Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior programmer salary
Average senior programmer salary
$105,509
Understanding Senior Programmer Salaries
The salary of a Senior Programmer typically hovers around $105,509 per year. This figure, however, can vary significantly based on location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for tech talent.
Senior Programmers are expected to possess a strong grasp of various programming languages, software development methodologies, and project management. Their roles often involve mentoring junior developers and leading projects, which can lead to higher compensation.
Industries such as finance, technology, and healthcare frequently provide the highest salaries for Senior Programmers. Companies in urban areas with a vibrant tech scene tend to offer better pay. To maximize earning potential, it’s advisable for Senior Programmers to keep their skills updated and consider specialization in high-demand areas.
To summarize, while the average salary stands at $105,509, many factors contribute to the overall compensation package, including bonuses, benefits, and stock options. Job seekers should research specific companies and regions to gain insights into potential salaries.
Let Zippi find your next senior programmer job
Let Zippi find your next senior programmer job
Where can a Senior Programmer earn more?
Senior programmer salary estimates from across the web
Average senior programmer salary by state
The average senior programmer salary in California, Oregon, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior programmer salary states are Montana, Kansas, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $112,944 | $54.30 |
| 2 | Washington | $111,798 | $53.75 |
| 3 | Delaware | $108,340 | $52.09 |
| 4 | California | $115,853 | $55.70 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $105,348 | $50.65 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $106,449 | $51.18 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $105,338 | $50.64 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $98,642 | $47.42 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $108,629 | $52.23 |
| 10 | Maryland | $106,258 | $51.09 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $106,839 | $51.36 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $105,236 | $50.59 |
| 13 | Vermont | $98,443 | $47.33 |
| 14 | Virginia | $103,223 | $49.63 |
| 15 | Nevada | $101,553 | $48.82 |
| 16 | New York | $105,512 | $50.73 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $97,730 | $46.99 |
| 18 | Idaho | $98,798 | $47.50 |
| 19 | Indiana | $96,331 | $46.31 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $99,900 | $48.03 |
| 21 | Michigan | $97,477 | $46.86 |
| 22 | Ohio | $95,166 | $45.75 |
| 23 | Texas | $93,563 | $44.98 |
| 24 | Georgia | $95,539 | $45.93 |
| 25 | Illinois | $94,935 | $45.64 |
| 26 | Utah | $89,900 | $43.22 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $94,082 | $45.23 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $92,022 | $44.24 |
| 29 | Iowa | $91,084 | $43.79 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $93,334 | $44.87 |
| 31 | Alabama | $91,386 | $43.94 |
| 32 | Alaska | $94,154 | $45.27 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $90,772 | $43.64 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $89,011 | $42.79 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $91,070 | $43.78 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $91,556 | $44.02 |
| 37 | Arizona | $88,578 | $42.59 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $87,437 | $42.04 |
| 39 | Maine | $87,739 | $42.18 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $90,201 | $43.37 |
| 41 | Montana | $82,134 | $39.49 |
| 42 | Colorado | $83,414 | $40.10 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $83,688 | $40.23 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $76,993 | $37.02 |
| 45 | Kansas | $80,444 | $38.67 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $82,679 | $39.75 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $84,062 | $40.41 |
| 48 | Missouri | $82,980 | $39.89 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $77,632 | $37.32 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $74,593 | $35.86 |
| 51 | Florida | $75,246 | $36.18 |
Highest paying cities for senior programmers
The highest-paying cities for senior programmers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Wilmington, DE.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $127,090 | $61.10 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $112,528 | $54.10 |
| 3 | Wilmington, DE | $108,339 | $52.09 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $106,851 | $51.37 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $106,450 | $51.18 |
| 6 | Gaithersburg, MD | $105,962 | $50.94 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $105,855 | $50.89 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $105,150 | $50.55 |
| 9 | Piscataway, NJ | $99,907 | $48.03 |
| 10 | Lansing, MI | $96,732 | $46.51 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $96,278 | $46.29 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $95,575 | $45.95 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $95,232 | $45.78 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $94,067 | $45.22 |
| 15 | Baton Rouge, LA | $90,421 | $43.47 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $88,711 | $42.65 |
| 17 | Overland Park, KS | $80,862 | $38.88 |
Senior Programmers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Senior programmer salary details
A senior programmer's salary ranges from $78,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $141,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior programmer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $141,000 | $11,750 | $68 |
| 75th Percentile | $123,000 | $10,250 | $59 |
| Average | $105,509 | $8,792 | $51 |
| 25th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
Highest paying senior programmer jobs
The highest paying types of senior programmers are lead programmer, lead developer, and lead software developer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Software Developer | $115,072 | $9,589 | $55.32 | 309,029 |
| Lead Developer | $116,340 | $9,695 | $55.93 | 274,208 |
| Software Developer | $87,521 | $7,293 | $42.08 | 294,329 |
| Applications Developer | $89,205 | $7,434 | $42.89 | 279,877 |
| Developer | $100,076 | $8,340 | $48.11 | 262,570 |
| Software Engineer | $100,260 | $8,355 | $48.20 | 339,938 |
Top companies hiring senior programmers now:
Which companies pay senior programmers the most?
Senior programmer salaries at Cornerstone Research and Reata Pharmaceuticals are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior programmer salary at companies like Exelixis and bluebird bio are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornerstone Research | $153,332 | $73.72 |
| 2 | Reata Pharmaceuticals | $143,825 | $69.15 |
| 3 | Exelixis | $143,598 | $69.04 |
| 4 | bluebird bio | $141,823 | $68.18 |
| 5 | Zymeworks | $135,669 | $65.23 |
| 6 | ZymoGenetics | $134,659 | $64.74 |
| 7 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America | $133,159 | $64.02 |
| 8 | Citi | $132,454 | $63.68 |
| 9 | Sirius Solutions | $131,666 | $63.30 |
| 10 | Amazon | $130,693 | $62.83 |
| 11 | Cantor Fitzgerald | $129,823 | $62.41 |
| 12 | PlayStation | $129,710 | $62.36 |
| 13 | Barnes & Noble | $127,641 | $61.37 |
| 14 | Naughty Dog | $125,104 | $60.15 |
| 15 | Jazz Pharmaceuticals | $124,947 | $60.07 |
| 16 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $123,713 | $59.48 |
| 17 | Rockstar Games | $123,639 | $59.44 |
| 18 | Tribeca | $123,605 | $59.43 |
| 19 | Activision Blizzard | $123,389 | $59.32 |
| 20 | Red 5 Studios | $122,668 | $58.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Programmer salary by industry
The average senior programmer salary varies across industries:
- The average senior programmer salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $108,353, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior programmer salary in the finance industry is $104,142.
- Senior programmers in the professional industry earn an average salary of $89,867, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior programmers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $108,353 | $52.09 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $104,142 | $50.07 |
| 3 | Health Care | $101,908 | $48.99 |
| 4 | Finance | $101,663 | $48.88 |
| 5 | Technology | $97,600 | $46.92 |
| 6 | Professional | $89,867 | $43.21 |
High paying senior programmer jobs
Senior programmer salary trends
The average senior programmer salary has risen by $19,571 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior programmer earned $85,938 annually, but today, they earn $105,509 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for senior programmers over the last decade.
Compare senior programmer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior programmer salary over time
Compare senior programmer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior programmer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $106,000 | $50.73 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $102,000 | $49.05 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $99,700 | $47.94 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $97,300 | $46.78 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $94,500 | $45.42 | +0.4% |
Recently added senior programmer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exact Sciences | SR Statistical Programmer | Madison, WI | 06/30/2025 | $109,000 |
| CIS Secure | Senior AV Programmer | Ashburn, VA | 06/28/2025 | $110,000 |
| Johnson & Johnson | Senior Statistical Programmer | Irvine, CA | 06/27/2025 | $106,250 |
| JMS Staffing | Senior Hris Programmer-Kronos/ADP | Bethesda, MD | 06/27/2025 | $146,090 |
| WCG Clinical | Senior Statistical Programmer (Remote) | Raleigh, NC | 06/25/2025 | $73,000 |
| Albireo Energy | Senior Programmer | New York, NY | 06/14/2025 | $108,524 |
| Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals | Statistical Programmer/Sr. Statistical Programmer | Pasadena, CA | 06/12/2025 | $90,000 |
| Vertical Mechanical Group | SR. BAS Programmer | Sterling, VA | 06/11/2025 | $85,000 |
| Principle Funding Group | SR. Programmer PHP (Architect) | West Jordan, UT | 06/10/2025 | $60,000 |
| Connect Life Sciences | Senior Statistical Programmer-Contract | Lakewood, NJ | 06/10/2025 | $100,000 |
Senior programmer salary FAQs
Search for senior programmer jobs