Programmer Analyst salary

From 23,865 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.

  • Occupation code 15-1251: Computer Programmers
  • Also filed as: Computer Programmer
Median base salary$92,207−25% vs. all H-1B filings
Middle 50%$80k–$107.4k
80% of filings$74.7k–$130k10th to 90th percentile
Level II (mid-level) share68%all filings: 42%

At a glance

  • Mostly Level II (mid-level). 68% of Programmer Analyst filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
  • Top filer: Tata Consultancy Services. 1,831 filings (8% of the total), median $83,866.
  • Pay depends on the city. Among the 10 metro areas with the most filings, the median ranges from $82,534 in Chicago, IL to $127,000 in San Jose, CA.
  • Median up 22% since FY2020. From $78,105 in FY2020 to $95,243 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.

Programmer Analyst H-1B salary overview

Employers filed 23,865 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Programmer Analyst jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 15-1251, Computer Programmers). The median base salary is $92,207, 25% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $80,000 and $107,432. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 68% of filings. Dallas, TX has the most filings (4,134), and Tata Consultancy Services is the employer that files the most (1,831).

Is your Programmer Analyst offer competitive?

Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Programmer Analyst jobs, nationally or in one metro area.

10th $74.7k25th $80kmedian $92.2k75th $107.4k90th $130k

Enter a salary to see where it falls.

Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.

Top employers for Programmer Analyst

Employers with the most Programmer Analyst filings. Bar: share of all Programmer Analyst filings. Figure: median base salary.

Pay by level

$75.9kLevel I
Entry-level · 12% of filings
$90.3kLevel II
Mid-level · 68% of filings
$105kLevel III
Senior · 13% of filings
$123.4kLevel IV
Expert · 6% of filings
Show the table

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Level I · Entry $75,899 2,960
Level II · Qualified $90,334 16,156
Level III · Experienced $105,000 3,211
Level IV · Fully competent $123,386 1,479

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Programmer Analyst pay by city

Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.

Show all 97 metro areas
Metro areaMedianFilings
Dallas, TX$85,5304,134
New York, NY$100,0002,544
Washington, DC$94,3701,328
San Jose, CA$127,0001,287
Atlanta, GA$90,2101,091
Austin, TX$84,0001,024
Chicago, IL$82,534880
Charlotte, NC$90,000808
Philadelphia, PA$84,000761
San Francisco, CA$107,203759
Houston, TX$79,102630
Phoenix, AZ$84,000487
Raleigh, NC$91,042427
Los Angeles, CA$91,728393
Columbus, OH$82,243348
Detroit, MI$79,404342
Boston, MA$102,814325
Tampa, FL$80,038296
Bloomington, IL$87,000267
San Antonio, TX$94,848258
Trenton, NJ$86,653235
Minneapolis, MN$90,418226
Seattle, WA$140,000206
Baltimore, MD$93,538205
St. Louis, MO$86,424195
Denver, CO$100,000188
Pittsburgh, PA$74,734165
Sacramento, CA$95,389150
Cincinnati, OH$96,637143
Cleveland, OH$77,022143
Miami, FL$97,386141
Richmond, VA$85,800121
Durham, NC$94,806120
Hartford, CT$95,763116
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY$90,813113
Orlando, FL$78,749106
Albany, NY$82,000102
Jacksonville, FL$86,71593
Kansas, MO$78,91585
Nashville, TN$104,87784
Portland, OR$101,06783
Las Vegas, NV$77,00073
Providence, RI$85,59267
Memphis, TN$95,90263
Stockton, CA$95,40060
Marion, OH$78,96756
Omaha, NE$90,10556
Fayetteville, AR$102,00053
Riverside, CA$81,37053
Harrisburg, PA$99,50051
Lansing, MI$79,39550
Salt Lake, UT$81,78950
San Diego, CA$109,72050
Milwaukee, WI$82,90948
Indianapolis, IN$87,29845
Madison, WI$81,72345
Albuquerque, NM$78,65043
Des Moines, IA$87,00043
Manchester, NH$78,52036
Akron, OH$74,31833
Peoria, IL$71,46932
Tallahassee, FL$70,37532
Birmingham, AL$104,75030
Allentown, PA$92,60029
Erie, PA$70,78128
Dayton, OH$75,00027
Worcester, MA$94,18227
Grand Rapids, MI$77,70924
Boise, ID$80,89123
Syracuse, NY$81,37023
Columbus, IN$90,78222
Jefferson, MO$73,92022
Sioux Falls, SD$65,20822
Provo, UT$87,73421
Santa Fe, NM$77,23021
Greensboro, NC$79,31020
Springfield, IL$82,50020
Virginia Beach, VA$86,52820
Fort Wayne, IN$107,41018
Columbia, SC$93,00017
Greenville, SC$86,00017
Jackson, MS$76,83716
Boulder, CO$109,20015
Kenosha, WI$98,30015
Bridgeport, CT$111,40014
Buffalo, NY$86,95414
Reading, PA$88,09413
Cedar Rapids, IA$88,86412
Palm Bay, FL$71,50012
Ann Arbor, MI$82,34711
Lincoln, NE$79,00011
Lubbock, TX$70,00011
Lynchburg, VA$90,85411
Dover, DE$73,62610
Frankfort, KY$82,74010
Lexington-Fayette, KY$99,65010
New Haven, CT$96,72110

Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.

What a Programmer Analyst does

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

Typical tasks

  • Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
  • Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
  • Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
  • Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
  • Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
  • Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.

Preparation

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

O*NET occupation: Computer Programmers (15-1251.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers

Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Computer Programmers), the median annual wage was $100,390 in May 2025, with 92,230 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $92,207, 8% lower.

H-1B filingsAll U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025)
10th percentile$74,734$57,710
25th percentile$80,000$75,850
Median$92,207$100,390
75th percentile$107,432$130,680
90th percentile$130,000$160,460

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.

Salary details

Median salary$92,207
Middle 50%$80k–$107.4k
vs. all occupations−25%comparison median $122,699
Filings23,865FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $60,000 and $166,962.
PercentileSalary
10th$74,734
25th$80,000
50th (median)$92,207
75th$107,432
90th$130,000

Salary by year

Median salary

$70k $90k $110k FY2020: median $78,105 (12,066 filings) FY2021: median $81,806 (9,145 filings) FY2022: median $88,587 (9,797 filings) FY2023: median $85,072 (10,014 filings) FY2024: median $90,000 (12,574 filings) FY2025: median $91,042 (13,460 filings) FY2026: median $95,243 (10,405 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 12,066 filings FY20 FY2021: 9,145 filings FY21 FY2022: 9,797 filings FY22 FY2023: 10,014 filings FY23 FY2024: 12,574 filings FY24 FY2025: 13,460 filings FY25 FY2026: 10,405 filings FY26 13,460
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$78,105$72,150$90,16812,066
FY2021$81,806$74,152$96,3489,145
FY2022$88,587$76,294$102,0009,797
FY2023$85,072$75,268$101,92010,014
FY2024$90,000$77,000$105,00012,574
FY2025$91,042$81,000$107,00013,460
FY2026$95,243$79,435$109,75010,405

Questions

How much does an H-1B Programmer Analyst make?

The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Programmer Analyst jobs is $92,207 (23,865 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $80,000 and $107,432.

What does an entry-level Programmer Analyst earn on an H-1B?

Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $75,899. Level I accounts for 12% of Programmer Analyst filings.

Which city pays H-1B Programmer Analysts the most?

Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, Seattle, WA has the highest median base salary for Programmer Analyst jobs: $140,000 (206 filings).

Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Programmer Analysts?

Tata Consultancy Services (1,831), Mphasis (1,456) and Wipro (1,032) filed the most Programmer Analyst LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.

Do H-1B Programmer Analysts earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?

The H-1B median base salary ($92,207) is 8% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($100,390, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.