Senior Software Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 790 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $126,589 |
| 25th | $127,837 |
| 50th (median) | $130,541 |
| 75th | $145,000 |
| 90th | $166,128 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $110,000 | $109,803 | $120,000 | 627 |
| FY2021 | $112,475 | $107,000 | $128,520 | 493 |
| FY2022 | $116,938 | $109,595 | $130,000 | 619 |
| FY2023 | $120,000 | $109,970 | $135,000 | 527 |
| FY2024 | $130,000 | $120,328 | $145,788 | 479 |
| FY2025 | $132,425 | $126,597 | $145,525 | 480 |
| FY2026 | $130,000 | $127,837 | $142,513 | 310 |
Cost of living
Houston's median senior Software Engineer salary of $130,541 is worth about $132,400 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 $130,541, 1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capgemini America | $144,668 | 41 |
| EY | $199,846 | 26 |
| Zeus Solutions | $127,837 | 17 |
| Amazon | $169,400 | 15 |
| Deloitte | $160,000 | 12 |
| Natsoft | $127,837 | 12 |
| Kforce | $127,837 | 11 |
| Microsoft | $156,577 | 11 |
| Oracle | $126,589 | 10 |
| Birlasoft Solutions | $127,837 | 10 |
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.