 7,65236,300$132,9607,652

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 87,350 · LCA filings 18,443$213,11087,35018,443
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 69,030 · LCA filings 11,798$186,64069,03011,798
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 92,770 · LCA filings 16,110$167,28092,77016,110
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployment 121,000 · LCA filings 14,491$166,830121,00014,491
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployment 42,310 · LCA filings 3,948$166,09042,3103,948

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXEmployers with LCA filings 4,944 · Employment 67,03023,5204,94467,030
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 1,533 · Employment 87,35018,4431,53387,350
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployers with LCA filings 1,304 · Employment 92,77016,1101,30492,770
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 3,381 · Employment 121,00014,4913,381121,000
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 2,077 · Employment 69,03011,7982,07769,030

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $137,717 · Level III $165,589 · Level IV $193,461$109,845$137,717$165,589$193,461
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $143,104 · Level III $174,595 · Level IV $206,086$111,613$143,104$174,595$206,086
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $187,075 · Level III $221,374 · Level IV $255,653$152,797$187,075$221,374$255,653
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $127,462 · Level III $152,838 · Level IV $178,214$102,086$127,462$152,838$178,214
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $165,131 · Level III $193,149 · Level IV $221,187$137,093$165,131$193,149$221,187
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $116,896 · Level III $138,590 · Level IV $160,285$95,202$116,896$138,590$160,285
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $134,202 · Level III $161,637 · Level IV $189,051$106,787$134,202$161,637$189,051
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $138,237 · Level III $162,198 · Level IV $186,160$114,275$138,237$162,198$186,160
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $117,083 · Level III $141,398 · Level IV $165,693$92,789$117,083$141,398$165,693
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $113,776 · Level III $135,658 · Level IV $157,518$91,915$113,776$135,658$157,518

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Computer ScienceCIP 11.07STEM OPT · up to 36 months27,204STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Computer EngineeringCIP 14.09STEM OPT · up to 36 months6,301STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralCIP 11.01STEM OPT · up to 36 months32,134STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Software Developers in every metro area

All 382 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Related occupations · Computer & Math

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology