Computer Programmers salarymedian $100,390 · percentiles · top pay · projected pay in 10 years

United States IT & Software Confidence ★★★★★

Median annual pay
$100,390
25th–75th pct. $75,850–$130,680
Top pay (est.)
$208,600
Top 10% $160,460
Pay in 5 years
$108,300est.
2031
Pay in 10 years
$116,900est.
$100,500–$135,700
Outlook score
33/100
★★☆☆☆ Below average
AI replacement risk
80%
High
Job growth (10 yr)
−7.3%
4,400 openings / yr

Computer Programmers salary

The median annual wage for computer programmers is $100,390 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $57,710 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $160,460. The mean annual wage is $105,170.

Median
$100,390
Mean
$105,170
10th percentile
$57,710
Entry level
25th percentile
$75,850
75th percentile
$130,680
90th percentile
$160,460
Top earners
Mean hourly wage
$50.00
6.9× the federal minimum ($7.25)
In Japanese yen
¥15.79M
≈ at 157.25 JPY/USD

The mean hourly wage of $50.00 is 6.9× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →

How does your pay compare with people your age?

Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).

Pay by percentile

Entry level (10th pct.)
$57,710
Early career (25th pct.)
$75,850
Mid career (median)
$100,390
Experienced (75th pct.)
$130,680
Top earners (90th pct.)
$160,460

Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.

How median, percentiles and the pay range are defined →

Projected pay for Computer Programmers (3, 5 and 10 years)est.

Today $100,390 → in 3 years $105,100 → in 5 years $108,300 → in 10 years $116,900 (10-year range $100,500–$135,700). The model assumes pay growth of +1.5% per year.

$100,390
Now
2026
$105,100
In 3 yrs
2029
$97,000–$114,400
$108,300
In 5 yrs
2031
$97,600–$120,700
$116,900
In 10 yrs
2036
$100,500–$135,700

What drives the annual growth rate

Base wage growth +3.0%Labor demand -0.57%AI impact -0.9%Total +1.5% / yr

Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →

The same job in Japan

Computer Programmers
United States
プログラマー
Japan
Median / average pay$100,390¥5.78M
≈ $36,787
Pay in 10 years (est.)$116,900¥6.67M
Outlook score3338
AI replacement risk80% High80% High
Workers92K—

Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35; O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0), modified by Shigoto Zukan. Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.