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Junior programmer salary
Average junior programmer salary
$61,448
The role of a Junior Programmer is critical in the tech industry, often serving as the starting point for many successful careers in software development. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Junior Programmer is around $61,448 per year or $30 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, industry, and level of experience.
In states like California and New York, Junior Programmers can earn significantly more, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for tech talent. Additionally, opportunities in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and tech startups, can lead to higher earnings.
As Junior Programmers gain experience, they may transition into more specialized roles, increasing their salary potential. Continuous learning through certifications and hands-on experience is essential for career advancement. Many companies offer mentorship programs, allowing Junior Programmers to develop their skills in a supportive environment.
In summary, the Junior Programmer position not only offers a competitive salary but also presents numerous avenues for career growth in a rapidly evolving field.
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Where can a Junior Programmer earn more?
Junior programmer salary estimates from across the web
Average junior programmer salary by state
The average junior programmer salary in California, Connecticut, and Nevada are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average junior programmer salary states are Tennessee, New Mexico, and Minnesota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for junior programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $77,267 | $37.15 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $80,349 | $38.63 |
| 3 | California | $84,159 | $40.46 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $78,376 | $37.68 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $72,777 | $34.99 |
| 6 | Oregon | $76,411 | $36.74 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $76,467 | $36.76 |
| 8 | Nevada | $79,799 | $38.36 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $71,708 | $34.48 |
| 10 | Illinois | $71,966 | $34.60 |
| 11 | Vermont | $67,860 | $32.63 |
| 12 | Virginia | $70,553 | $33.92 |
| 13 | Ohio | $71,007 | $34.14 |
| 14 | New York | $73,799 | $35.48 |
| 15 | Alabama | $67,295 | $32.35 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $67,004 | $32.21 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $69,869 | $33.59 |
| 18 | Georgia | $69,464 | $33.40 |
| 19 | Arizona | $66,399 | $31.92 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $66,094 | $31.78 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $68,025 | $32.70 |
| 22 | Alaska | $68,229 | $32.80 |
| 23 | Maine | $66,584 | $32.01 |
| 24 | Texas | $64,759 | $31.13 |
| 25 | Colorado | $65,341 | $31.41 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $68,026 | $32.70 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $66,660 | $32.05 |
| 28 | Delaware | $63,260 | $30.41 |
| 29 | Kansas | $64,698 | $31.10 |
| 30 | Maryland | $63,107 | $30.34 |
| 31 | Michigan | $63,416 | $30.49 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $63,529 | $30.54 |
| 33 | Iowa | $63,161 | $30.37 |
| 34 | Indiana | $61,524 | $29.58 |
| 35 | Utah | $58,747 | $28.24 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $62,121 | $29.87 |
| 37 | Idaho | $58,010 | $27.89 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $62,374 | $29.99 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $55,866 | $26.86 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $59,348 | $28.53 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $59,065 | $28.40 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $59,298 | $28.51 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $61,283 | $29.46 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $56,999 | $27.40 |
| 45 | Montana | $53,948 | $25.94 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $57,547 | $27.67 |
| 47 | Florida | $54,179 | $26.05 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $55,539 | $26.70 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $55,436 | $26.65 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $55,475 | $26.67 |
| 51 | Missouri | $53,029 | $25.49 |
Highest paying cities for junior programmers
The highest-paying cities for junior programmers are Redwood City, CA, New London, CT, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood City, CA | $88,493 | $42.54 |
| 2 | New London, CT | $80,818 | $38.85 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $73,969 | $35.56 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $72,229 | $34.73 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $71,098 | $34.18 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $71,040 | $34.15 |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | $70,503 | $33.90 |
| 8 | Woodbridge, NJ | $69,862 | $33.59 |
| 9 | Roswell, GA | $69,799 | $33.56 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,429 | $32.42 |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $65,315 | $31.40 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $63,540 | $30.55 |
| 13 | Columbia, MD | $63,098 | $30.34 |
| 14 | Fort Wayne, IN | $62,171 | $29.89 |
| 15 | Shreveport, LA | $61,713 | $29.67 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $49,862 | $23.97 |
Junior programmer salary details
A junior programmer's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $82,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a junior programmer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $61,448 | $5,121 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
Highest paying junior programmer jobs
The highest paying types of junior programmers are lead programmer, senior programmer, and programmer/analyst lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $100,260 | $8,355 | $48.20 | 339,938 |
| Contract Developer | $91,433 | $7,619 | $43.96 | 249,808 |
| Applications Developer | $89,205 | $7,434 | $42.89 | 279,877 |
| Software Developer | $87,521 | $7,293 | $42.08 | 294,329 |
| Systems Analyst Programmer | $81,135 | $6,761 | $39.01 | 119,179 |
| Programmer Analyst | $71,563 | $5,964 | $34.41 | 248,781 |
Top companies hiring junior programmers now:
Which companies pay junior programmers the most?
Junior programmer salaries at PlayStation and Westat are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average junior programmer salary at companies like Sony Electronics and 99 Cents Only Stores are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PlayStation | $86,621 | $41.64 |
| 2 | Westat | $83,509 | $40.15 |
| 3 | Sony Electronics | $82,073 | $39.46 |
| 4 | 99 Cents Only Stores | $78,723 | $37.85 |
| 5 | Activision Blizzard | $76,396 | $36.73 |
| 6 | Transdev Services, Inc. | $76,164 | $36.62 |
| 7 | Gremillion & Pou Marketing | $73,344 | $35.26 |
| 8 | Trideum | $73,074 | $35.13 |
| 9 | AnswerNet | $71,628 | $34.44 |
| 10 | Eliassen Group | $70,914 | $34.09 |
| 11 | TranSystems | $70,885 | $34.08 |
| 12 | HBS Systems | $70,031 | $33.67 |
| 13 | CyberCoders | $69,530 | $33.43 |
| 14 | SHINE Systems | $68,387 | $32.88 |
| 15 | Intertech | $68,369 | $32.87 |
| 16 | Larsen & Toubro Infotech Limited Inc | $68,056 | $32.72 |
| 17 | HealthEC | $67,549 | $32.48 |
| 18 | Apex CoVantage | $67,429 | $32.42 |
| 19 | Magnopus | $67,391 | $32.40 |
| 20 | The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | $67,391 | $32.40 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Junior programmer salary trends
The average junior programmer salary has risen by $11,398 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average junior programmer earned $50,050 annually, but today, they earn $61,448 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for junior programmers over the last decade.
Compare junior programmer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average junior programmer salary over time
Compare junior programmer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Junior programmer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,400 | $29.54 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $59,400 | $28.57 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $58,100 | $27.92 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $56,700 | $27.25 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $55,000 | $26.45 | +0.4% |
Recently added junior programmer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical Mechanical Group | JR. BAS Programmer | Sterling, VA | 06/11/2025 | $65,000 |
| HBS Systems | Junior Programmer | Richardson, TX | 05/22/2025 | $60,000 |
| Perrknight | Junior Programmer | Friendly, MD | 02/20/2025 | $65,000 |
| Tech Cratic | JR Programmer (Onsite 5X A Week) | San Antonio, TX | 02/17/2025 | $50,000 |
| Winchester Electronics | Junior Programmer | Garden Grove, CA | 02/17/2025 | $52,175 |
| AV3 | Junior AV Programmer | Mechanicsville, MD | 02/01/2025 | $60,000 |
| Perr&Knight | Junior Programmer | Noma, FL | 01/31/2025 | $65,000 |
| Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake | Junior Scada Programmer | Cottonwood Heights, UT | 01/14/2025 | $73,965 |
| Mercer University | Junior Programmer | Macon, GA | 12/06/2024 | $31,305 |
| Albireo Energy | JR. Programmer | Edison, NJ | 10/24/2024 | $68,871 |
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