Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 780 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $79,851 |
| 25th | $79,851 |
| 50th (median) | $84,094 |
| 75th | $86,287 |
| 90th | $99,253 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $73,362 | $72,426 | $80,000 | 231 |
| FY2021 | $75,000 | $73,362 | $80,271 | 238 |
| FY2022 | $75,795 | $75,795 | $77,000 | 550 |
| FY2023 | $76,000 | $71,099 | $80,000 | 396 |
| FY2024 | $77,000 | $76,794 | $82,056 | 654 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $79,851 | $85,000 | 568 |
| FY2026 | $84,100 | $84,094 | $90,896 | 212 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $84,094 is worth about $85,300 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 $84,094, 35% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SkillGigs | $79,851 | 18 |
| Zeus Solutions | $79,851 | 15 |
| Creative Team | $79,851 | 14 |
| Deloitte | $84,094 | 12 |
| H-Town Technologies | $84,094 | 12 |
| Schlumberger Technology | $117,000 | 12 |
| Infodat International | $86,000 | 11 |
| Mebhaz | $84,094 | 10 |
| Ykunt | $79,900 | 10 |
| Pioneer Tek Services | too few | 9 |
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.