Computer Programmer salary in the U.S.
Computer Programmers in the U.S. earn a median of $100,390 a year ($48.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 92,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,460 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $105,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer programmers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,710 | $27.74 |
| 25th percentile | $75,850 | $36.47 |
| Median | $100,390 | $48.26 |
| 75th percentile | $130,680 | $62.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,460 | $77.15 |
| Average (mean) | $105,170 | $50.56 |
Half of computer programmers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,365.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,182.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,861.15 |
| Weekly | $1,930.58 |
| Hourly | $48.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Programmer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $133,820 | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $128,390 | 1,930 |
| Washington | $125,620 | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $125,570 | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $121,610 | 3,070 |
| Hawaii | $118,180 | 450 |
| California | $116,760 | 11,340 |
| Arkansas | $111,840 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $107,250 | 2,070 |
| New Jersey | $104,940 | 3,930 |
| Utah | $104,890 | 690 |
| Colorado | $104,610 | 930 |
| New York | $103,980 | 7,020 |
| Maine | $101,780 | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $99,780 | 990 |
| South Carolina | $99,740 | 790 |
| Oregon | $99,540 | 1,370 |
| Texas | $99,330 | 7,620 |
| Georgia | $98,380 | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $97,000 | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $96,470 | 250 |
| Nebraska | $95,150 | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $94,850 | 950 |
| Alabama | $93,800 | 890 |
| Nevada | $93,600 | 840 |
| Florida | $93,180 | 4,760 |
| Kansas | $92,960 | 460 |
| North Dakota | $92,280 | 190 |
| Alaska | $91,700 | 530 |
| Missouri | $90,420 | 1,520 |
| Montana | $89,920 | n/a |
| Vermont | $89,560 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $89,180 | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $89,020 | n/a |
| Arizona | $88,990 | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $85,270 | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $85,120 | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $83,750 | 600 |
| Wyoming | $81,640 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $81,070 | 4,120 |
| Iowa | $79,180 | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $74,000 | n/a |
| Illinois | $72,540 | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $65,860 | 4,400 |
| West Virginia | $65,320 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $58,240 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,310 | 920 |
Best-paying metro areas for computer programmers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $155,030 | n/a |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $154,920 | 980 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $141,920 | 1,150 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $136,880 | 490 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $134,130 | 1,600 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $132,850 | 90 |
| Bend, OR | $132,280 | 90 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $131,960 | 190 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $130,790 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,730 | 2,440 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $130,390 | 2,680 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $128,900 | 1,600 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $128,240 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,750 | 6,670 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $125,240 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most computer programmers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 6,670 | $126,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,400 | $107,090 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,260 | $102,240 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,680 | $130,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,440 | $130,730 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,770 | $101,420 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,600 | $128,900 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,600 | $134,130 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,570 | $118,000 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,430 | $84,140 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,380 | $87,860 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,340 | $96,440 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,260 | $101,910 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,150 | $141,920 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,100 | $101,530 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 | $65.38 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,860 | $29.74 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | $50.89 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | $56.05 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | $62.11 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,300 | $50.14 |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,050 | $64.45 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 | $44.54 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 | $50.30 |
| Database Architect | $139,500 | $67.07 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $140,300 | $67.45 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1251. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for computer programmers in the U.S. is $100,390 a year, or $48.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer programmers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of computer programmers in the U.S. earn at least $160,460 a year. The top 25% earn $130,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer programmers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,710 a year, and a quarter of computer programmers earn $75,850 or less.
How many computer programmers work in the U.S.?
About 92,230 computer programmers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.