Software Developer salary in Washington
Software Developers in Washington earn a median of $166,540 a year ($80.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 107,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $255,350 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $135,980. Washington ranks 2nd of 50 states for software developers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 30 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $171,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,810 | $46.54 |
| 25th percentile | $132,290 | $63.60 |
| Median | $166,540 | $80.07 |
| 75th percentile | $211,860 | $101.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $255,350 | $122.76 |
| Average (mean) | $171,040 | $82.23 |
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 | $13,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,939.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,405.38 |
| Weekly | $3,202.69 |
| Hourly | $80.07 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,280 | 92,770 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $156,000 | 18,260 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $146,200 | 690 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $131,970 | 160 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $130,690 | 1,840 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $130,000 | 150 |
| Bellingham, WA | $128,250 | 640 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $127,800 | 820 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $124,060 | 1,920 |
| Yakima, WA | $115,170 | 170 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $114,920 | 90 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $106,640 | 270 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $101,310 | 70 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $129,410 | $62.22 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $75,220 | $36.17 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $128,940 | $61.99 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $130,480 | $62.73 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $103,910 | $49.96 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,480 | $61.77 |
| Information Security Analyst | $154,940 | $74.49 |
| Computer Network Architect | $168,070 | $80.81 |
| Web Developer | $130,440 | $62.71 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $101,750 | $48.92 |
| Database Architect | $128,760 | $61.90 |
| Computer Programmer | $125,620 | $60.39 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $202,400 | $97.31 |
| Database Administrator | $118,140 | $56.80 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for software developers in Washington is $166,540 a year, or $80.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $255,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Washington?
The top 10% of software developers in Washington earn at least $255,350 a year. The top 25% earn $211,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,810 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $132,290 or less.
How many software developers work in Washington?
About 107,030 software developers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.