Software Developer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Software Developers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $154,930 a year ($74.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 69,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $96,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,660 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 13% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $136,880. There are 22 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $153,100, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,450 | $46.37 |
| 25th percentile | $123,720 | $59.48 |
| Median | $154,930 | $74.49 |
| 75th percentile | $176,230 | $84.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,660 | $102.72 |
| Average (mean) | $153,100 | $73.61 |
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 | $12,910.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,455.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,958.85 |
| Weekly | $2,979.42 |
| Hourly | $74.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,900 | 16,850 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $133,290 | 350 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $133,040 | 28,480 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $132,850 | 720 |
| Richmond, VA | $132,120 | 7,680 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $129,090 | 7,160 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $128,520 | 1,390 |
| Charleston, WV | $122,980 | 350 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $122,830 | 530 |
| Roanoke, VA | $121,110 | 770 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $119,250 | 220 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $118,130 | 50 |
| Salisbury, MD | $116,380 | 90 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $115,610 | 140 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $115,310 | 430 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $112,340 | 60 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $111,630 | 590 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $110,780 | 280 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $109,840 | 510 |
| Morgantown, WV | $108,950 | 330 |
| Beckley, WV | $100,840 | 40 |
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 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,040 | $61.08 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $77,860 | $37.43 |
| Information Security Analyst | $148,950 | $71.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $125,430 | $60.30 |
| Computer Network Architect | $159,820 | $76.84 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $126,350 | $60.74 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $92,400 | $44.42 |
| Database Architect | $162,870 | $78.30 |
| Web Developer | $134,350 | $64.59 |
| Database Administrator | $108,750 | $52.29 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $161,090 | $77.45 |
| Computer Programmer | $130,390 | $62.69 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $97,000 | $46.63 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $156,640 | $75.31 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for software developers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $154,930 a year, or $74.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $96,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of software developers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $213,660 a year. The top 25% earn $176,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $96,450 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $123,720 or less.
How many software developers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 69,060 software developers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.