Software Engineer salary in Lakeland, FL
Based on 106 certified H-1B filings in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Davenport, Auburndale, Bartow, Haines City, Seffner.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $99,920 |
| 25th | $134,978 |
| 50th (median) | $148,454 |
| 75th | $160,599 |
| 90th | $175,929 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,605 | $77,688 | $111,303 | 84 |
| FY2021 | $101,920 | $81,806 | $115,011 | 113 |
| FY2022 | $116,248 | $98,750 | $130,000 | 80 |
| FY2023 | $115,843 | $85,000 | $135,419 | 71 |
| FY2024 | $136,913 | $104,572 | $149,810 | 70 |
| FY2025 | $145,000 | $129,935 | $155,012 | 69 |
| FY2026 | $155,000 | $145,642 | $169,897 | 37 |
Cost of living
Lakeland's median Software Engineer salary of $148,454 is worth about $152,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Lakeland = 97.1).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Lakeland, FL area earned a median of $122,200 in May 2025 (990 employed). The H-1B median here is $148,454, 21% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Publix Super Markets | $153,665 | 72 |
| FedEx | too few | 3 |
| FedEx Freight | too few | 3 |
| System Soft Technologies | too few | 3 |
| Salesforce | too few | 2 |
| Innova Solutions | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,030 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $133,525 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $151,437 | 77 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,501 | $99,030 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,787 | $133,525 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,525 | $151,437 | 77 |
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.