Expert Software Engineer salary in Columbus, GA
Based on 17 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Columbus, GA-AL metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Midland, West Point.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $127,317 |
| 25th | $130,021 |
| 50th (median) | $138,551 |
| 75th | $157,353 |
| 90th | $162,073 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2021 | $116,438 | $113,006 | $120,610 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $123,308 | $117,000 | $140,500 | 18 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2024 | $130,875 | $124,052 | $140,021 | 10 |
| FY2025 | $130,636 | $127,993 | $137,213 | 10 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Columbus's median expert Software Engineer salary of $138,551 is worth about $155,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbus = 89.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Columbus, GA area earned a median of $116,150 in May 2025 (1,050 employed). The H-1B median here is $138,551, 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Total System Services | too few | 7 |
| FIS Management Services | too few | 4 |
| American Family Life Assurance Company Of Columbus (Aflac) | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $83,945 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,599 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,551 | 17 |
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 | $81,224 | $83,945 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,098 | $98,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | $113,755 | $124,599 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $130,021 | $138,551 | 17 |
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.