Software Developers in Tennessee. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Software Developer in Tennessee earned $117,340 in 2024, about 15% below the US median of $138,520. That gap looks significant on paper. It shrinks once you account for cost of living.
Tennessee's overall price index sits at 92.5, meaning the average dollar goes further here than in most states. Adjusted for that, the in-state median comes out closer to $126,900 in national-baseline terms. The real gap narrows to roughly 8%. For developers weighing a Nashville or Knoxville offer against a coastal role, that difference matters.
The spread across earners is wide. Developers at the 10th percentile earned $72,140 in 2024, while those at the 90th earned $164,420. Top earners made about 2.3 times what entry-level peers made. That kind of range usually reflects differences in experience, specialization, and the types of companies hiring in the state. The 25th to 75th percentile band runs from $95,060 to $134,890, so mid-career developers in Tennessee cluster in a fairly tight range even as the tails stretch out.
The mean and median are nearly identical at $117,940 and $117,340. When those two figures land this close, a small group of high earners is not pulling the average up by much. The pay distribution here is more compressed than what we see in states like California or Washington.
BLS projects Software Developer employment to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as much faster than average. Tennessee had about 18,750 developers employed in 2024, a base large enough that even moderate growth translates to a meaningful number of new roles over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $90,750 and $138,890, with a median of $122,430.
Software Developers in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 2,000 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $116,106. 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 | 178 | $83,600 |
| Level II — qualified | 831 | $103,334 |
| Level III — experienced | 523 | $122,117 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 353 | $140,920 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Express Corporation | Full Stack Developer Advisor | 190 | $115,482 |
| HCA Management Services LP | Consulting Application Engineer | 59 | $116,438 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Software Development Engineer II | 50 | $144,500 |
| AutoZone, Inc. | Systems Engineer | 47 | $129,562 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | Project Delivery Specialist | 41 | $125,350 |
| UBS Business Solutions US LLC | Associate Director, Tech Engineer | 39 | $126,000 |
| CitiusTech Inc. | Software Developer | 36 | $99,550 |
| Oracle America, Inc. | Software Developer | 31 | $122,117 |
| HEALTH CARE SERVICE CORPORATION | SR DATA ENGINEER | 29 | $134,014 |
| Asurion, LLC | Software Engineer 3 | 26 | $155,250 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Software Consultant at Hadiamondstar Software Solutions LLC$103,334NashvilleWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-728375
- Full Stack Developer III at FedEx Freight, Inc.$109,924MemphisDecided —I-200-26084-728035
- POWER BI DEVELOPER/ADMIN at INDUS GROUP INC.$97,386MEMPHISWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-729243
- Software Developer at INDUS VALLEY CONSULTANTS, INC.$112,923NashvilleWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-729605
- Software Engineer 2 at CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC$130,000NashvilleWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-727579
- Advisor - Software Engineer at FedEx Freight, Inc.$142,000MemphisWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-728680
- Senior Data Engineer at HCA Management Services, LP$122,117NashvilleWage Level IIIDecided —I-200-26084-728326
- Mobility Engineer II at HCA Management Services LP$122,300NashvilleWage Level IIDecided —I-200-26084-729281
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.
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Software Developers pay by experience level in Tennessee
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 Tennessee
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 965 certified offers. The most common variant is Software Developer at a median of $99,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | Oracle America, Inc. | 279 | $99,000 |
| Software Engineer | Asurion, LLC | 260 | $116,106 |
| Full Stack Developer | Federal Express Corporation | 67 | $95,680 |
| Data Engineer | HEALTH CARE SERVICE CORPORATION | 51 | $116,411 |
| Full Stack Developer Advisor | Federal Express Corporation | 50 | $115,482 |
| Senior Developer | Tractor Supply Company | 49 | $122,116 |
| Systems Engineer | AutoZone, Inc. | 48 | $124,653 |
| Software Development Engineer | Amazon.com Services LLC | 40 | $144,500 |
| Technical Principal | DaVita, Inc. | 34 | $124,899 |
| Application Developer | ATOS SYNTEL INC | 32 | $110,947 |
| Associate Director, Tech Engineer | UBS Business Solutions US LLC | 29 | $134,100 |
| Software Engineer Advisor | Federal Express Corporation | 26 | $115,482 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 1,980 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $103,334.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | CitiusTech Inc. | 912 | $103,334 |
| Professional services | HCA Management Services LP | 293 | $122,117 |
| Finance and insurance | UBS Business Solutions US LLC | 272 | $134,014 |
| Transportation and logistics | Federal Express Corporation | 216 | $115,482 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 159 | $134,014 |
| Manufacturing | A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | 62 | $127,590 |
| Healthcare | DaVita, Inc. | 43 | $116,438 |
| Government and public sector | Memphis Light, Gas, and Water | 7 | $115,045 |
| Energy and utilities | Rogers Management, Inc. | 6 | $157,730 |
| Media and entertainment | iHeartMedia Entertainment, Inc. | 5 | $127,629 |
| Education | Belmont University | 3 | $104,000 |
| Real estate | FANAURA, LLC | 1 | $110,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Project Management Institute, Inc. | 1 | $140,861 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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 Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in Tennessee is $122,430.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Tennessee median is -14.4% versus the BLS national figure of $142,947.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $75,280 and the 90th-percentile at $166,380, 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.