BLS national median · SOC 15-1252
$133,080
$63.98/hr · 2,080 hrs/yr
#19 · Technology
Software developers Salary
BLS OEWS May 2024 national median $133,080 ($63.98/hr on 2,080 hours). SOC 15-1252. Modeled 2026 take-home, training context, and career comparisons below.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Texas take-home at median
$102,226
23.2% effective
California take-home at median
$92,333
30.6% effective
Key takeaways — Software devs
- Software developers ranks #19 of 92 on this hub with a $133,080 BLS May 2024 national median ($63.98/hr).
- Modeled Texas take-home at that median: $102,226 (23.2% effective employee levy rate). California: $92,333.
- One rank above: PAs at $133,260 (+$180).
- Bonuses, equity, overtime, and self-employment income are outside BLS OEWS cash-wage medians.
About Software developers wages
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes occupational employment and wage estimates (May 2024) by Standard Occupational Classification code. For Software developers (SOC 15-1252), the national median annual wage is $133,080 — meaning half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less across the United States.
We convert that median to an hourly equivalent using 2,080 full-time hours per year, then apply our 2026 US paycheck model so you see modeled take-home, not just gross. That bridges BLS labor-market statistics with the same tax rules as our state calculators.
Use the compare tool to pit Software devs against another career, or open the paycheck calculator to model an offer above or below the published median.
Technology · rank context
Software devs sits at rank #19 between PAs (#18, $133,260) and NPs (#20, $129,210).
Training & licensing context
Tech medians blend junior and senior engineers nationally. Coastal total comp often exceeds OEWS cash medians because of RSU grants taxed at vest.
BLS wage percentiles (May 2024)
Percentiles show how pay spreads inside the Software devs occupation — the median is the 50th percentile.
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $79,850 | $103,050 | $133,080 | $169,000 | $211,450 |
Take-home at BLS median by state
Single filer, standard deduction, federal + state where applicable, employee payroll — gross equals the published BLS median.
| State | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $102,226 | 23.2% |
| California | $92,333 | 30.6% |
| New York | $95,384 | 28.3% |
| Florida | $102,226 | 23.2% |
Myths vs facts
Myth: Every Software devs job pays the BLS median.
Fact: The median is a national midpoint. Entry roles, part-time schedules, and low-COL markets sit below; senior specialists in high-demand metros sit above.
Myth: Take-home at median is what you will net.
Fact: Our columns use a single-filer vignette at the BLS gross median. Marriage, dependents, 401(k), HSA, and local taxes change your actual paycheck.
Salary planning checklist
- Confirm the posting matches SOC 15-1252 (Software developers)
- Compare Texas vs California take-home if relocation is on the table
- Read BLS percentile tables when published for this occupation
- Use metro paycheck examples when the employer names a city
- Model your exact gross in the US paycheck calculator
Common mistakes
- ✕Treating $133,080 as a universal offer for all experience levels
- ✕Ignoring licensing and training years when comparing to lower-medians with shorter paths
- ✕Skipping state tax when comparing two offers at similar gross medians
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Software devs salary FAQs
BLS OEWS May 2024 lists a $133,080 national median (SOC 15-1252) — about $63.98/hr on a 2,080-hour year.
Modeled single-filer take-home at the BLS median: Texas $102,226, California $92,333, New York $95,384, Florida $102,226 (2026 rules).
#19 of 92 occupations on this hub by BLS national median wage.
BLS May 2024: 10th $79,850, 25th $103,050, median $133,080, 75th $169,000, 90th $211,450.
Physician assistants ranks #18 at $133,260 — $180 above Software devs.
Nurse practitioners ranks #20 at $129,210 — $3,870 below.
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