Software Developer (Non-R&D) salary
From 596 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 15-1295: Software Developers, Non R&D
At a glance
- Mostly Level IV (expert). 35% of Software Developer (Non-R&D) filings are Level IV, compared with 18% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Henry Ford Health System. 50 filings (8% of the total), median $114,586.
- Median up 22% since FY2020. From $93,185 in FY2020 to $113,644 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Software Developer (Non-R&D) H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 596 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Software Developer (Non-R&D) jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 15-1295, Software Developers, Non R&D). The median base salary is $115,000, 6% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $94,389 and $132,357. The most common wage level is Level IV (expert), at 35% of filings. Chicago, IL has the most filings (48), and Henry Ford Health System is the employer that files the most (50).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Software Developer (Non-R&D)
Henry Ford Health System50 filings · 8%$114,586
Fermi Forward Discovery Group28 filings · 5%$88,660
University of California, Los Angeles28 filings · 5%$166,046
Group Health27 filings · 5%$113,651
Oclc24 filings · 4%$127,891
Stanford Health Care23 filings · 4%$145,995
Corewell Health19 filings · 3%$93,850
University of Michigan19 filings · 3%$97,647
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital15 filings · 3%$90,792
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center13 filings · 2%$94,058
Employers with the most Software Developer (Non-R&D) filings. Bar: share of all Software Developer (Non-R&D) filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 17% of filings
Mid-level · 28% of filings
Senior · 20% of filings
Expert · 35% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $82,940 | 96 |
| Level II · Qualified | $106,392 | 163 |
| Level III · Experienced | $120,016 | 113 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $129,605 | 203 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Software Developer (Non-R&D) pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 21 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $89,336 | 48 |
| Detroit, MI | $114,171 | 34 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $140,304 | 34 |
| New York, NY | $146,068 | 33 |
| Columbus, OH | $123,790 | 32 |
| Dallas, TX | $115,367 | 22 |
| Boston, MA | $129,605 | 21 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $112,121 | 20 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $98,824 | 18 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $93,850 | 18 |
| San Francisco, CA | $141,227 | 16 |
| Seattle, WA | $126,879 | 16 |
| Memphis, TN | $90,792 | 15 |
| San Jose, CA | $145,000 | 15 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $101,015 | 14 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $97,864 | 12 |
| Austin, TX | $107,402 | 12 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $144,690 | 11 |
| Washington, DC | $128,576 | 11 |
| Kansas, MO | $96,477 | 10 |
| Salt Lake, UT | $107,224 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,614 |
| 25th | $94,389 |
| 50th (median) | $115,000 |
| 75th | $132,357 |
| 90th | $155,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $93,185 | $76,814 | $110,000 | 413 |
| FY2021 | $97,344 | $80,548 | $113,502 | 463 |
| FY2022 | $103,750 | $86,050 | $119,171 | 507 |
| FY2023 | $108,075 | $90,781 | $125,000 | 466 |
| FY2024 | $107,744 | $88,185 | $123,893 | 344 |
| FY2025 | $115,170 | $95,553 | $131,768 | 365 |
| FY2026 | $113,644 | $91,281 | $134,006 | 231 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Software Developer (Non-R&D) make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Software Developer (Non-R&D) jobs is $115,000 (596 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $94,389 and $132,357.
What does an entry-level Software Developer (Non-R&D) earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $82,940. Level I accounts for 17% of Software Developer (Non-R&D) filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Software Developer (Non-R&D)s?
Henry Ford Health System (50), Fermi Forward Discovery Group (28) and University of California, Los Angeles (28) filed the most Software Developer (Non-R&D) LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.