What the numbers say
The median Software Developer in West Virginia earned $103,550 in 2024, about 25% below the national median of $138,520. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
West Virginia's cost of living sits well below the national baseline. Our index puts it at 87.5, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 12.5% cheaper than average. After adjusting for that, the in-state median translates to closer to $118,300 in national-baseline dollars. The headline gap shrinks from $35,000 to around $20,000. That is still a discount, but a more manageable one for anyone weighing whether to stay or relocate.
The spread across earners is wide. Developers at the 10th percentile brought in $61,480, while those at the 90th earned $160,660. Top earners made roughly 2.6 times what their entry-level counterparts did. West Virginia's 90th-percentile figure actually clears the national median by more than $22,000, which means experienced developers here are competing in a different conversation than the state's median implies.
Employment is small but growing fast. About 2,280 Software Developers were employed in West Virginia in 2024. BLS projects the occupation will grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as much faster than average. That rate matches or beats what BLS projects nationally for the same role. Whether the state's base stays small or compounds into a larger pool will depend on whether remote-friendly employers continue to hire here.
Salary distribution
Where West Virginia software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $79,480 and $126,880, with a median of $103,550.
Software Developers in West Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 22 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $110,000. 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 | 6 | $91,250 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $110,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $155,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $162,750 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in West Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| M&S Consulting, LLC | Senior Development Engineer - Integration, DevOps, SecOps | 3 | $110,000 |
| Boba Labs, Inc. | Software Development Engineer | 2 | $100,750 |
| West Virginia University | Professional Technologist/Senior Application Developer | 1 | $113,464 |
| IBM Corporation | Cloud Senior Developer | 1 | $115,758 |
| Fast Enterprises, LLC | Implementation Analyst | 1 | $98,030 |
| Consultina Corporation | Software Engineer (DevOps & EUC) | 1 | $118,000 |
| Moxie IT Solutions Inc | Java Full Stack Developer | 1 | $85,000 |
| SREE INFOTECH LLC | Software Developer | 1 | $81,310 |
| Luma Financial Technologies, LLC | Site Reliability Engineer II | 1 | $200,000 |
| Docmation LLC | Technical Architect | 1 | $212,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Professional Technologist/Senior Application Developer at West Virginia University$113,464MorgantownDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25342-465817
- Software Development Engineer at Boba Labs, Inc.$104,000RansonDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-440133
- Cloud Senior Developer at IBM Corporation$115,758Rocket CenterDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-348745
- Senior Development Engineer - Integration, DevOps, SecOps at M&S Consulting, LLC$100,630MorgantownWage Level IIIDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25178-136429
- Implementation Analyst at Fast Enterprises, LLC$98,030CharlestonWage Level IDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-090345
- Software Engineer (DevOps & EUC) at Consultina Corporation$118,000South CharlestonWage Level IIDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-029911
- Java Full Stack Developer at Moxie IT Solutions Inc$85,000CharlestonWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-026249
- Senior Architect at M&S Consulting, LLC$110,000MorgantownWage Level IIDecided Jun 2, 2025I-200-25143-012787
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 West Virginia
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 in West Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 22 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $104,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Boba Labs, Inc. | 13 | $104,000 |
| Professional services | M&S Consulting, LLC | 3 | $110,000 |
| Education | West Virginia University | 2 | $88,837 |
| Finance and insurance | Luma Financial Technologies, LLC | 2 | $182,500 |
| Manufacturing | Ford Motor Credit Company LLC | 2 | $187,080 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in West Virginia is $103,550.
- How does West Virginia compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The West Virginia median is -25.2% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in West Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,480 and the 90th-percentile at $160,660, 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.