Mid-level Software Engineer salary in Columbia, SC
Based on 115 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $88,941 |
| 25th | $88,945 |
| 50th (median) | $96,949 |
| 75th | $106,000 |
| 90th | $114,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $74,600 | $74,547 | $83,366 | 173 |
| FY2021 | $64,792 | $64,792 | $80,000 | 237 |
| FY2022 | $64,168 | $64,168 | $77,355 | 201 |
| FY2023 | $82,000 | $77,355 | $94,000 | 149 |
| FY2024 | $93,800 | $93,500 | $102,000 | 122 |
| FY2025 | $97,000 | $96,949 | $105,750 | 54 |
| FY2026 | $89,000 | $88,941 | $107,845 | 61 |
Cost of living
Columbia's median mid-level Software Engineer salary of $96,949 is worth about $103,500 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 $96,949, 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capgemini America | too few | 9 |
| Sanctityinternational | too few | 8 |
| CGI | too few | 3 |
| Computer Sciences | too few | 3 |
| Dataedge | too few | 3 |
| Dominion Energy Services | too few | 3 |
| Gannu Software | too few | 3 |
| Bluebix Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 2 |
| Compusoft Integrated Solutions | 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.