Senior Software Engineer salary in Columbia, SC
Based on 63 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $109,866 |
| 25th | $114,000 |
| 50th (median) | $118,000 |
| 75th | $134,175 |
| 90th | $153,099 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $87,000 | $86,632 | $100,000 | 64 |
| FY2021 | $83,000 | $82,098 | $99,471 | 71 |
| FY2022 | $97,427 | $82,000 | $105,175 | 68 |
| FY2023 | $101,600 | $97,427 | $118,304 | 54 |
| FY2024 | $124,800 | $114,400 | $135,000 | 45 |
| FY2025 | $119,000 | $117,666 | $131,050 | 36 |
| FY2026 | $115,000 | $110,000 | $138,495 | 27 |
Cost of living
Columbia's median senior Software Engineer salary of $118,000 is worth about $126,000 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 $118,000, 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AgFirst Farm Credit Bank | $117,783 | 14 |
| Capgemini America | $130,000 | 13 |
| Protech Solutions | too few | 3 |
| American Specialty Health Incorporated | too few | 2 |
| Progressive Casualty Insurance Company | 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.