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Software Developers Salary in DC

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Software Developers in DC have a median annual salary of $136,880, with 6,120 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $85,140 at the 10th percentile to $197,000 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$136,880

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$65.81

Employment

6,120

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$85,140
10th
$117,120
25th
$136,880
Median
$169,580
75th
$197,000
90th

Local compared with national

DC

$136,880

Median annual · 2025

United States

$135,980

Median annual · 2025

The DC median is 0.7% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $900).

Top skills

  1. 1.ProgrammingImportance 4.0
  2. 2.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.9
  3. 3.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.6
  4. 4.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.5
  5. 5.Active LearningImportance 3.5
  6. 6.Systems AnalysisImportance 3.5
  7. 7.Active ListeningImportance 3.4
  8. 8.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.4
  9. 9.Technology DesignImportance 3.4
  10. 10.Systems EvaluationImportance 3.4
  11. 11.WritingImportance 3.3
  12. 12.Operations AnalysisImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • FaceTime
  • Fault testing software
  • Figma
  • File server software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Firewall software
  • Flipgrid
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Forth
  • Functional testing software
  • Gambit Scheme
  • Git
  • C
  • Spring Boot
  • 3M Post-it App

Common tasks

  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.
  • Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.
  • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.
  • Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  • Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.
  • Determine system performance standards.
  • Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Software Developers salary in other locations

Other occupations in DC