What the numbers say
Delaware's median Software Developer wage came in at $135,160 in 2024, about 2.4% below the national median of $138,520. That gap is smaller than it sounds, and cost of living helps explain why: Delaware's price index sits at 100.5, nearly identical to the national baseline. In practical terms, a dollar earned here buys roughly what a dollar earns anywhere else in the country. The nominal gap largely disappears once you account for that.
The spread between earners is narrower than we see in most states. The 10th percentile started at $93,850 and the 90th reached $169,070, a difference of about $75,000. In California or Washington, that same spread runs closer to $115,000. Developers here cluster more tightly around the middle, which suggests the local market leans toward mid-level roles, or that the high-earning outliers who inflate the numbers in larger tech hubs are simply less common in a state with 3,850 developers total.
The outlook is strong. BLS projects Software Developer employment to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, placing this occupation in the "much faster than average" category. Delaware benefits from a financial services sector that employs developers in ways that do not always show up under a San Francisco-sized salary but do offer steady demand.
One number worth watching: the mean wage of $136,170 sits just $1,010 above the median. When the mean and median are that close, it means high earners are not pulling the average up by much. The pay distribution here is unusually even.
Salary distribution
Where Delaware software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $111,110 and $162,060, with a median of $135,160.
Software Developers in Delaware: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 1,000 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $131,602. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 115 | $84,800 |
| Level II — qualified | 262 | $106,080 |
| Level III — experienced | 110 | $135,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 255 | $160,800 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in Delaware. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Vice President, Lead Software Engineer | 307 | $154,500 |
| BANK OF AMERICA N.A. | Vice President; Feature Lead - Technology | 25 | $153,000 |
| BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. | Associate | 22 | $127,827 |
| Corporation Service Company | Expert Software Engineer | 18 | $146,539 |
| Capital One Services, LLC | Senior Lead Software Engineer | 17 | $146,078 |
| M&T Bank | Software Engineer II | 16 | $125,653 |
| SK Technologies Inc - DE | Software Developer | 16 | $84,781 |
| RANDSTAD DIGITAL, LLC | Senior Software Developer | 14 | $130,000 |
| Citibank, N.A. | Info Sec Tech Lead Analyst | 12 | $160,228 |
| Barclays Services LLC | Full Stack Developer | 11 | $163,694 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Software Developer at Strategic Systems, Inc.$110,000WilmingtonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503021
- Appian Developer at CLOUDSCAPE, LLC$109,845WilmingtonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501577
- Software Developer at Petadigit LLC$109,845WilmingtonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503777
- Software Developer at VMark Solutions Inc$88,088NewarkDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494364
- Software Development Engineering - Advisor I at Fiserv Solutions, LLC$131,602WilmingtonDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-492875
- Associate, Software Engineer III at JPMorgan Chase & Co.$131,000WilmingtonDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-492958
- Software Developer at Intigno Inc.$112,923WilmingtonDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493904
- Associate, Software Engineer III at JPMorgan Chase & Co.$136,000WilmingtonDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-492955
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Software Developers pay by experience level in Delaware
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Software Developers specialties in Delaware
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 592 certified offers. The most common variant is Vice President, Lead Software Engineer at a median of $163,450.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice President, Lead Software Engineer | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 198 | $163,450 |
| Software Developer | SK Technologies Inc - DE | 167 | $105,300 |
| Software Engineer | M&T Bank | 129 | $125,653 |
| Java Developer | The Matlen Silver Group, Inc. | 22 | $109,845 |
| Data Engineer | Valarcorp Inc | 13 | $105,206 |
| Executive Director, Principal Software Engineer | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 11 | $215,000 |
| Engineer 3, Software Dev. & Engineering - Mobile Dev. | Elevance Health, Inc. | 9 | $141,479 |
| Expert Software Engineer | Corporation Service Company | 9 | $147,000 |
| Full Stack Developer | Barclays Services LLC | 9 | $105,206 |
| Vice President; Software Engineer | BANK OF AMERICA N.A. | 9 | $147,000 |
| JAVA FULL STACK DEVELOPER | COVANT SOLUTIONS, INC. | 8 | $105,206 |
| Salesforce Developer | Lex Nimble Solutions Inc. | 8 | $105,353 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in Delaware, by industry
Median offered wage across 998 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $106,290.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | SK Technologies Inc - DE | 448 | $106,290 |
| Professional services | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 379 | $150,000 |
| Finance and insurance | BANK OF AMERICA N.A. | 138 | $146,550 |
| Manufacturing | AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | 11 | $146,078 |
| Retail and wholesale | Caremark LLC | 6 | $158,254 |
| Education | Fly Gateway Aviation Institute | 6 | $105,103 |
| Healthcare | The Nemours Foundation - Nemours Children's Health | 4 | $117,585 |
| Transportation and logistics | National Railroad Passenger Corporation | 4 | $114,452 |
| Energy and utilities | Exelon Business Services Company LLC | 1 | $109,845 |
| Government and public sector | Adtalem Global Education Inc. | 1 | $120,750 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Delaware over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+15.8%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in Delaware?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in Delaware is $135,160.
- How does Delaware compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Delaware median is -2.4% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Delaware?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $93,850 and the 90th-percentile at $169,070, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Software Developers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 15.8% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Software Developers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.