Software Developers Employment and Wages in 2022

In 2022, the Software Developers occupation accounted for over 1.5 million jobs in the United States, reflecting an increase of 12.5% from 2021. The annual mean wage in 2022 was $132,930, and the median wage was $127,260. Compared to the national average for all occupations, the wages for this occupation were higher by 114.7%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among industry sectors, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services held the largest number of jobs for the Software Developers occupation, employing over 672 thousand people in 2022. The annual mean wage in this sector was $122,830, with a median wage of $119,460. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2021, with the variance shifting from -3.1% to -7.6%, indicating industry sector wages lagged national wage trends.

Information accounted for a substantial employment share for this occupation, with 312 thousand people employed in 2022. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $166,040, and the median wage was $138,570. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2021, with the variance shifting from 10.6% to 24.9%.

The Finance and Insurance sector also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 145 thousand people employed in 2022. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $130,410 and the median wage was $128,960. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2021, with the variance shifting from 0.4% to -1.9%.

Highest Location Concentration

When we examine the top locations in terms of proportional employment within the Software Developers occupation, we find that San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest concentration of jobs (7.2 times the national occupational employment share). The location had an annual mean wage in 2022, at $234,540, and a median wage of $193,140. The location variance to the national average was 76.4%. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the next highest concentration of jobs (3.8 times the national occupational employment share) and an annual mean wage of $155,680 and a median wage of $151,930. The industry variance to the national average was 17.1%. Boulder, CO had 3.3 times the national occupational employment share and an annual mean wage of $169,750 and a median wage of $136,010. The industry variance to the national average was 27.7%.

Summary

In 2022, the Software Developers occupation experienced substantial growth, with a 12.5% increase in employment, surpassing 1.5 million jobs in the US. Remarkably, this occupation commanded notably higher wages, with an annual mean wage of $132,930 and a median wage of $127,260, surpassing the national average for all occupations by a significant 114.7%. Within industry sectors, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services held the largest share of jobs for Software Developers, employing more than 672 thousand individuals in 2022, though with wages slightly trailing national trends. Information industry employment was also prominent, with an annual mean wage of $166,040, showing a substantial increase in wage variance compared to the previous year. The Finance and Insurance sector employed around 145 thousand individuals and exhibited a small decrease in wage variance. Notably, top employment locations like San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA demonstrated a high concentration of jobs and remarkable wages, significantly surpassing the national average.

For more detailed insights, visit our Software Developers Dashboard or consider purchasing Aimiax’s 2022 Software Developers Occupation Report.