What the numbers say
The median Software Developer in DC earned $136,040 in 2024, about 1.8% below the national median of $138,520. That is a small gap, but it runs against what most people expect from one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Cost of living explains the disconnect. DC's overall price index sits at 117.7 against a national baseline of 100. Adjusted for what the money actually buys, that $136,040 median works out closer to $115,600 in national-dollar terms, which puts DC-based developers noticeably behind peers in lower-cost states earning similar nominal wages.
The spread between top and bottom earners is wide. Developers at the 10th percentile earned $87,120 in 2024. At the 90th percentile, the figure was $203,560, more than twice as much. That kind of range usually reflects a mix of experience levels and the different kinds of roles drawing on the same occupational title: a junior developer at a government contractor and a principal engineer at a private firm both count as Software Developers in BLS data.
The mean wage of $143,810 sits above the median, which tells us a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up. For most developers working in DC, the median of $136,040 is the more accurate reference point.
On employment growth, BLS projects the Software Developer occupation nationally to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, a pace classified as much faster than average. DC's figure follows the national projection; the 8,250 developers currently employed in the district sit in a field with a strong long-run demand signal, even if the local wage does not carry the premium the address might suggest.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $114,690 and $166,970, with a median of $136,040.
Software Developers in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 457 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $126,090. 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 | 76 | $98,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 189 | $123,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 78 | $150,758 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 19 | $179,236 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle America, Inc. | Software Developer | 17 | $162,818 |
| Hexaware Technologies, Inc. | Senior Consultant | 12 | $148,221 |
| Google LLC | Software Engineer | 9 | $170,500 |
| Raas Infotek LLC | Software Developer | 9 | $122,750 |
| EAB Global, Inc. | Senior Front-End Engineer | 7 | $129,792 |
| PayPal, Inc. | MTS 1, Software Engineer | 6 | $143,175 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | Project Delivery Senior Analyst | 6 | $147,030 |
| National Railroad Passenger Corporation | Lead Software Engineer | 6 | $130,900 |
| WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post | Senior Software Engineer | 6 | $137,156 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Software Engineer | 6 | $183,470 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Software Developer at Data S Solutions LLC$126,090Washington DCDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502566
- Software Engineer at PayPal, Inc.$118,151WashingtonDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494238
- Senior DevOps Engineer at EAB Global, Inc.$118,111WashingtonDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-486425
- Lead AI Engineer at Boston Consulting Group, Inc.$225,400WashingtonDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-488586
- SOFTWARE ENGINEER at VISUAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC$126,090WASHINGTON DCDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-488471
- Software Engineer at Google LLC$206,000WashingtonDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-486217
- Data Engineer at VALIANT TEK GROUP INC$126,090WashingtonDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-487901
- .Net Developer at Alpha 20 Group LLC$106,442WashingtonDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-483585
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 District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 265 certified offers. The most common variant is Software Developer at a median of $122,699.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | Oracle America, Inc. | 112 | $122,699 |
| Software Engineer | Google LLC | 93 | $126,100 |
| Senior Consultant | Hexaware Technologies, Inc. | 9 | $148,221 |
| Software Development Engineer | Mapbox, Inc. | 7 | $136,000 |
| Engineer 3, Software Development & Engineering | Comcast Cable Communications, LLC | 6 | $97,157 |
| Appian Developer | Tech Tammina, LLC | 6 | $112,060 |
| Manager | PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ADVISORY SERVICES LLC | 6 | $170,400 |
| APPLICATION DEVELOPER | LUZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | 6 | $122,699 |
| DevOps Engineer | Tech Analysis, Inc | 5 | $118,111 |
| .Net Developer | DECIPHER SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LLC | 5 | $122,699 |
| Systems Engineer | CLOUDFLARE, INC. | 5 | $160,000 |
| Developer | HYPERION TECHNOLOGIES LLC | 5 | $132,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 457 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $123,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Oracle America, Inc. | 354 | $123,000 |
| Professional services | EAB Global, Inc. | 57 | $138,600 |
| Finance and insurance | PayPal, Inc. | 22 | $141,528 |
| Transportation and logistics | National Railroad Passenger Corporation | 6 | $130,900 |
| Education | Georgetown University | 5 | $105,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Association of American Medical Colleges | 4 | $138,613 |
| Manufacturing | Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 4 | $170,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | CloudAI Technologies | 2 | $148,850 |
| Government and public sector | CIBT, Inc. | 2 | $124,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Exelon Business Services Company LLC | 1 | $122,699 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia 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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Metro-level salary data for software developers in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$150,880
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in District of Columbia is $136,040.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The District of Columbia median is -1.8% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $87,120 and the 90th-percentile at $203,560, 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.