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

Median salary$133,494
Middle 50%$126.1k–$133.5k
vs. all levels here+15%comparison median $116,189
Filings82FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $126,090 and $159,838.
PercentileSalary
10th$126,090
25th$126,090
50th (median)$133,494
75th$133,494
90th$133,494

Salary by year

Median salary

$90k $120k $150k FY2020: median $104,478 (28 filings) FY2021: median $122,907 (11 filings) FY2022: median $125,570 (15 filings) FY2023: median $119,454 (15 filings) FY2024: median $119,454 (23 filings) FY2025: median $126,090 (40 filings) FY2026: median $133,494 (42 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 28 filings FY20 FY2021: 11 filings FY21 FY2022: 15 filings FY22 FY2023: 15 filings FY23 FY2024: 23 filings FY24 FY2025: 40 filings FY25 FY2026: 42 filings FY26 42
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$104,478$104,478$114,12628
FY2021$122,907$122,907$123,49111
FY2022$125,570$125,570$125,57015
FY2023$119,454$119,454$138,02915
FY2024$119,454$119,454$126,09023
FY2025$126,090$126,090$133,49440
FY2026$133,494$133,494$133,49442

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

EmployerMedianFilings
Rockwell Collins$133,49473
Aegon Global Servicestoo few3

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
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 levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$90,189$98,88373
Senior · Level III$108,139$110,00079
Expert · Level IV$133,494$133,49482

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.