Software Engineer Salary Calculator
Median software engineer pay is $135,980 a year. Enter your own salary to see what you actually take home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
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See the take-home pay for a software engineer salary after taxes.
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Software Engineer (Software Developer) salary: what the data says
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wage data), the median pay for software developers was $135,980 a year ($65.38 an hour). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $82,460 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $214,670. There were about 1,687,890 jobs in 2025, the typical entry-level education is a bachelor's degree, and the BLS projects 10% growth (much faster than average) from 2025 to 2035 for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers combined.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook reports a median of $134,040 for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers combined. The $135,980 median here, and the low and high figures in the table, are for software developers alone (May 2025 wage data).
What you take home after federal tax
The table estimates take-home pay for a single filer using the 2026 federal standard deduction ($16,100), the 2026 federal brackets, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%). It does not include state or local income tax, 401(k) contributions or health insurance, which you can add in the calculator above.
| Level | Gross a year | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | Take-home a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% (cut-off) | $82,460 | $9,311 | $6,308 | $66,841 | $5,570 |
| Median | $135,980 | $21,369 | $10,402 | $104,208 | $8,684 |
| Highest 10% (cut-off) | $214,670 | $40,255 | $14,684 | $159,731 | $13,311 |
Pay varies a lot by state, city, employer, experience, shift differentials and overtime. The median is a national figure, not an offer or a guarantee. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wage data). Tax figures: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and SSA.
How to use the software engineer salary calculator
- Leave the annual salary at the national median or type your own pay.
- Add your 401(k) contribution percentage if you save before tax.
- Enter your state income tax rate (0 if your state has none).
- Read your take-home pay per year, month, paycheck and hour.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software engineer make a year?
The median pay for software developers was $135,980 a year in May 2025 ($65.38 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay depends on state, employer and experience.
How much does a software engineer take home after taxes?
On the national median of $135,980, a single filer keeps about $104,208 a year ($8,684 a month) after federal income tax and Social Security and Medicare, before any state tax.
What is the hourly pay for software developers?
The median hourly pay was $65.38 in 2025. At 2,080 working hours a year that is roughly $135,990 before taxes.
What education do you need to become a software engineer?
The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education.
Is the software engineer job outlook good?
The BLS projects 10% growth (much faster than average) from 2025 to 2035 for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers combined. Actual local demand depends on your area.
Does this calculator include state tax?
Only if you enter a state rate. By default it estimates federal income tax and FICA for a single filer, so your real take-home pay will be lower in states with an income tax.
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