Occupation salary profile

Computer Programmers

SOC 15-1251 BLS OEWS May 2025 H-1B LCAs, last 12 months

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.

National median · BLS
$100,390
▲ +1.74% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
$91,728
▲ +1.57% YoY · 13,471 LCAs
Average salary · BLS
$105,170
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
92,230
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.

Pay range for Computer Programmers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation; H-1B covers 13,471 certified Labor Condition Applications filed by sponsoring employers in the last 12 months.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS) H-1B sponsored
10th — entry pay$57,710$74,720
25th$75,850$80,000
Median (50th)$100,390$91,728
75th$130,680$107,203
90th — top pay$160,460$130,000
H-1B sponsors pay a median of $91,728 for Computer Programmers — 8.6% below the BLS national median of $100,390.

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Computer Programmers

BLS projects employment of computer programmers to decline 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 4,400 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
110,800 → 102,700
-8,100 jobs
Projected change
-7.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
4,400
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
14.6% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 4)
Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a bachelor's degree →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

H-1B sponsored pay

Pay by H-1B wage level

Employers assign every H-1B filing a Department of Labor prevailing-wage level, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). Pay rises steeply with level.

H-1B median $91,728
Change vs prior year +1.57%
After inflation (CPI-U) -1.51%
Wage level LCAs Share P25 Median P75
Level I 1,808 13.4% $66,700 $75,899 $85,500
Level II 9,353 69.4% $80,500 $90,710 $104,853
Level III 1,598 11.9% $98,946 $110,270 $124,704
Level IV 681 5.1% $116,480 $129,300 $152,609
H-1B job titles

Salaries by job title in Computer Programmers

The 50 most-filed job titles inside SOC 15-1251, from 13,471 H-1B filings. Seniority words and level numbers are grouped (“Senior Data Engineer II” counts as Data Engineer). Tap a title for its full range, wage levels and the exact titles employers used.

Job title LCAs Share P25 Median P75 YoY
Computer Programmer 2,381 17.68% $79,102 $91,250 $102,984 +1.6%
Software Engineer 1,963 14.57% $81,000 $97,000 $120,200 +2.36%
Developer generic 1,256 9.32% $77,418 $84,032 $95,763 +0.9%
Programmer Analyst 1,061 7.88% $79,706 $86,000 $101,000 +0.94%
Technical Lead 822 6.1% $83,866 $94,949 $118,644 +11.01%
Java Developer 576 4.28% $79,776 $86,755 $99,210 +1.43%
Software Programmer 520 3.86% $85,530 $99,050 $115,140 +4.89%
Software Developer 375 2.78% $78,708 $86,000 $96,000 -4.44%
Programmer/Developer 289 2.15% $100,000 $112,000 $128,000 +1.82%
Data Engineer 150 1.11% $85,530 $96,818 $124,288 +4.67%
Associate generic 131 0.97% $79,872 $85,530 $95,848 -4.77%
Java Programmer 129 0.96% $79,560 $86,000 $100,630 -5.54%
Packaged App Development Associate Manager 118 0.88% $104,458 $119,544 $128,600 +12.01%
Programmer/Analyst 111 0.82% $81,183 $98,300 $106,700 +4.16%
Application Developer 104 0.77% $79,747 $94,838 $106,706 +1.21%
DevOps Engineer 83 0.62% $80,000 $86,000 $95,000 +0%
Programmer generic 83 0.62% $80,995 $91,728 $100,000 +13.25%
Application Programmer 79 0.59% $83,642 $98,946 $112,000 +23.68%
IT Consultant 77 0.57% $85,530 $85,530 $85,530 -9.97%
Computer Programmer Analyst 65 0.48% $78,000 $85,550 $98,305 +5.08%
Specialist Programmer 61 0.45% $81,370 $83,866 $86,653 +1.95%
Computer Programmer/Engineer 54 0.4% $76,550 $82,622 $90,300 -3.93%
Java Full Stack Developer 45 0.33% $78,000 $89,800 $94,500 +6.02%
Packaged App Development Specialist 44 0.33% $90,111 $100,400 $107,646 +9.13%
.NET Developer 44 0.33% $79,776 $86,850 $95,792 +8.73%
Full Stack Developer 40 0.3% $76,835 $84,354 $92,660 +1.29%
Packaged App Development Manager 40 0.3% $125,900 $136,400 $154,000 +3.94%
Software Development Engineer 34 0.25% $102,877 $130,853 $145,000 +50.03%
Web Applications Programmer 34 0.25% $84,150 $90,105 $99,000 +7.44%
Application Programmer Analyst 34 0.25% $85,530 $95,100 $106,662 +3.25%
Manager generic 31 0.23% $100,994 $121,867 $142,230 +0.65%
Salesforce Developer 30 0.22% $77,564 $86,907 $103,875 +1.61%
Technical Consultant 28 0.21% $98,915 $121,500 $137,184 +1.25%
Custom Software Engineering Associate Manager 28 0.21% $110,531 $121,200 $130,473 +0.08%
Mainframe Developer 28 0.21% $83,172 $97,115 $102,565 +11.63%
Technical Architect 27 0.2% $94,385 $109,741 $112,466 +12.12%
Consultant generic 26 0.19% $85,000 $100,000 $118,487 -1.96%
Application Engineer 26 0.19% $85,398 $92,750 $98,210 +6.02%
Tech Architecture Associate Manager 25 0.19% $120,200 $137,300 $140,300 +19.91%
Associate Consultant 24 0.18% $66,602 $66,602 $66,602 —
Statistical Programmer 23 0.17% $84,300 $100,000 $108,555 +3.21%
Lead, Software Engineering 23 0.17% $88,908 $94,000 $99,840 -4.57%
UI Developer 22 0.16% $66,602 $77,418 $90,303 -2.88%
Development Lead Robotics 22 0.16% $76,232 $102,424 $106,662 —
Systems Engineer 21 0.16% $83,000 $86,000 $93,000 -2.09%
Cloud Engineer 21 0.16% $78,000 $85,530 $96,658 +6.91%
.NET Programmer 18 0.13% $78,926 $84,698 $99,736 -0.97%
Infrastructure Engineer 18 0.13% $96,424 $100,000 $115,000 +8.62%
Python Developer 17 0.13% $83,866 $91,582 $101,254 +0.64%
Associate, Software Engineer 17 0.13% $84,000 $94,370 $94,370 —

Titles are cleaned from the employer's own LCA text (codes and typos removed, nothing invented). Rows need 10+ filings in this SOC.

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Computer Programmers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Programming4.8
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Complex Problem Solving3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.8
  • Quality Control Analysis3.5
  • Reading Comprehension3.4
  • Systems Analysis3.4
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.3
  • Writing3.3
  • Active Learning3.1
Top knowledge areas
  • Computers and Electronics4.9
  • Mathematics3.5
  • Engineering and Technology3.5
  • English Language3.4
  • Customer and Personal Service3.3
  • Administration and Management3.3
  • Design2.9
  • Education and Training2.8
Software and technology used
C#C++Cascading style sheets CSSExtensible markup language XMLGitHypertext markup language HTMLJavaScriptLinuxMicrosoft Azure softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft Visual StudioOracle JavaPythonRSAS

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What computer programmers do

  • Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
  • Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
  • Perform or direct revision, repair, or expansion of existing programs to increase operating efficiency or adapt to new requirements.
  • Write, update, and maintain computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
  • Consult with managerial, engineering, and technical personnel to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
  • Conduct trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
  • Prepare detailed workflow charts and diagrams that describe input, output, and logical operation, and convert them into a series of instructions coded in a computer language.
  • Compile and write documentation of program development and subsequent revisions, inserting comments in the coded instructions so others can understand the program.
Also called
Analyst ProgrammerComputer ProgrammerProgrammerProgrammer AnalystApplication Programmer AnalystComputer Programmer AnalystInternet ProgrammerJava DeveloperWeb Applications ProgrammerWeb Programmer
More job titles for this occupation (37)
.NET ProgrammerApplication ProgrammerApplications ProgrammerAutomation ProgrammerBeta TesterBug Bounty HunterBusiness ProgrammerCertified Ethical HackerClient Server ProgrammerCloud EngineerCOBOL Programmer (Common Business Oriented Language Programmer)Computer Game ProgrammerComputer Language CoderDatabase ProgrammerDeveloper AnalystE-Commerce Programmer (Electronic Commerce Programmer)EngineerEngineering and Scientific ProgrammerEngineering ProgrammerGame ProgrammerGraphic EngineerIT Programmer (Information Technology Programmer)Java ArchitectJava ProgrammerMainframe ProgrammerMalware AnalystNumerical Control Programmer (NC Programmer)Object-Oriented ProgrammerOperating System ProgrammerProgram AnalystScientific ProgrammerSoftware ProgrammerStatistical ProgrammerSystems ProgrammerVideo Game ProgrammerWebsite ProgrammerWhite Hat Hacker

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.