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Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers earn a median $100,390 a year in the U.S., with 92,230 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $100,390 a year
- Employment
- 92,230
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- -7.3%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 4,400
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $100,390 · $48.26 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $105,170 · $50.56 an hour (estimate error ±1.0%)
- 10th percentile
- $57,710 · $27.74 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $75,850 · $36.47 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $130,680 · $62.83 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $160,460 · $77.15 an hour
- Employment
- 92,230 (estimate error ±2.5%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 110,800
- Projected for 2035
- 102,700
- Change
- -8,100 (-7.3%)
- Openings each year
- 4,400
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 14.6%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $133,820 | 1,650 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $128,390 | 1,930 |
| 3 | Washington | $125,620 | 2,540 |
| 4 | Maryland | $125,570 | 2,490 |
| 5 | Virginia | $121,610 | 3,070 |
| 6 | Hawaii | $118,180 | 450 |
| 7 | California | $116,760 | 11,340 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $111,840 | 1,050 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $107,250 | 2,070 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $104,940 | 3,930 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 11,340 | $116,760 |
| Texas | 7,620 | $99,330 |
| New York | 7,020 | $103,980 |
| Florida | 4,760 | $93,180 |
| Michigan | 4,400 | $65,860 |
| North Carolina | 4,120 | $81,070 |
| New Jersey | 3,930 | $104,940 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,120 | $89,180 |
| Wisconsin | 3,080 | Not reported |
| Virginia | 3,070 | $121,610 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $154,920 | 980 |
| 2 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $141,920 | 1,150 |
| 3 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $136,880 | 490 |
| 4 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $134,130 | 1,600 |
| 5 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $131,960 | 190 |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,730 | 2,440 |
| 7 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $130,390 | 2,680 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $128,900 | 1,600 |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $126,750 | 6,670 |
| 10 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $118,000 | 1,570 |
| 11 | Iowa City, IA | $113,590 | 100 |
| 12 | Lexington Park, MD | $112,990 | 110 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,990 | Not reported |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,770 | $101,420 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,770 | Not reported |
| 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 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)11,066 certified filingsMedian offered wage $95,118
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)533 certified filingsMedian offered wage $106,642
Computer Programmers pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
- Database Administrators
- Database Architects
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Software Developers
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Web Developers
Frequently asked questions
- How much do computer programmers make?
- The median wage for computer programmers in the U.S. is $100,390 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,850 and $130,680.
- Which state pays computer programmers the most?
- Connecticut has the highest median wage for this occupation at $133,820 a year.
- What is the job outlook for computer programmers?
- BLS projects employment to decline 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,400 openings each year on average.
- What education do computer programmers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.