Senior Software Engineer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 1,277 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $148,221 |
| 25th | $150,758 |
| 50th (median) | $156,000 |
| 75th | $170,000 |
| 90th | $190,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $119,999 | $117,458 | $127,500 | 1,557 |
| FY2021 | $120,000 | $118,102 | $130,875 | 1,175 |
| FY2022 | $130,000 | $119,933 | $142,300 | 1,381 |
| FY2023 | $139,589 | $133,640 | $150,000 | 862 |
| FY2024 | $149,310 | $140,000 | $162,998 | 746 |
| FY2025 | $154,499 | $148,720 | $169,563 | 765 |
| FY2026 | $158,475 | $150,796 | $172,400 | 512 |
Cost of living
Washington's median senior Software Engineer salary of $156,000 is worth about $143,300 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 $156,000, 1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $168,100 | 189 |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $169,953 | 60 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | $167,554 | 50 |
| Walmart | $168,768 | 35 |
| Federal National Mortgage Association | $149,000 | 23 |
| Microsoft | $191,550 | 18 |
| EY | $190,000 | 15 |
| Compunnel Software Group | $161,000 | 15 |
| Hughes Network Systems | $160,752 | 14 |
| Cisco Systems | $150,758 | 13 |
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.