Expert Software Engineer salary in Nashville, TN
Based on 350 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $134,014 |
| 25th | $134,014 |
| 50th (median) | $140,920 |
| 75th | $154,828 |
| 90th | $178,266 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $110,787 | $108,950 | $124,500 | 182 |
| FY2021 | $110,587 | $110,573 | $124,000 | 186 |
| FY2022 | $116,000 | $109,595 | $125,716 | 342 |
| FY2023 | $130,000 | $120,994 | $149,940 | 162 |
| FY2024 | $134,014 | $129,979 | $152,484 | 163 |
| FY2025 | $139,025 | $134,014 | $150,000 | 198 |
| FY2026 | $142,200 | $140,920 | $165,545 | 152 |
Cost of living
Nashville's median expert Software Engineer salary of $140,920 is worth about $146,300 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 $140,920, 11% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care Service | $140,920 | 29 |
| Deloitte | $141,010 | 23 |
| eviCore healthcare MSI | $140,920 | 19 |
| HCA Management Services | $137,467 | 16 |
| Tractor Supply Company | $134,014 | 14 |
| Oracle | $140,920 | 13 |
| AllianceBernstein L.P. | $153,075 | 12 |
| DaVita | $134,014 | 12 |
| Asurion | $184,484 | 10 |
| NewQuest | 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 | $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.
