Software Engineer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 8,203 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mclean, Herndon, Arlington, Reston, Ashburn.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,421 |
| 25th | $122,699 |
| 50th (median) | $129,000 |
| 75th | $156,197 |
| 90th | $178,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $98,815 | $96,595 | $117,500 | 8,118 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $97,406 | $120,000 | 6,544 |
| FY2022 | $105,000 | $98,550 | $130,000 | 7,608 |
| FY2023 | $112,901 | $110,240 | $133,640 | 5,925 |
| FY2024 | $115,000 | $114,026 | $140,000 | 5,522 |
| FY2025 | $126,090 | $122,699 | $152,100 | 5,065 |
| FY2026 | $133,616 | $126,090 | $164,134 | 3,138 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Software Engineer salary of $129,000 is worth about $118,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $154,930 in May 2025 (69,060 employed). The H-1B median here is $129,000, 17% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $145,200 | 1,134 |
| Capital One | $178,400 | 198 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | $173,763 | 178 |
| Federal Home Loan Mortgage | $129,500 | 121 |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $162,380 | 96 |
| Deloitte | $154,000 | 90 |
| Walmart | $153,087 | 84 |
| Comcast | $152,363 | 69 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $132,000 | 66 |
| Idexcel | $110,000 | 66 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $101,421 | 1,707 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $126,090 | 3,594 |
| Senior · Level III | $156,000 | 1,277 |
| Expert · Level IV | $178,600 | 880 |
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 | $97,157 | $101,421 | 1,707 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $122,699 | $126,090 | 3,594 |
| Senior · Level III | $150,758 | $156,000 | 1,277 |
| Expert · Level IV | $175,427 | $178,600 | 880 |
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.