Expert Software Engineer salary in Tampa, FL
Based on 824 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $140,000 |
| 25th | $145,642 |
| 50th (median) | $151,000 |
| 75th | $162,745 |
| 90th | $177,329 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $124,000 | $119,163 | $135,000 | 299 |
| FY2021 | $127,695 | $120,000 | $139,709 | 310 |
| FY2022 | $134,802 | $125,000 | $145,000 | 538 |
| FY2023 | $140,000 | $130,000 | $150,000 | 440 |
| FY2024 | $144,000 | $135,408 | $157,152 | 357 |
| FY2025 | $150,000 | $142,550 | $162,453 | 470 |
| FY2026 | $153,600 | $145,642 | $162,975 | 354 |
Cost of living
Tampa's median expert Software Engineer salary of $151,000 is worth about $149,700 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 $151,000, 16% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Citi | $150,000 | 290 |
| JPMorgan Chase | $156,500 | 95 |
| Deloitte | $145,642 | 30 |
| Raymond James & Associates | $153,400 | 25 |
| Verizon | $148,247 | 24 |
| The Depository Trust and Clearing | $159,550 | 24 |
| Oracle | $145,642 | 11 |
| Centene Management Company | $167,601 | 11 |
| Capgemini America | too few | 7 |
| Publix Super Markets | too few | 7 |
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.