Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Athens, GA
Based on 27 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Watkinsville.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
Most entry-level filings in Athens, GA are at exactly $54,018. 21 of 27 filings (78%) list this exact salary.
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $54,018 |
| 25th | $54,018 |
| 50th (median) | $54,018 |
| 75th | $54,018 |
| 90th | $79,600 |
Cost of living
Athens's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $54,018 is worth about $57,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Athens = 93.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Athens, GA area earned a median of $106,870 in May 2025 (150 employed). The H-1B median here is $54,018, 49% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| BeyondCareer | $54,018 | 21 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $54,018 | 27 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $54,018 | $54,018 | 27 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.