Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Phoenix, AZ
Based on 699 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $83,096 |
| 25th | $83,100 |
| 50th (median) | $87,651 |
| 75th | $96,000 |
| 90th | $129,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,000 | $64,414 | $89,801 | 183 |
| FY2021 | $76,752 | $66,144 | $92,685 | 239 |
| FY2022 | $70,000 | $67,995 | $83,200 | 285 |
| FY2023 | $81,744 | $75,000 | $90,000 | 254 |
| FY2024 | $83,000 | $81,744 | $88,000 | 411 |
| FY2025 | $84,000 | $83,096 | $91,729 | 434 |
| FY2026 | $88,000 | $87,651 | $104,000 | 265 |
Cost of living
Phoenix's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $87,651 is worth about $84,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Phoenix = 103.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Phoenix, AZ area earned a median of $131,750 in May 2025 (29,380 employed). The H-1B median here is $87,651, 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 | 79 |
| Savvients | $87,672 | 33 |
| Deloitte | $88,276 | 24 |
| Microchip Technology | $87,651 | 12 |
| Core Ai Consulting | $83,096 | 11 |
| Skygys | too few | 8 |
| Atmecs Global | too few | 7 |
| G3 Soft | too few | 7 |
| Spartan Technology | too few | 7 |
| Galaxy3 | too few | 5 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $87,651 | 699 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $111,072 | 2,308 |
| Senior · Level III | $135,000 | 942 |
| Expert · Level IV | $160,000 | 688 |
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 | $83,096 | $87,651 | 699 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,976 | $111,072 | 2,308 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,514 | $135,000 | 942 |
| Expert · Level IV | $157,934 | $160,000 | 688 |
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.