Programmer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$88,000
national median salary
$69,000 to $114,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$121,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$92,000
Arlington, VA
Lowest Paying
$67,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-1252. Full methodology.
The average Programmer salary in the United States is $88,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $69,000 at the 25th percentile to $114,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $121,000, while Arlington offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Programmer compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain.
Programmer salary by city
Skills that increase Programmer pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Programmers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $12,320 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$12,320 per year
≈ +$11,440 per year
≈ +$10,560 per year
≈ +$9,680 per year
≈ +$9,680 per year
≈ +$8,800 per year
≈ +$8,800 per year
≈ +$7,920 per year
What you should know
Programmer compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. Within tech-sector Programmers specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 65%+ variance across the compensation band.
Programmers progress from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with lead and management levels requiring 10+ years and demonstrated cross-functional scope.
Total compensation for Programmers runs roughly $95K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Programmers typically earn $79,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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