Software Engineer: Salary, Job Outlook and Education by Specialty
Software engineers are counted by BLS mainly as Software Developers (SOC 15-1252). Quality assurance and web development roles are separate occupations shown alongside. Across the 3 official occupations below, BLS counts about 1,944,820 workers. National median annual wages range from $92,650 to $135,980 (May 2025).
| Occupation | Median wage | Employment | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers SOC 15-1252 | $135,980 | 1,687,890 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | |
| Software quality assurance analysts and testers SOC 15-1253 | $104,300 | 186,740 | +5.7% | Bachelor's degree | |
| Web developers SOC 15-1254 | $92,650 | 70,190 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
Compare the top five side by side
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.