How Much Does a Software Developer Make? A Guide for New Grads

With more than 3.5 million software developers in the United States and more than 18 million worldwide, the giant IT industry is growing at a rapid and exciting pace.

If you're one of the thousands of smart, savvy software development students that's just entering the workforce, you need to know what to expect in the real world. Colleges and universities are wonderful incubators for talent, but there's nothing like your first post-college job.

How much does a software developer make in the US? And what can you expect on the job?

You've got questions. We've got answers.

How Much Does a Software Developer Make?

Many software developers and programmers make about $100,000 per year as a starting salary, but there are many factors that influence what you'll make.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a software developer is just over $103,000. That's about $49.79 per hour. And there's demand for developers and engineers all over the world.

There's one caveat, however. As in most industries, salaries for software developers fluctuate rapidly depending on where in the country you live. In Silicon Valley, you will make more than in South Dakota.

Your skills will also determine your salary. Javascript is always in demand, whereas PHP demand has declined in recent years. Check out these books to step up your skills.

On the West Coast, your salary will be more than the median pay. According to compiled federal employment data from recent years, the California median pay was $119,181. In Mississippi, however, those salaries were barely over $72,000.

Location, Location, Location

There are opportunities for software developers through the United States, and the global market worldwide is also gigantic. But if you've got your sights set on a Manhattan apartment or a San Francisco townhouse, you'll need to learn the median salaries for your area.

Government contractors live nationwide, but many are concentrated in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Their salaries are also a bit higher than the national average.

Junior developers in large government contracting areas like Virginia are often paid less than the median, with starting salaries in the $80,000 range, according to Glassdoor.

Don't let that number discourage you, though. There are always highly paid jobs to be found for elite and educated software programmers. In fact, a typical software developer salary is more than $126,000 in Silver Spring, Maryland — a suburb of Washington.

Best Paying Cities

The job outlook for software developers is only on the rise and will be throughout the foreseeable future. U.S. News and World Report keeps a list of the American cities with the highest paid developers. Of course, San Francisco and Seattle top the list.

Other interesting places are Silver Spring, Maryland, and Oakland, California. New York comes in at number four for best paying states for software developers. If you're a fan of the coasts, this might be the job for you!

Let Us Help Place You

How much does a software developer make? At CodeIntelx, the sky is the limit.

We provide the federal government with the best software developers and programmers on the market, and we'd like to recruit someone like you. Contact us now to start our working relationship. We look forward to working with you!