Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Richmond, VA
Based on 217 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $83,637 |
| 25th | $86,549 |
| 50th (median) | $86,549 |
| 75th | $90,000 |
| 90th | $100,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $72,000 | $70,803 | $77,241 | 47 |
| FY2021 | $77,105 | $73,840 | $92,248 | 56 |
| FY2022 | $75,587 | $75,587 | $80,000 | 116 |
| FY2023 | $80,000 | $78,395 | $82,080 | 71 |
| FY2024 | $82,000 | $81,910 | $86,549 | 138 |
| FY2025 | $86,549 | $86,549 | $89,180 | 157 |
| FY2026 | $83,637 | $83,637 | $90,000 | 60 |
Cost of living
Richmond's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $86,549 is worth about $88,400 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 $86,549, 34% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Global Sumi Technologies | $87,000 | 15 |
| Mindspecs | $86,549 | 11 |
| Logicroute | $86,549 | 10 |
| Smarton Solutions | $86,549 | 10 |
| Vypra | too few | 7 |
| Artifint Technologies | too few | 6 |
| Vak IT Systems | too few | 6 |
| Warecodes | too few | 6 |
| CloudnineTek | too few | 4 |
| Gerent | too few | 4 |
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.