Software Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 5,072 certified H-1B filings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Katy, Spring, Cypress, Sugar Land, Richmond.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $84,100 |
| 25th | $103,210 |
| 50th (median) | $107,431 |
| 75th | $136,716 |
| 90th | $159,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $92,000 | $91,104 | $110,000 | 3,336 |
| FY2021 | $93,375 | $90,022 | $118,000 | 3,009 |
| FY2022 | $93,000 | $92,685 | $115,000 | 4,085 |
| FY2023 | $98,301 | $90,522 | $119,211 | 3,699 |
| FY2024 | $99,000 | $98,301 | $121,493 | 3,381 |
| FY2025 | $105,997 | $103,210 | $132,000 | 3,193 |
| FY2026 | $114,754 | $105,976 | $145,801 | 1,879 |
Cost of living
Houston's median Software Engineer salary of $107,431 is worth about $108,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $129,440 in May 2025 (22,940 employed). The H-1B median here is $107,431, 17% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase | $149,550 | 120 |
| EY | $175,000 | 101 |
| Deloitte | $149,718 | 100 |
| Capgemini America | $142,000 | 65 |
| LTIMindtree | $105,976 | 65 |
| Schlumberger Technology | $131,248 | 65 |
| Zeus Solutions | $105,976 | 53 |
| Birlasoft Solutions | $105,976 | 47 |
| Amazon | $167,050 | 46 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $106,000 | 45 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $84,094 | 780 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,976 | 2,531 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,541 | 790 |
| Expert · Level IV | $156,998 | 721 |
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 | $79,851 | $84,094 | 780 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $103,210 | $105,976 | 2,531 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,837 | $130,541 | 790 |
| Expert · Level IV | $149,718 | $156,998 | 721 |
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.