Software Engineer (Developer) Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) software engineer in the US earns $65.38 an hour, or $135,980 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 1,687,890 jobs (May 2025, occupation: software developers). The middle half earn between $105,210 and $171,980 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $214,670.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $104,208 a year ($8,684 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($122,793 a year) and lowest in Mississippi ($72,801).
Software Engineer (Developer) pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $39.64 | $82,460 | $66,841 |
| 25th percentile | $50.58 | $105,210 | $82,845 |
| Median (half earn more) | $65.38 | $135,980 | $104,208 |
| 75th percentile | $82.68 | $171,980 | $128,814 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $103.21 | $214,670 | $157,993 |
The average (mean) is $148,100 a year ($71.20 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 15-1252. Source
Software Engineer (Developer) salary by state
The highest median pay for software engineers is in California ($174,410), Washington ($166,550), New York ($166,170), Massachusetts ($165,210), Oregon ($142,730). The lowest is in Mississippi ($95,330), South Dakota ($96,300), Louisiana ($102,790).
The most software engineers work in California (284,390), Texas (163,880), New York (113,510).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($122,793), Massachusetts ($116,018), California ($115,035), New York ($114,349), New Hampshire ($106,758). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet). Not shown, because BLS did not publish an estimate or it was flagged as unreliable: Alaska.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58.91 | $122,530 | $90,036 | 17,450 |
| Arizona | $62.35 | $129,690 | $97,315 | 38,050 |
| Arkansas | $50.23 | $104,480 | $78,667 | 6,050 |
| California | $83.85 | $174,410 | $115,035 | 284,390 |
| Colorado | $66.53 | $138,380 | $99,393 | 43,320 |
| Connecticut | $64.48 | $134,120 | $95,069 | 13,660 |
| Delaware | $63.95 | $133,020 | $94,215 | 3,380 |
| District of Columbia | $65.81 | $136,880 | $104,823* | 6,120 |
| Florida | $62.97 | $130,980 | $100,791 | 87,890 |
| Georgia | $62.99 | $131,020 | $95,029 | 49,700 |
| Hawaii | $59.64 | $124,050 | $87,763 | 1,600 |
| Idaho | $63.26 | $131,580 | $95,091 | 5,750 |
| Illinois | $63.52 | $132,120 | $95,175 | 56,310 |
| Indiana | $50.92 | $105,910 | $78,124 | 14,130 |
| Iowa | $55.24 | $114,900 | $85,830 | 9,040 |
| Kansas | $54.53 | $113,420 | $83,092 | 13,580 |
| Kentucky | $52.41 | $109,010 | $81,821 | 7,660 |
| Louisiana | $49.42 | $102,790 | $78,364 | 4,080 |
| Maine | $59.19 | $123,120 | $87,549 | 2,790 |
| Maryland | $66.67 | $138,670 | $95,450 | 31,350 |
| Massachusetts | $79.43 | $165,210 | $116,018 | 48,190 |
| Michigan | $60.37 | $125,570 | $92,007 | 43,460 |
| Minnesota | $62.52 | $130,040 | $91,369 | 35,890 |
| Mississippi | $45.83 | $95,330 | $72,801 | 1,880 |
| Missouri | $60.64 | $126,130 | $92,484 | 20,020 |
| Montana | $58.65 | $121,990 | $89,108 | 2,160 |
| Nebraska | $53.32 | $110,910 | $82,411 | 7,260 |
| Nevada | $61.93 | $128,810 | $99,308 | 4,520 |
| New Hampshire | $67.17 | $139,710 | $106,758 | 10,840 |
| New Jersey | $65.36 | $135,950 | $95,835 | 51,570 |
| New Mexico | $59.86 | $124,510 | $91,204 | 3,960 |
| New York | $79.89 | $166,170 | $114,349 | 113,510 |
| North Carolina | $64.76 | $134,700 | $98,341 | 58,470 |
| North Dakota | $50.77 | $105,600 | $82,184 | 1,450 |
| Ohio | $54.85 | $114,090 | $86,007 | 44,790 |
| Oklahoma | $56.78 | $118,100 | $87,156 | 6,880 |
| Oregon | $68.62 | $142,730 | $95,911 | 21,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $60.84 | $126,550 | $93,789 | 55,920 |
| Rhode Island | $62.78 | $130,580 | $93,747 | 5,070 |
| South Carolina | $62.24 | $129,460 | $93,390 | 13,230 |
| South Dakota | $46.30 | $96,300 | $76,577 | 2,380 |
| Tennessee | $58.86 | $122,430 | $94,947 | 19,030 |
| Texas | $63.54 | $132,160 | $101,598 | 163,880 |
| Utah | $61.93 | $128,810 | $93,588 | 31,940 |
| Vermont | $60.23 | $125,280 | $90,754 | 1,740 |
| Virginia | $65.61 | $136,470 | $97,510 | 88,280 |
| Washington | $80.07 | $166,550 | $122,793 | 107,030 |
| West Virginia | $58.18 | $121,010 | $89,307 | 2,650 |
| Wisconsin | $58.97 | $122,660 | $88,932 | 21,730 |
| Wyoming | $55.37 | $115,170 | $89,852 | 1,510 |
Overtime and pay rules for software engineers
Software developers, programmers and other skilled computer employees can be exempt from overtime if they are paid at least $27.63 an hour, or a salary at the federal standard level ($684 a week), and do qualifying computer work. Most software engineers earn far more than that, so extra hours usually are not paid as overtime and there is nothing to claim under the no-tax-on-overtime deduction. Source
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a software engineer's pay
On the median $135,980, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 23.4% of pay for a single filer: $21,369 of income tax and $10,403 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $119,880, so the top federal rate is 24%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 31.65% before state tax: 24% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($6,799 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $1,632, so it costs about $5,167 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed software engineers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Optometrist | $136,570 | $65.66 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Nurse Midwife | $134,040 | $64.44 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $65 an hour is how much a year.
Software Engineer (Developer) salary questions
How much does a software engineer make?
The median pay is $65.38 an hour, or $135,980 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $82,460 and the top 10% more than $214,670.
How much does a software engineer make after taxes?
About $104,208 a year, or $4,008 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Mississippi, at that state's own median pay, it is about $72,801.
How much does a software engineer make a month?
About $11,332 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $8,684 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays software engineers the most?
California, with a median of $174,410 a year ($83.85 an hour). Next are Washington ($166,550) and New York ($166,170). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a software engineer make an hour?
The median is $65.38 an hour. The middle half earn $50.58 to $82.68, and the top 10% more than $103.21.
Do software engineers get paid overtime?
Software developers, programmers and other skilled computer employees can be exempt from overtime if they are paid at least $27.63 an hour, or a salary at the federal standard level ($684 a week), and do qualifying computer work. Most software engineers earn far more than that, so extra hours usually are not paid as overtime and there is nothing to claim under the no-tax-on-overtime deduction.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.