Software Developer salary in District of Columbia
Software Developers in District of Columbia earn a median of $136,880 a year ($65.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,120 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $197,000 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $135,980. District of Columbia ranks 9th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 8.7 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $144,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,140 | $40.93 |
| 25th percentile | $117,120 | $56.31 |
| Median | $136,880 | $65.81 |
| 75th percentile | $169,580 | $81.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $197,000 | $94.71 |
| Average (mean) | $144,430 | $69.44 |
Half of software developers 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 | $11,406.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,703.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,264.62 |
| Weekly | $2,632.31 |
| Hourly | $65.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $154,930 | 69,060 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
Related jobs in District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $156,590 | $75.29 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $80,950 | $38.92 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $116,820 | $56.16 |
| Information Security Analyst | $135,090 | $64.95 |
| Computer Network Architect | $137,670 | $66.19 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $110,970 | $53.35 |
| Database Architect | $150,010 | $72.12 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $103,340 | $49.68 |
| Database Administrator | $118,540 | $56.99 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $107,650 | $51.76 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $91,370 | $43.93 |
| Web Developer | $114,690 | $55.14 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $144,190 | $69.32 |
| Data Scientist | $126,490 | $60.81 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. 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 software developer make in District of Columbia?
The median salary for software developers in District of Columbia is $136,880 a year, or $65.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $197,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of software developers in District of Columbia earn at least $197,000 a year. The top 25% earn $169,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,140 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $117,120 or less.
How many software developers work in District of Columbia?
About 6,120 software developers are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.