H1B Report
Salary comparison

Computer Programmers vs Software Developers

Side-by-side H-1B prevailing-wage comparison using the same DOL LCA data that drives every page on H1B Report. Quartiles, hiring geography, top sponsors and yearly wage drift.

Occupation A
Computer Programmers
SOC 15-1251Rank #6
Occupation B
Software Developers
SOC 15-1252Rank #1

Key metrics

Wage figures are offered annual wage; volume is total LCA count.

MetricComputer ProgrammersSoftware Developers
Median wage$68,640$102,000
P25 wage$61,000$84,000
P75 wage$80,000$130,000
Wage spread (P75 − P25)$19,000$46,000
Total filings307,2092,765,226
Wage samples305,9252,760,334
Rank#6#1

Median wage by year

Year-over-year drift of the typical offered wage.

Computer Programmers
Time series: 17 points from FY2010 to FY2026
Time series
PeriodValue
FY2010$60k
FY2011$62k
FY2012$62k
FY2013$63k
FY2014$65k
FY2015$67k
FY2016$68k
FY2017$69k
FY2018$74k
FY2019$77k
FY2020$78k
FY2021$85k
FY2022$87k
FY2023$86k
FY2024$94k
FY2025$94k
FY2026$99k
Software Developers
Time series: 17 points from FY2010 to FY2026
Time series
PeriodValue
FY2010$80k
FY2011$80k
FY2012$81k
FY2013$82k
FY2014$82k
FY2015$82k
FY2016$84k
FY2017$90k
FY2018$93k
FY2019$96k
FY2020$103k
FY2021$112k
FY2022$115k
FY2023$120k
FY2024$124k
FY2025$133k
FY2026$143k

Top 5 hiring states — Computer Programmers

  • 1CA37,498$75,000
  • 2TX37,159$69,200
  • 3NJ28,375$70,000
  • 4IL21,419$66,082
  • 5NY15,839$70,500

Top 5 hiring states — Software Developers

  • 1CA571,349$130,000
  • 2TX328,305$98,910
  • 3WA175,348$135,000
  • 4NJ152,178$100,000
  • 5NY127,190$110,460
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Computer Programmers vs Software Developers — H-1B Salary Comparison · H1B Report