Software Engineer pay in the United States: San Jose leads, San Antonio trails
The United States national median for a software engineer is US$136,000 a year. Among 21 metros with observed data, pay runs from about US$128,430 in San Antonio to US$213,110 in San Jose (1.7×).
BLS OEWS (May 2025) publishes the national spread for the matching occupation: US$82,460 at the 10th percentile and US$214,670 at the 90th, a 2.6× gap.
San Jose is +57% against the national median and San Antonio -6%. In between: San Francisco US$186,640, Seattle US$167,280, New York US$166,830, and Boston US$166,090.
The closest technology peer is devops engineer at US$140,000, so a software engineer earns 2.9% less at the national median in the United States.
Why a United States-median offer can be low in San Jose
San Jose’s observed median is US$213,110, with a local band of about US$138,420–US$289,150. An offer pitched at the national median (US$136,000) would sit 57% under the local midpoint.
Software Engineer pay in official statistics for the United States
The closest official occupation is Software Developers (SOC 15-1252). In May 2025 its national median was $135,980 a year.
The headline median at the top of this page comes from this same table, rounded to the nearest hundred.
The published 10th and 90th percentiles are $82,460 and $214,670, a 2.6× spread.
BLS estimates 1,687,890 jobs in this occupation nationwide.
50 states have a published figure. California is highest at $174,410 (+28% vs national) and Mississippi lowest at $95,330, a 1.83× gap.
9 of the 50 pay above the national median; the next highest after California are Washington ($166,540) and New York ($166,180).
National figures, Software Developers (SOC 15-1252), May 2025
Software Engineer pay in the United States vs other countries
The United States is 1st of 16 countries for this role once medians are converted at the same exchange rate (US$136,000). Switzerland pays 5% less (US$129,767). The gap between the highest and lowest market is 4.9×.
That median is about 1.5× GDP per person (US$90,000, World Bank 2025). That is a rough sign of how far the role pays above the average national income.
By national median, it is number 8 of 27 roles we track there. DevOps Engineer is the next step up at US$140,000, and Cybersecurity Analyst the next step down at US$130,000.
Within technology, Machine Learning Engineer (US$180,000), Cloud Architect (US$172,000) and Product Manager (US$158,000) pay more, while Cybersecurity Analyst (US$130,000), Data Scientist (US$120,000) and UX Designer (US$115,000) pay less.
Software Engineer take-home pay in the United States (estimate)
Using our take-home calculator for the United States, the US$136,000 median loses income tax US$21,374, Social Security US$8,432 and Medicare US$1,972, leaving US$104,222 a year or US$8,685 a month. Total deductions: 23% of gross.
At the published 10th percentile from BLS OEWS (May 2025) (US$82,460) deductions are 19%; at the 90th (US$214,670) they reach 26%, leaving US$13,311 a month.
The United States: prices, jobs and holidays
Consumer prices in the United States rose 2.9% in 2024 (World Bank). Matching that on the US$136,000 median takes a raise of about US$3,944.
Unemployment was 4.2% of the labour force in 2025.
The United States has 14 public holidays in 2026 (Nager.Date); at the median, one working day is worth about US$523 before tax.
United States
Switzerland