Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Columbus, IN
Based on 26 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Columbus, IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,724 |
| 25th | $76,606 |
| 50th (median) | $85,000 |
| 75th | $92,000 |
| 90th | $98,457 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $61,485 | $61,485 | $80,850 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $63,315 | $60,000 | $79,872 | 21 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2023 | $70,110 | $66,196 | $75,000 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $76,794 | $68,318 | $90,000 | 11 |
| FY2025 | $85,000 | $76,606 | $92,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Columbus's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $85,000 is worth about $91,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbus = 93.0).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Columbus, IN area earned a median of $104,880 in May 2025 (280 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,000, 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cummins | $77,896 | 14 |
| LER TechForce | too few | 9 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $85,000 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,600 | 101 |
| Senior · Level III | $111,769 | 82 |
| Expert · Level IV | $129,813 | 35 |
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 | $70,346 | $85,000 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $82,930 | $95,600 | 101 |
| Senior · Level III | $99,445 | $111,769 | 82 |
| Expert · Level IV | $112,736 | $129,813 | 35 |
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.