Expert Software Engineer salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Based on 82 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Marion, Hiawatha, Cedar Rapids,, Cedar Rapaids.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $126,090 |
| 25th | $126,090 |
| 50th (median) | $133,494 |
| 75th | $133,494 |
| 90th | $133,494 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $104,478 | $104,478 | $114,126 | 28 |
| FY2021 | $122,907 | $122,907 | $123,491 | 11 |
| FY2022 | $125,570 | $125,570 | $125,570 | 15 |
| FY2023 | $119,454 | $119,454 | $138,029 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $119,454 | $119,454 | $126,090 | 23 |
| FY2025 | $126,090 | $126,090 | $133,494 | 40 |
| FY2026 | $133,494 | $133,494 | $133,494 | 42 |
Cost of living
Cedar Rapids's median expert Software Engineer salary of $133,494 is worth about $150,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Cedar Rapids = 89.0).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Cedar Rapids, IA area earned a median of $114,340 in May 2025 (1,250 employed). The H-1B median here is $133,494, 17% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Collins | $133,494 | 73 |
| Aegon Global Services | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 7 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,883 | 73 |
| Senior · Level III | $110,000 | 79 |
| Expert · Level IV | $133,494 | 82 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,189 | $98,883 | 73 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,139 | $110,000 | 79 |
| Expert · Level IV | $133,494 | $133,494 | 82 |
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.
