Expert Software Engineer salary in Grand Rapids, MI
Based on 97 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Ada, Wyoming, Walker, Byron Center, Caledonia.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $127,000 |
| 25th | $130,000 |
| 50th (median) | $137,592 |
| 75th | $145,858 |
| 90th | $155,334 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $96,000 | $95,056 | $100,000 | 70 |
| FY2021 | $93,080 | $92,019 | $111,750 | 56 |
| FY2022 | $119,028 | $93,600 | $130,000 | 73 |
| FY2023 | $125,000 | $112,476 | $135,000 | 51 |
| FY2024 | $130,000 | $120,000 | $138,104 | 49 |
| FY2025 | $136,615 | $130,000 | $144,123 | 65 |
| FY2026 | $139,188 | $130,263 | $151,132 | 32 |
Cost of living
Grand Rapids's median expert Software Engineer salary of $137,592 is worth about $144,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Grand Rapids = 95.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Grand Rapids, MI area earned a median of $107,520 in May 2025 (4,310 employed). The H-1B median here is $137,592, 28% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meijer Great Lakes Limited Partnership | $139,919 | 55 |
| Gordon Food Service | $130,000 | 13 |
| Meijer Stores Limited Partnership | too few | 7 |
| Htc Global Services | too few | 5 |
| Farmers Group | too few | 2 |
| Steelcase | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $72,426 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $91,000 | 113 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,091 | 62 |
| Expert · Level IV | $137,592 | 97 |
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 | $68,536 | $72,426 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,426 | $91,000 | 113 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,138 | $130,091 | 62 |
| Expert · Level IV | $127,504 | $137,592 | 97 |
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.