Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Cincinnati, OH
Based on 147 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mason, Blue Ash, Erlanger, Milford, Covington.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,438 |
| 25th | $78,000 |
| 50th (median) | $81,307 |
| 75th | $89,483 |
| 90th | $110,426 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,000 | $63,294 | $75,000 | 78 |
| FY2021 | $75,000 | $64,064 | $87,500 | 105 |
| FY2022 | $71,105 | $64,064 | $80,000 | 82 |
| FY2023 | $80,000 | $67,467 | $90,000 | 63 |
| FY2024 | $77,438 | $73,000 | $82,278 | 87 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $77,438 | $85,000 | 89 |
| FY2026 | $81,307 | $81,307 | $91,000 | 58 |
Cost of living
Cincinnati's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $81,307 is worth about $85,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Cincinnati = 95.4).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Cincinnati, OH area earned a median of $121,420 in May 2025 (9,900 employed). The H-1B median here is $81,307, 33% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slk America | $81,307 | 19 |
| Siemens | too few | 6 |
| Maxpep | too few | 6 |
| Deloitte | too few | 4 |
| Lorhan | too few | 4 |
| Fidelity Investments | too few | 3 |
| Archer Daniels Midland Company | too few | 3 |
| Medpace | too few | 3 |
| Quber | too few | 3 |
| EY | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $81,307 | 147 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,550 | 803 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,000 | 319 |
| Expert · Level IV | $148,750 | 348 |
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 | $77,438 | $81,307 | 147 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,547 | $100,550 | 803 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,787 | $127,000 | 319 |
| Expert · Level IV | $139,027 | $148,750 | 348 |
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.