What the numbers say
Software Developers in Rhode Island earned a median of $128,660 in 2024, about 7% below the US median of $138,520. That gap is narrower than it looks in cost-of-living terms: Rhode Island's overall price index sits right at the national baseline, so the nominal difference is the real difference. A developer here takes home roughly $10,000 less per year than the typical peer nationwide, no adjustment needed.
The spread within the state is wide. The 10th percentile earned $82,630 while the 90th reached $168,020, a range of about $85,000 from bottom to top. A developer near the start of their career earns roughly half what a senior peer does. That kind of spread usually reflects meaningful differences in specialization, seniority, and the types of companies doing the hiring.
One unusual detail: the mean wage of $126,810 sits below the median of $128,660. That pattern runs opposite to most professional occupations, where a smaller group of very high earners pulls the average above the middle. Here, the spread compresses near the top, and the very bottom earners bring the mean down slightly. With only 6,010 Software Developers employed statewide, a relatively small number of lower-paid roles is enough to move the average.
BLS projects this occupation to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, a rate it classifies as much faster than average. Rhode Island's employment base is small enough that even moderate national demand trends translate into noticeable local hiring pressure over a ten-year window.
Salary distribution
Where Rhode Island software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $98,340 and $135,980, with a median of $128,660.
Software Developers in Rhode Island: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 514 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $128,586. 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 | 25 | $90,100 |
| Level II — qualified | 191 | $110,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 101 | $134,432 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 63 | $158,620 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in Rhode Island. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Pharmacy Inc. | Sr Software Development Engineer | 77 | $144,757 |
| Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | Senior Software Engineer/Developer | 74 | $130,790 |
| Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | Senior Software Engineer | 33 | $122,699 |
| COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC | Software Developer | 32 | $124,000 |
| KFORCE INC. | SENIOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPER | 24 | $126,807 |
| FACTORY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY | Senior Software Engineer | 20 | $130,790 |
| CVS Shared Services Resources LLC | Senior Software Development Engineer | 16 | $140,000 |
| Mastech Digital Technologies, Inc. | Software Developer | 16 | $109,959 |
| Caremark LLC | Staff Data Engineer | 10 | $145,247 |
| Dassault Systemes Americas Corp | Software Engineering Manager | 9 | $134,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Java Full Stack Developer/Architect at V-Soft Consulting Group, INC$111,000SmithfieldDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501646
- Principal Data Engineer at Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments$136,223SmithfieldDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502293
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPER at DATAEDGE, INC$110,000WOONSOCKETDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496689
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPER at COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC$116,000SMITHFIELDDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498382
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPER at DATAEDGE, INC$110,000WOONSOCKETDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496701
- Sr. Software Engineer at Kloudhive LLC$109,600ProvidenceDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-494257
- Data Analytics Engineer at Quest IT Solutions Inc$109,512East ProvidenceDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493309
- Data Management Specialist at Citizens Financial Group, Inc.$109,512JohnstonDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-486936
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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 356 certified offers. The most common variant is Software Developer at a median of $110,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC | 99 | $110,500 |
| Senior Software Engineer | FACTORY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY | 72 | $130,790 |
| Sr Software Development Engineer | CVS Pharmacy Inc. | 59 | $135,000 |
| Principal Data Engineer | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 29 | $129,578 |
| Sr Mgr, Software Development Engineering | CVS Pharmacy Inc. | 19 | $159,914 |
| Senior Software Engineer/Developer | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 17 | $110,406 |
| Senior Full Stack Engineer | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 16 | $120,744 |
| Director, Software Engineering | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 15 | $151,195 |
| ADVANCED SOFTWARE DEVELOPER | KFORCE INC. | 11 | $130,790 |
| Principal Systems Analyst | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 10 | $119,745 |
| Software Developers - KBGFJG116579-8 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 5 | $159,166 |
| Principal Software Engineer in Test | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 4 | $111,218 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in Rhode Island, by industry
Median offered wage across 513 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $112,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | COMPUNNEL SOFTWARE GROUP, INC | 205 | $112,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Fidelity Technology Group, LLC d/b/a Fidelity Investments | 175 | $133,724 |
| Professional services | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 71 | $128,586 |
| Retail and wholesale | CVS Pharmacy Inc. | 52 | $144,908 |
| Education | Brown University | 4 | $119,106 |
| Transportation and logistics | Federal Express Corporation | 2 | $132,887 |
| Healthcare | Commonwealth Care Alliance, Inc. | 2 | $120,487 |
| Energy and utilities | Constellation Energy Generation, LLC | 1 | $129,000 |
| Media and entertainment | IGT | 1 | $151,200 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island metropolitan areas.
- Providence$132,010
Compare Software Developers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in Rhode Island?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in Rhode Island is $128,660.
- How does Rhode Island compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Rhode Island median is -7.1% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Rhode Island?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,630 and the 90th-percentile at $168,020, 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.