Expert Software Engineer salary in Columbia, SC
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Columbia, SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Lexington, Cayce, Blythewood, West Columbia, Irmo.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $130,773 |
| 25th | $135,305 |
| 50th (median) | $142,495 |
| 75th | $159,645 |
| 90th | $169,203 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,000 | $99,424 | $115,000 | 65 |
| FY2021 | $110,240 | $100,000 | $124,800 | 43 |
| FY2022 | $117,499 | $105,000 | $139,360 | 41 |
| FY2023 | $124,800 | $117,499 | $135,992 | 27 |
| FY2024 | $137,592 | $133,952 | $150,000 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $143,900 | $138,734 | $159,937 | 14 |
| FY2026 | $142,495 | $130,945 | $157,215 | 20 |
Cost of living
Columbia's median expert Software Engineer salary of $142,495 is worth about $152,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbia = 93.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Columbia, SC area earned a median of $123,380 in May 2025 (2,070 employed). The H-1B median here is $142,495, 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina | too few | 3 |
| Coolsoft | too few | 3 |
| Duck Creek Technologies | too few | 3 |
| Molina Healthcare | 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 | $83,000 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,949 | 115 |
| Senior · Level III | $118,000 | 63 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,495 | 34 |
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 | $76,232 | $83,000 | 22 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $88,941 | $96,949 | 115 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,866 | $118,000 | 63 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,770 | $142,495 | 34 |
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.