💻 How much does an IT engineer make?
For U.S. software developers, the middle 80% earn $82,460–$214,670; the median is $135,980, and the top 10% earn at least $214,670 yearly.
Pay varies by specialty and skill: the U.S. figures are wage percentiles, while Japan’s are a role average and skill-level ranges.
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Middle 80% of software developers (10th–90th percentile) | $82,460–$214,670 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 percentiles |
| Typical software developer (median) | $135,980 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 median |
| Top 10% (90th-percentile cutoff and above) | $214,670 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 90th-percentile cutoff |
IT engineer salary in Japan: about $39K a year
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Middle 80% of software developers (10th–90th percentile) | $6,872–$17,889 | $226–$588 |
| Typical software developer (median) | $11,332 | $373 |
| Top 10% (90th-percentile cutoff and above) | $17,889 | $588 |
Where does the money come from?
How do you become an IT engineer?
In the United States, a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field is the common path. Students may build experience through a software development internship while in college, then apply for developer jobs after graduating.
- Start a bachelor's degree in computing or a related field.
- Study computer and information technology topics.
- Get software development experience through an internship while in college.
- Complete the degree and apply for software developer jobs.
Qualifications and exams
A bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field is typical; some employers prefer a master's. BLS's career guidance does not list a general required exam or license.
A day as an IT engineer
A developer may start by asking what users need, then plan the parts of an app with the team. They write or review code, test the software, fix problems, and share the results with teammates.
Common questions
Does pay change by industry?
Yes. In May 2025, typical yearly pay was $164,550 for software publishers and $132,050 for computer systems design and related services. Source
Does pay change by state or area?
Yes. BLS says pay can vary by location; wages may be higher in large cities because of living costs and other local factors. Source
Can developers get extra pay for results?
Some pay plans link extra money to a person's or team's output. BLS treats output-linked incentives differently from year-end bonuses and stock awards. Source
How long is a usual workweek?
In O*NET's survey, 90% reported a typical workweek of 40 hours. Developers also work with others on teams. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
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In Japan
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| ITSS levels 1–2 (middle 50%) | $28,000–$41,333 | MHLW Job Tag commissioned survey; Q1–Q3 range |
| Web-service system engineers (average) | $38,567 | MHLW 2025 wage survey via Job Tag |
| ITSS level 5+ (middle 50%) | $40,000–$63,333 | MHLW Job Tag commissioned survey; Q1–Q3 range |
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Related questions
Jobs in the same group
Data table and sources
- data.bls.gov/oesprofile?major_group=150000&measure=01&occupation=151252
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/314
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/312
- www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?cycle=0&layout=datalist&page=1&stat_infid=000
- www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1252.00
- www.bls.gov/respondents/oes/payterms.htm