Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Tampa, FL
Based on 306 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Wesley Chapel, Temple Terrace, St. Petersburg, Lutz, Zephyrhills.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,947 |
| 25th | $71,947 |
| 50th (median) | $78,374 |
| 75th | $84,745 |
| 90th | $103,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $70,000 | $64,000 | $76,721 | 142 |
| FY2021 | $73,450 | $65,000 | $80,000 | 107 |
| FY2022 | $70,000 | $66,622 | $72,625 | 196 |
| FY2023 | $70,000 | $66,700 | $80,000 | 118 |
| FY2024 | $70,000 | $69,410 | $79,749 | 183 |
| FY2025 | $72,000 | $71,947 | $84,100 | 207 |
| FY2026 | $80,000 | $78,374 | $91,900 | 99 |
Cost of living
Tampa's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $78,374 is worth about $77,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Tampa = 100.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Tampa, FL area earned a median of $130,450 in May 2025 (14,230 employed). The H-1B median here is $78,374, 40% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sirrus Software Services | $71,947 | 19 |
| Deloitte | $93,040 | 13 |
| Anand Pag | $84,100 | 12 |
| Sri Tech Solutions | $71,947 | 11 |
| Corporate Computer Solutions | too few | 7 |
| Lilax Technologies,Inc | too few | 7 |
| WB Solutions | too few | 6 |
| Citi | too few | 5 |
| System Soft Technologies | too few | 5 |
| Tweta Technologies | 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 | $78,374 | 306 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,797 | 1,261 |
| Senior · Level III | $130,000 | 622 |
| Expert · Level IV | $151,000 | 824 |
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 | $71,947 | $78,374 | 306 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,370 | $100,797 | 1,261 |
| Senior · Level III | $116,771 | $130,000 | 622 |
| Expert · Level IV | $145,642 | $151,000 | 824 |
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.