What the numbers say
The median Software Developer in Iowa earned $109,850 in 2024, about 21% below the national median of $138,520. That gap is real, but it tells only part of the story.
Iowa's cost of living sits at 89.9 on BLS's regional price index, meaning a dollar goes further here than in most of the country. After adjusting for that, the $109,850 median translates to roughly $122,200 in national-baseline purchasing terms. The gap with the US figure narrows to around 12%.
The spread between low and high earners is wide. Developers at the 10th percentile earned $70,650 in 2024. Those at the 90th earned $169,200, about 2.4 times as much. The 25th to 75th percentile range runs from $89,300 to $134,260, so the middle half of earners spans $45,000. That spread reflects how much experience, specialization, and the specific employer matter in this occupation.
BLS projects Software Developer employment to grow 15.8% nationally between 2024 and 2034, a rate it classifies as much faster than average. Iowa had 9,840 employed in the occupation in 2024. If the state tracks the national growth rate, that count rises to roughly 11,400 by 2034. We use the national projection here because BLS does not publish state-level projections for this occupation.
Salary distribution
Where Iowa software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $89,300 and $134,260, with a median of $109,850.
Software Developers in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 651 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $106,700. 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 | 102 | $80,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 236 | $98,318 |
| Level III — experienced | 99 | $113,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 111 | $130,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Collins Inc. | Senior Engineer, Software Engineering | 136 | $108,139 |
| Siri Consultancy Services, Inc. | Software Engineer | 28 | $80,000 |
| Deere & Company | Senior Software Engineer | 24 | $120,800 |
| Wellmark, Inc. | Lead Software Engineer | 13 | $128,960 |
| Athene Annuity and Life Company | Software Developer Lead | 11 | $140,000 |
| Corteva Agriscience LLC | Sr. Software Engineer II | 10 | $128,960 |
| Quality Consulting, Inc. | Software Developer | 9 | $97,760 |
| Genova Technologies, Inc. | Software Developer | 6 | $90,000 |
| The University of Iowa | Senior Application Developer | 6 | $96,696 |
| COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC | SOFTWARE DEVELOPER | 6 | $124,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- ERP DEVELOPER - 3 at CLOUD ANALYTICS TECHNOLOGIES LLC$81,994DES MOINESDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501272
- TABLEAU CONTRACTOR at RPA TECHNOLOGIES LLC$81,994DES MOINESDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502287
- Sr Consultant, Software Engineer at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company$159,152Des MoinesDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498023
- Software Developer at Seven Seas Technologies, Inc.$101,000Des MoinesDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-495350
- Engineer II, Software Engineering at Rockwell Collins Inc.$98,883Cedar RapidsDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494382
- Lead Software Engineer (017040.000990) at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.$156,998Des MoinesDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-495523
- Senior Software Engineer at Deere & Company$118,000JohnstonDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491065
- Top Technical Specialist, Programming Analysis at Aegon Global Services, LLC$133,494Cedar RapidsDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491266
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 Iowa
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 Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 485 certified offers. The most common variant is Software Engineer at a median of $99,442.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Siri Consultancy Services, Inc. | 154 | $99,442 |
| Senior Engineer, Software Engineering | Rockwell Collins Inc. | 140 | $108,139 |
| Software Developer | Athene Annuity and Life Company | 118 | $100,838 |
| Senior Application Developer | The University of Iowa | 17 | $97,392 |
| .Net Developer | Antra, Inc. | 12 | $93,652 |
| Java Developer | PIONEER CONSULTING LLC | 9 | $96,304 |
| Consultant, Software Engineer | Nationwide Insurance | 8 | $129,480 |
| Developer | Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines | 6 | $125,645 |
| Solution Architect | Employers Mutual Casualty Company | 6 | $140,754 |
| SPECIALIST II - SOFTWARE ENGINEERING | UST Global Inc | 5 | $119,400 |
| Programmer Analyst | TuniraSoft, LLC | 5 | $96,304 |
| Data Analyst | Avventis Tech Inc | 5 | $96,304 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 651 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $100,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Siri Consultancy Services, Inc. | 337 | $100,000 |
| Manufacturing | Rockwell Collins Inc. | 176 | $114,557 |
| Finance and insurance | Wellmark, Inc. | 65 | $128,960 |
| Professional services | Corteva Agriscience LLC | 37 | $115,570 |
| Education | The University of Iowa | 13 | $96,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Casey's Retail Company | 9 | $114,524 |
| Energy and utilities | MidAmerican Energy Company | 5 | $113,143 |
| Real estate | De Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc. | 3 | $146,078 |
| Transportation and logistics | CRST Expedited, Inc. | 3 | $130,000 |
| Healthcare | Hope Found Inc. | 1 | $95,000 |
| Media and entertainment | SciPlay Games, LLC | 1 | $133,200 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Young Presidents' Organization, Inc. | 1 | $130,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Iowa 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 Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in Iowa is $109,850.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Iowa median is -20.7% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $70,650 and the 90th-percentile at $169,200, 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.