Created: 06 February 2023

Last Updated: 09 March 2023

Software Developer Salary in 2023

Before you become a software developer, you should first know how much they make. This guide covers the starting software developer salary.

The average salary for a software developer varies greatly depending on location, experience, and specific skillset. However, in the United States, the average salary for a software developer is around $120,730 per year.

To learn more about what factors affect software developer salary, keep reading below. 

Software Developer Salary by Location

However, this can vary greatly depending on location. For example, some of the best-paying cities for software developers include San Jose, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Location affects salary in the United States because the cost of living and demand for certain skills vary by region. For example, cities with higher costs of living, such as San Francisco or New York City, tend to have higher salaries to compensate for the increased expenses. Factors such as taxes, housing prices, transportation, taxes, etc. also make a difference.

Certain regions of the country may have a higher concentration of certain industries, such as technology in Silicon Valley or finance in New York City. As a result, positions within those industries may command higher salaries in those areas. In areas with a high concentration of a certain industry or where there are a limited number of highly skilled workers, competition for talent can drive salaries up.

Also, areas with a high concentration of universities and research institutions may have a higher percentage of highly educated and experienced workers, leading to higher salaries for those positions.

State and local tax rates can also affect salary, as a higher tax rate can decrease take-home pay for workers. Additionally, stronger economic conditions, such as low unemployment and robust growth, can lead to higher salaries as employers compete for talent.

Software Developer Salary by Experience

Experience is one of the most important factors that affects salary for software developers. As software developers gain more experience, they typically become more proficient in their skills and are able to take on more complex projects and responsibilities. As a result, they are often able to command higher salaries.

As software developers gain experience, they typically become more proficient in their programming languages, frameworks, and tools. This increased proficiency can make them more valuable to employers and can lead to higher salaries.

More experienced software developers are often able to take on more complex and challenging projects. This can make them more valuable to employers, as they are able to tackle more difficult problems and deliver more advanced solutions.

As software developers gain experience, they may also take on more leadership roles within their teams and organizations. They may mentor and train less experienced developers, which can make them more valuable to employers and lead to higher salaries.

Some software developers may choose to specialize in a specific area, such as a certain programming language, framework, or domain. As they gain more experience in that area, they can command higher salaries than generalist software developers.

Software Developer Salary by Skillset

The specific skillset of a software developer also plays a role in determining their salary. Developers who specialize in certain languages or technologies, such as Java, Python, or machine learning, may command higher salaries than those with more general skills.

Developers who are proficient in certain programming languages, such as Python, Java, C++, or JavaScript, may be able to command higher salaries than those who only know one or a few languages.

Developers who have experience with specific frameworks and libraries, such as AngularJS, React, or TensorFlow, may be able to command higher salaries than those who don't have experience with them.

Developers who have experience with cloud computing platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), may be able to command higher salaries than those without experience.

Developers who have experience with big data technologies, such as Hadoop or Spark, and analytics tools, such as Tableau or R, may be able to command higher salaries than those who don't have experience with them.

Developers who have experience with mobile development, such as iOS or Android, may be able to command higher salaries than those who don't have experience with mobile development.

Developers who have experience with security, such as cryptography, network security, or security testing, may be able to command higher salaries than those who don't have experience with security.

It's worth noting that the demand and salaries of certain skills can fluctuate over time, so it's important for software developers to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in the industry. Additionally, having a diverse set of skills can be useful for software developers, as it can make them more versatile and valuable to employers.

The best way to improve your professional skillset is to sign up for a variety of training courses.

Other Salary Factors

Another factor that can affect the salary of software developers is the industry in which they work. Software developers working in the finance or healthcare industries, for example, may earn higher wages than those working in other industries.

To expand on that, software developers working in the healthcare industry may make more money than those working in other industries because of the complexity and criticality of the work they do. Healthcare companies need software developers to create and maintain systems that handle sensitive patient data and comply with strict regulations. Additionally, the healthcare industry is growing fast and needs software developers to keep up with the growth and adoption of new technologies.

Similar to healthcare, software developers working in the financial services industry (such as banks or insurance companies) may make more money because of the complexity and criticality of the work they do. Financial services companies often require software developers to create and maintain systems that handle sensitive financial data and comply with strict regulations.

Technology and software companies, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, or Facebook, may offer more money to software developers than those working in other industries because of the high demand for their skills and the competitive nature of the industry. These companies often pay high salaries to attract and retain top talent.

Software developers working in the defense industry may make more money than those working in other industries because of the complexity and criticality of the work they do. Defense companies require software developers to create and maintain systems that handle sensitive information and support national security.

Becoming a Software Developer

In summary, the average software developer salary varies depending on location, experience, skillset, and industry. Even though there is an average, the amount you may be offered may be as low as $90,000, or as high as $160,000.

To develop the professional skills needed for a software developer position, make sure to ask a question about our training courses.

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 Marcin Chmielewski - Blog Author 
He has extensive IT knowledge combined with enthusiasm for digital marketing.
His experience and knowledge come from many years of working for large corporations. Associated with Information Technology since the beginning of his career, he has qualifications in the fields of team management, Enterprise Architecture, IT Service Management, databases, application servers, and operating systems.
His hobbies include traveling, skiing, and hiking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

• 1. What programming language should I learn first?
  The answer lies in the original intent of the programmer. Learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a fantastic starting point if you want to create web applications. Python is widely adopted in the field of data science. Scripting languages like Bash and Python can be useful if you want to work in system management or networking.
• 2. What are the most important skills for a software developer?
  Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, rapid learning, and excellent communication are among the many key skills for a software engineer. It's also important that you have a firm grasp of software development practises and tools, as well as fluency in at least one programming language.
• 3. How do I get started with learning to code?
  Learning to code is best accomplished through consistent practise. Take on simple assignments to hone your skillset before moving on to more involved ones. Search for guides, classes, and other tools to help you expand your knowledge base. Participate in online forums and communities to meet other programmers and receive constructive criticism on your work.
• 4. What is the difference between front-end and back-end development?
  To construct a website's front end, a developer must first craft the website's user interface and any client-side logic that will be executed in the user's web browser. Back-end development, on the other hand, is the process of making the logic that stores and processes data on a web server and operates as part of the server itself.
• 5. When and why is it necessary to use version control?
  The ability to monitor and trace the history of modifications made to source code is a key feature of any modern version control system. Because of this, developers can work together more efficiently, roll back to previous versions of their code in the event of a bug, and track the history of all modifications to the code. Git and Subversion are two of the most well-known VCSs.