National Salary Info » Software Developers and Programmers

Highest Paying Industries for Software Developers and Programmers

The top 100 highest paying industries for software developers and programmers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $119,890, petroleum and coal products manufacturing is the highest paying industry for software developers and programmers. It is followed by computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing industry (average annual salary $115,280). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of software developers and programmers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Software Developers and Programmers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$119,890	$63,030	290
2	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$115,280	$71,060	36,520
3	Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage	$112,030	$69,850	13,640
4	Other Information Services	$110,820	$53,040	45,520
5	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$110,710	$70,440	28,680
6	Support Activities for Mining	$108,260	$66,470	630
7	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$108,170	$66,850	91,130
8	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$107,500	$65,890	24,320
9	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$107,040	$55,950	250
10	Software Publishers	$105,000	$58,530	112,970
11	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$104,340	$65,580	14,880
12	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$104,090	$65,660	29,790
13	Travel Agencies	$104,010	$59,470	n/a
14	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$104,010	$64,420	34,330
15	Monetary Authorities-Central Bank	$103,970	$63,870	n/a
16	Natural Gas Distribution	$103,610	$63,080	980
17	Scientific Research and Development Services	$103,490	$63,960	35,280
18	Mining	$103,420	$57,060	1,270
19	Manufacturing	$103,350	$62,200	150,780
20	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$102,800	$55,600	123,070
21	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	$102,170	$62,890	4,380
22	Other Financial Investment Activities	$101,950	$62,210	10,430
23	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	$101,930	$58,130	140
24	Land Subdivision	$99,630	$37,710	n/a
25	Depository Credit Intermediation	$99,470	$62,090	17,430
26	Information	$99,350	$52,890	240,090
27	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$99,320	$62,620	8,590
28	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$99,210	$59,000	8,890
29	Water, Sewage and Other Systems	$98,950	$63,740	120
30	Utility System Construction	$98,660	$55,400	180
31	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$98,640	$53,820	1,430
32	Postal Service (federal government)	$97,450	$76,490	80
33	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$97,360	$57,010	29,700
34	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$97,350	$58,770	2,050
35	Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas	$97,210	$62,380	210
36	Pipeline Transportation	$97,140	$63,800	270
37	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$96,990	$64,740	230
38	Engineering Services	$96,840	$58,320	29,510
39	Rail Transportation	$96,790	$66,460	1,350
40	Satellite Telecommunications	$96,580	$57,810	300
41	Oil and Gas Extraction	$96,340	$55,430	580
42	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities	$96,230	$57,120	35,430
43	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$95,910	$57,430	32,140
44	Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media	$95,850	$54,090	850
45	Other Pipeline Transportation	$95,690	$76,060	50
46	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$95,610	$56,470	10,740
47	Federal government, including USPS	$95,320	$72,270	130
48	Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation	$95,110	$63,220	210
49	Offices of All Other Health Practitioners	$94,880	$46,500	110
50	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$94,760	$51,080	500
51	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$94,740	$53,820	44,960
52	Waste Treatment and Disposal	$94,730	$59,350	n/a
53	Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services	$94,360	$47,380	3,220
54	Finance and Insurance	$94,080	$57,130	106,110
55	Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing	$93,920	$59,590	370
56	Utilities	$93,910	$59,040	3,560
57	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$93,770	$59,390	2,810
58	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$93,610	$52,170	2,550
59	Temporary Help Services	$93,060	$51,080	29,880
60	Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance	$93,040	$42,890	1,120
61	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$93,020	$52,290	950
62	Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$93,000	$54,740	5,680
63	Other Personal Services	$92,640	$43,420	660
64	Telecommunications	$92,490	$59,310	24,460
65	Wholesale Trade	$92,090	$52,480	64,140
66	Support Activities for Air Transportation	$91,930	$60,120	440
67	Commercial and Industrial Machinery Equipment (except Auto and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance	$91,840	$54,450	220
68	Water Transportation	$91,540	$57,250	230
69	Employment Services	$91,510	$50,170	38,630
70	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$91,370	$61,130	16,230
71	Waste Management and Remediation Services	$91,210	$60,500	830
72	Dairy Product Manufacturing	$90,910	$56,440	140
73	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$90,380	$52,630	380
74	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$90,320	$57,930	2,450
75	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	$90,270	$55,230	1,930
76	Rental and Leasing Services	$90,240	$53,800	860
77	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$90,240	$53,680	13,910
78	Repair and Maintenance	$90,170	$40,980	1,420
79	Scheduled Air Transportation	$89,950	$58,640	n/a
80	Chemical Manufacturing	$89,900	$52,060	3,680
81	Air Transportation	$89,870	$58,210	n/a
82	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$89,790	$55,080	69,480
83	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$89,740	$48,910	666,610
84	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$89,540	$61,600	60
85	Testing Laboratories	$89,430	$53,460	1,770
86	Specialty hospitals - Privately owned	$89,310	$59,960	680
87	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$89,140	$48,420	59,050
88	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$89,140	$51,760	7,260
89	Administrative and Support Services	$89,110	$48,240	58,210
90	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$89,050	$48,440	525,410
91	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$89,020	$41,650	150
92	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$88,810	$58,450	300
93	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$88,720	$55,660	160
94	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$88,630	$47,540	46,400
95	Personal and Laundry Services	$88,550	$35,250	770
96	Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals	$88,550	$60,280	760
97	Security Systems Services	$88,530	$46,760	820
98	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$88,490	$53,260	1,670
99	Remediation and Other Waste Management Services	$88,410	$60,660	230
100	Transportation and Warehousing	$88,410	$53,530	6,430