Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Nashville, TN
Based on 142 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Franklin, Brentwood, Mount Juliet, Spring Hill, Columbia.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $81,286 |
| 25th | $81,286 |
| 50th (median) | $85,099 |
| 75th | $106,475 |
| 90th | $132,450 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,000 | $65,853 | $112,000 | 70 |
| FY2021 | $76,293 | $65,000 | $92,976 | 54 |
| FY2022 | $75,000 | $65,707 | $85,000 | 79 |
| FY2023 | $80,101 | $66,789 | $119,100 | 81 |
| FY2024 | $81,744 | $70,500 | $89,000 | 115 |
| FY2025 | $85,000 | $81,286 | $100,000 | 91 |
| FY2026 | $90,896 | $84,531 | $122,600 | 51 |
Cost of living
Nashville's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $85,099 is worth about $88,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Nashville = 96.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Nashville, TN area earned a median of $126,610 in May 2025 (7,750 employed). The H-1B median here is $85,099, 33% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $129,000 | 21 |
| Collaborate Solutions | too few | 8 |
| HealthStream | too few | 7 |
| Kanini Software Solutions | too few | 7 |
| Eclat Integrated Software Solutions | too few | 5 |
| Tractor Supply Company | too few | 4 |
| Gia Technologies | too few | 3 |
| Deloitte | too few | 2 |
| Ford | too few | 2 |
| A. O. Smith | 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 | $85,099 | 142 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $103,335 | 739 |
| Senior · Level III | $122,117 | 410 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,920 | 350 |
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 | $81,286 | $85,099 | 142 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,862 | $103,335 | 739 |
| Senior · Level III | $122,117 | $122,117 | 410 |
| Expert · Level IV | $140,920 | $140,920 | 350 |
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.