What the numbers say
The median Software Developer in Missouri earned $114,550 in 2024, about 17% below the national median of $138,520. The average came in just under that at $114,240, which is unusually close. When the average and median sit this near each other, the pay distribution is fairly balanced: high earners are not pulling the average far above what a typical developer in the state actually makes.
The spread across experience levels is still wide. The 10th percentile earned $63,210 while the 90th earned $163,270. That is a $100,000 gap between the bottom and the top of the range. In practical terms, a senior developer in Missouri can earn more than two and a half times what someone just starting out does.
Missouri's cost of living runs below the national average. Our index puts the state at 90.6, compared to a baseline of 100. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the $114,550 median stretches closer to $126,400 in national-baseline dollars. That narrows the gap with the national median from 17% to roughly 9%.
On the job market side, BLS projects Software Developer employment to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034. BLS classifies that as much faster than average. With around 17,060 developers currently employed in the state, that pace of growth points to meaningful demand over the next decade.
Salary distribution
Where Missouri software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,990 and $134,600, with a median of $114,550.
Software Developers in Missouri: 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: $112,174. 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 | 94 | $75,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 382 | $97,386 |
| Level III — experienced | 123 | $123,188 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 90 | $140,050 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in Missouri. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastercard Technologies, LLC | Senior Software Engineer | 166 | $118,706 |
| Charter Communications, Inc. | Software Engineer V | 47 | $121,285 |
| Charter Communications Inc. | Software Engineer IV | 28 | $118,162 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | Project Delivery Specialist | 21 | $97,386 |
| TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | Software Developer, Systems Software | 16 | $97,386 |
| Centene Management Company, LLC | Senior Application Development Engineer | 13 | $136,703 |
| Mastercard International Incorporated | Senior Software Engineer | 13 | $115,000 |
| HRB Professional Resources, LLC | Senior Software Engineer | 12 | $126,347 |
| Equifax Inc. | Software Engineer “ Career | 11 | $133,973 |
| Infinite Computer Solutions, Inc. | Software Developer | 9 | $94,370 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Analyst, Cloud Platform Engineer at Panera LLC$115,000FentonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502738
- Software Engineer at DONATO TECHNOLOGIES INC$97,386Maryland HeightsDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502892
- Lead Application Development Engineer at Centene Management Company, LLC$160,496St. LouisDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501556
- Policy Architect at Premium Consulting, LLC$189,592SpringfieldDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501869
- Senior Software Engineer at HIGH QUARTILE, LLC$98,000Saint CharlesDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503648
- Software Engineer at VEDHOPS IT SERVICES LLC$79,899Saint CharlesDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503086
- Software Engineer “ Career at Equifax Inc.$140,046St. LouisDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-500855
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPER at INNOVA SOLUTIONS, INC.$118,706CHESTERFIELDDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497238
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 Missouri
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 Missouri
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 614 certified offers. The most common variant is Senior Software Engineer at a median of $115,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Software Engineer | Mastercard Technologies, LLC | 308 | $115,000 |
| Software Developer | TECH MAHINDRA (AMERICAS), INC | 149 | $97,386 |
| Senior BizOps Engineer | Mastercard Technologies, LLC | 26 | $97,386 |
| Java Developer | Pro IT, Inc. | 24 | $87,797 |
| DevOps Engineer | Charter Communications, Inc. | 19 | $97,386 |
| Software Development Engineer | Travelscape LLC | 16 | $95,943 |
| Manager, Software Engineering | Mastercard Technologies, LLC | 16 | $136,475 |
| Data Engineer | Bayer Research and Development Services LLC | 13 | $97,386 |
| Senior Application Development Engineer | Centene Management Company, LLC | 12 | $137,460 |
| Programmer Analyst | EVEREST CONSULTING GROUP INC. | 11 | $97,386 |
| Principal Architect | Charter Communications, Inc. | 10 | $140,046 |
| Principal Developer | Endava Solutions, LLC | 10 | $122,987 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in Missouri, by industry
Median offered wage across 994 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $97,386.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Charter Communications, Inc. | 622 | $97,386 |
| Finance and insurance | Mastercard Technologies, LLC | 242 | $121,781 |
| Professional services | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 84 | $122,260 |
| Manufacturing | Bayer U.S. LLC | 21 | $136,379 |
| Energy and utilities | Spire Inc. | 10 | $140,720 |
| Transportation and logistics | Kansas City Southern Railway Company | 6 | $129,108 |
| Retail and wholesale | CVS Shared Services Resources LLC | 5 | $140,000 |
| Education | Shorelight Education LLC | 2 | $146,949 |
| Healthcare | Evolent Specialty Services, Inc. | 2 | $130,853 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Missouri 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Missouri
Metro-level salary data for software developers in major Missouri metropolitan areas.
- St. Louis$120,490
- Kansas City$114,440
Compare Software Developers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in Missouri?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in Missouri is $114,550.
- How does Missouri compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Missouri median is -17.3% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Missouri?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,210 and the 90th-percentile at $163,270, 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.