Expert Software Engineer salary in Columbus, OH
Based on 591 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $139,000 |
| 25th | $140,026 |
| 50th (median) | $148,400 |
| 75th | $162,000 |
| 90th | $180,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $129,730 | $112,091 | $132,000 | 255 |
| FY2021 | $117,208 | $112,091 | $130,000 | 364 |
| FY2022 | $127,490 | $118,000 | $140,000 | 492 |
| FY2023 | $137,300 | $130,000 | $150,250 | 355 |
| FY2024 | $141,400 | $134,150 | $151,400 | 271 |
| FY2025 | $148,000 | $140,000 | $161,900 | 317 |
| FY2026 | $148,819 | $140,026 | $162,205 | 274 |
Cost of living
Columbus's median expert Software Engineer salary of $148,400 is worth about $155,400 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 $148,400, 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase | $154,800 | 265 |
| Cardinal Health | $140,026 | 38 |
| Abercrombie & Fitch Management | $140,026 | 12 |
| Liberty Mutual Technology Group | $140,026 | 11 |
| Deloitte | $146,013 | 10 |
| MAST Technology Services | $148,500 | 10 |
| Nationwide Insurance | too few | 9 |
| Path Robotics | too few | 7 |
| Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company | too few | 6 |
| NetJets Services | too few | 6 |
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.