# Software Engineer salary in Washington DC

> The median posted pay for a Software Engineer in Washington DC is $161,330 a year (USD); the middle half of listings sit between $130,278 and $194,875. 530 listings, last 365 days.

Data as of 2026-11-06 · https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/washington-dc

- Median posted pay: $161,330
- 25th to 75th: $130,278 to $194,875
- Listings with pay: 530

## By level

**Software Engineer posted annual pay in Washington DC (USD)**

| Level | Listings | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unspecified | 226 | $119,400 | $140,000 | $169,500 |
| Intern | 3 | $50,180 | $58,760 | $86,380 |
| Junior | 11 | $76,121 | $92,500 | $98,675 |
| Mid-level | 17 | $105,400 | $106,392 | $129,740 |
| Senior | 176 | $146,875 | $185,000 | $197,600 |
| Manager | 9 | $153,500 | $189,650 | $205,000 |
| Staff | 61 | $176,500 | $197,750 | $222,000 |
| Principal | 14 | $204,525 | $233,500 | $245,000 |
| Director+ | 13 | $210,500 | $243,500 | $263,000 |

## Method

- Each figure is the midpoint of a pay range that an employer posted on a live Software Engineer listing in Washington DC, annualised, over the last 365 days (530 listings).
- It is posted pay, not what people are paid. Many employers post a range, then hire anywhere inside it.
- Percentiles are shown only where at least 3 listings back them.
## More

- [Software Engineer salary by city](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer)
- [Software Engineer jobs](https://alderhq.app/jobs/software-engineer)
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- [Software Engineer salary in Atlanta](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/atlanta)
- [Software Engineer salary in Austin](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/austin)
- [Software Engineer salary in Bengaluru](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/bengaluru)
- [Software Engineer salary in Berlin](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/berlin)
- [Software Engineer salary in Boston](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/boston)
- [Software Engineer salary in Chicago](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/chicago)
- [Software Engineer salary in Dallas](https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/dallas)

## Questions

### What is the average Software Engineer salary in Washington DC?

The median posted pay is $161,330 a year, based on 530 live listings with a stated range in the last 365 days. The middle half is $130,278 to $194,875.

### Is this what Software Engineers actually earn?

No. It is the pay employers posted on open listings, which is a range they intend to hire within, not reported earnings.

### How does Software Engineer pay change with level in Washington DC?

Unspecified: median $140,000 (226 listings); Intern: median $58,760 (3 listings); Junior: median $92,500 (11 listings); Mid-level: median $106,392 (17 listings).

## Cite

Alder. "Software Engineer salary in Washington DC". Data as of 2026-11-06. https://alderhq.app/salaries/software-engineer/washington-dc