Software Engineer salary in Richmond, VA
Based on 1,569 certified H-1B filings in the Richmond, VA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Glen Allen, Henrico, Mechanicsville, Ashland, Moseley.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $87,000 |
| 25th | $107,500 |
| 50th (median) | $112,986 |
| 75th | $140,000 |
| 90th | $162,100 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $87,984 | $86,778 | $102,773 | 1,497 |
| FY2021 | $91,291 | $87,984 | $107,926 | 1,270 |
| FY2022 | $95,909 | $89,669 | $112,000 | 1,427 |
| FY2023 | $102,939 | $95,909 | $115,267 | 975 |
| FY2024 | $107,890 | $102,939 | $129,792 | 969 |
| FY2025 | $110,000 | $107,890 | $140,000 | 990 |
| FY2026 | $115,000 | $107,411 | $140,000 | 579 |
Cost of living
Richmond's median Software Engineer salary of $112,986 is worth about $115,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Richmond = 97.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Richmond, VA area earned a median of $132,120 in May 2025 (7,680 employed). The H-1B median here is $112,986, 14% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capital One | $150,550 | 156 |
| Capgemini America | $130,000 | 67 |
| UST | $124,057 | 55 |
| Elevance Health | $142,517 | 55 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $110,500 | 24 |
| Global Sumi Technologies | $87,000 | 21 |
| Deloitte | $140,403 | 18 |
| Ascendion, Inc. (Formerly known as Collabera, Inc.) | $124,900 | 18 |
| Nga Group | $107,890 | 15 |
| CarMax Enterprise Services | $155,000 | 14 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $86,549 | 217 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $108,000 | 777 |
| Senior · Level III | $132,555 | 261 |
| Expert · Level IV | $162,100 | 257 |
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 | $86,549 | $86,549 | 217 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $107,890 | $108,000 | 777 |
| Senior · Level III | $129,210 | $132,555 | 261 |
| Expert · Level IV | $154,981 | $162,100 | 257 |
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.