What the numbers say
The median wage for Software Developers in Wisconsin was $103,360 in 2024, about 25% below the national median of $138,520. That is one of the larger state-level gaps we see for this occupation across the country.
The average wage came in at $114,030, notably higher than the median. A smaller group of senior developers pulls that figure up. The spread from bottom to top tells the same story: the 10th percentile earned $63,120 while the 90th earned $162,220, meaning top earners made roughly two and a half times what the lowest-paid did. Experience, specialization, and the kinds of companies hiring locally all push wages in different directions here.
Wisconsin's cost of living runs below the national baseline. The BEA Regional Price Parity index we use sits at 92.7, meaning everyday expenses cost about 7% less than the US average. After adjusting for that, the median wage translates to roughly $111,500 in national-baseline dollars. That closes about a third of the nominal gap with the US median.
On the job-growth side, BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as much faster than average. Wisconsin's 22,170 Software Developer jobs in 2024 give that growth rate a meaningful base to build on.
Salary distribution
Where Wisconsin software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,280 and $129,760, with a median of $103,360.
Software Developers in Wisconsin: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 985 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $114,700. 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 | 96 | $80,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 360 | $99,720 |
| Level III — experienced | 179 | $125,747 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 183 | $140,920 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in Wisconsin. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | Senior Software Engineer | 55 | $134,199 |
| American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | Senior Engineer | 51 | $135,048 |
| FIS Management Services, LLC | Software Engineer Senior | 27 | $117,810 |
| GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC | STAFF SOFTWARE ENGINEER | 17 | $145,600 |
| U.S. Bank National Association | Software Engineer | 15 | $127,878 |
| Deloitte Consulting LLP | Project Delivery Manager | 14 | $132,187 |
| Google LLC | Software Engineer | 14 | $140,000 |
| QUEST GLOBAL SERVICES- N.A., INC. | Software Developer | 13 | $79,040 |
| Epic Systems Corporation | Software Developer | 12 | $110,000 |
| HTC GLOBAL SERVICES INC. | Software Developer | 11 | $114,504 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Software Development Engineer II at Zappos.com LLC$173,200MadisonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-500763
- Project Delivery Specialist at Deloitte Consulting LLP$139,800Sun PrairieDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503920
- Lead Data Engineer at American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.$168,000MadisonDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501419
- Software Engineer at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company$125,000MilwaukeeDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497201
- Senior Systems Software Engineer at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company$157,192FranklinDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498462
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPER I at University of Wisconsin System$67,829MADISONDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498898
- Sr. Software Engineer at U.S. Bank National Association$113,922BrookfieldDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-497278
- Software Developer at KAPUR & ASSOCIATES, INC.$101,920BurlingtonDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498390
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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 581 certified offers. The most common variant is Software Engineer at a median of $121,367.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | 261 | $121,367 |
| Software Developer | Epic Systems Corporation | 168 | $98,093 |
| Senior Engineer | American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | 34 | $132,046 |
| Senior Data Engineer | American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | 27 | $131,893 |
| Consultant | Genpact LLC | 18 | $94,307 |
| Java Developer | One Stop Global Solutions LLC | 15 | $98,093 |
| Software Development Engineer | Bop LLC | 11 | $155,000 |
| Lead Application Development Engineer | American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | 11 | $141,429 |
| Software Developers - KBGFJG218571-4 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 10 | $148,296 |
| Full Stack Developer | RF Technologies, Inc. | 10 | $91,250 |
| Applications Consultant | CAPGEMINI AMERICA INC | 8 | $115,205 |
| Technical Lead | Coforge Limited | 8 | $95,164 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in Wisconsin, by industry
Median offered wage across 983 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $105,997.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | FIS Management Services, LLC | 535 | $105,997 |
| Finance and insurance | Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | 173 | $134,344 |
| Manufacturing | GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC | 135 | $131,373 |
| Professional services | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 76 | $101,920 |
| Retail and wholesale | Kohls, Inc. | 49 | $145,000 |
| Real estate | CoreLogic Solutions, LLC | 4 | $135,826 |
| Transportation and logistics | KBX Logistics, LLC | 4 | $150,000 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin System | 3 | $94,730 |
| Energy and utilities | Constellation Energy Generation LLC | 3 | $120,723 |
| Healthcare | Welbe Health LLC | 1 | $112,320 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Wisconsin 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Software Developers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Wisconsin
Metro-level salary data for software developers in major Wisconsin metropolitan areas.
- Milwaukee$104,500
Compare Software Developers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in Wisconsin?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in Wisconsin is $103,360.
- How does Wisconsin compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Wisconsin median is -25.4% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Wisconsin?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,120 and the 90th-percentile at $162,220, 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.