Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Columbus, OH
Based on 262 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Columbus, OH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dublin, Delaware, Lewis Center, Westerville, Powell.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $82,846 |
| 25th | $84,635 |
| 50th (median) | $85,000 |
| 75th | $87,500 |
| 90th | $93,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $71,000 | $70,699 | $76,507 | 110 |
| FY2021 | $70,000 | $68,578 | $79,046 | 106 |
| FY2022 | $69,742 | $69,742 | $75,000 | 128 |
| FY2023 | $79,602 | $71,115 | $80,000 | 126 |
| FY2024 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $85,000 | 272 |
| FY2025 | $85,000 | $84,635 | $87,500 | 183 |
| FY2026 | $82,850 | $82,846 | $90,000 | 79 |
Cost of living
Columbus's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $85,000 is worth about $89,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbus = 95.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Columbus, OH area earned a median of $122,340 in May 2025 (9,880 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,000, 31% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Systems | $86,000 | 48 |
| Racedog | too few | 7 |
| Deloitte | too few | 4 |
| BlupaceUS | too few | 4 |
| Smart Prism Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Synapse Tech Services | too few | 4 |
| T Prods Solutions | too few | 4 |
| 3Amigosit | too few | 3 |
| A&M It Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Citizens Property Insurance | 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 | $85,000 | 262 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $102,627 | 1,135 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,000 | 469 |
| Expert · Level IV | $148,400 | 591 |
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 | $84,635 | $85,000 | 262 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $101,899 | $102,627 | 1,135 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,973 | $125,000 | 469 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,026 | $148,400 | 591 |
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.