Expert Software Engineer salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Based on 303 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Coraopolis, Canonsburg, Monroeville, Warrendale, Cranberry Township.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $131,581 |
| 25th | $140,000 |
| 50th (median) | $146,295 |
| 75th | $164,516 |
| 90th | $187,399 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $114,400 | $105,646 | $124,900 | 267 |
| FY2021 | $121,245 | $112,611 | $135,000 | 185 |
| FY2022 | $130,000 | $117,835 | $150,000 | 288 |
| FY2023 | $135,000 | $122,249 | $155,000 | 206 |
| FY2024 | $140,000 | $130,000 | $163,269 | 164 |
| FY2025 | $145,000 | $133,035 | $161,844 | 192 |
| FY2026 | $149,609 | $140,754 | $166,125 | 111 |
Cost of living
Pittsburgh's median expert Software Engineer salary of $146,295 is worth about $154,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Pittsburgh = 94.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Pittsburgh, PA area earned a median of $124,500 in May 2025 (10,320 employed). The H-1B median here is $146,295, 18% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Bank of New York Mellon | $170,089 | 34 |
| The PNC Financial Services Group | $140,800 | 17 |
| CGI | $140,754 | 12 |
| CVS Health | too few | 7 |
| Ansys | too few | 7 |
| Humana | too few | 6 |
| ProCare Pharmacy | too few | 6 |
| UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside | too few | 6 |
| Apple | too few | 5 |
| AEO Employment Services | 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 | $88,000 | 219 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $98,400 | 802 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,000 | 413 |
| Expert · Level IV | $146,295 | 303 |
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 | $76,918 | $88,000 | 219 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $93,038 | $98,400 | 802 |
| Senior · Level III | $119,475 | $120,000 | 413 |
| Expert · Level IV | $131,581 | $146,295 | 303 |
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.