Mid-level Software Engineer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 3,594 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $122,699 |
| 25th | $122,999 |
| 50th (median) | $126,090 |
| 75th | $138,498 |
| 90th | $158,759 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $97,406 | $96,595 | $101,463 | 4,793 |
| FY2021 | $98,000 | $97,406 | $102,283 | 3,570 |
| FY2022 | $99,000 | $98,550 | $110,240 | 4,203 |
| FY2023 | $110,500 | $110,240 | $115,482 | 3,090 |
| FY2024 | $115,000 | $114,026 | $125,000 | 2,669 |
| FY2025 | $124,800 | $122,699 | $136,800 | 2,217 |
| FY2026 | $126,250 | $126,090 | $140,000 | 1,377 |
Cost of living
Washington's median mid-level Software Engineer salary of $126,090 is worth about $115,800 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 $126,090, 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $153,450 | 540 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $126,100 | 50 |
| Hexaware Technologies | $126,090 | 49 |
| Walmart | $140,839 | 38 |
| Deloitte | $129,900 | 37 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | $154,775 | 33 |
| Microsoft | $159,500 | 32 |
| CGI | $126,090 | 26 |
| EY | $154,130 | 23 |
| Vista Applied Solutions Group | $122,699 | 22 |
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.