Expert Software Engineer salary in Dallas, TX
Based on 5,287 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Plano, Irving, Westlake, Frisco, Mckinney.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $149,781 |
| 25th | $156,998 |
| 50th (median) | $160,000 |
| 75th | $175,100 |
| 90th | $195,140 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $130,000 | $127,712 | $142,500 | 1,184 |
| FY2021 | $135,000 | $128,315 | $148,000 | 1,720 |
| FY2022 | $140,000 | $130,000 | $155,000 | 3,378 |
| FY2023 | $145,247 | $135,900 | $160,000 | 2,564 |
| FY2024 | $151,100 | $141,315 | $165,485 | 2,425 |
| FY2025 | $158,200 | $149,790 | $175,000 | 3,059 |
| FY2026 | $162,100 | $156,998 | $178,000 | 2,228 |
Cost of living
Dallas's median expert Software Engineer salary of $160,000 is worth about $155,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Dallas = 103.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Dallas, TX area earned a median of $133,290 in May 2025 (67,030 employed). The H-1B median here is $160,000, 20% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Citi | $159,550 | 506 |
| JPMorgan Chase | $172,000 | 432 |
| Fidelity Investments | $156,998 | 219 |
| AT&T | $168,453 | 195 |
| Deloitte | $156,998 | 164 |
| CVS Health | $171,137 | 139 |
| Capital One | $156,998 | 133 |
| Charles Schwab & Company | $168,150 | 112 |
| Goldman Sachs | $187,000 | 94 |
| Southwest Airlines | $149,781 | 78 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $90,896 | 4,722 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $112,923 | 17,666 |
| Senior · Level III | $135,000 | 5,970 |
| Expert · Level IV | $160,000 | 5,287 |
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 | $84,094 | $90,896 | 4,722 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,997 | $112,923 | 17,666 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,971 | $135,000 | 5,970 |
| Expert · Level IV | $156,998 | $160,000 | 5,287 |
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.