upper level job

Java Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a Java Developer make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Java Developer in the United States is $105,982 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

However, a Java Developer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,500
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,831 to $114,628
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $86,589
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $95,831 10% $86,589 90% $122,500 75% $114,628 $105,982 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Java Developer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $114,628 $9,552 $2,204 $55
Average $105,982 $8,832 $2,038 $51
25th Percentile $95,831 $7,986 $1,843 $46
Check out Java Developer Job Openings in the United States
Lead Software Engineer

JPMorganChase - PLANO, TX

Manager of Software Engineering

JPMorganChase - COLUMBUS, OH

Lead Software Engineer

JPMorganChase - COLUMBUS, OH

Java Developer

Zachary Piper Solutions, LLC - COLORADO SPRINGS COLORADO, CO

Search More Java Developer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Java Developer Salaries

A Java Developer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Java Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Java Developer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $102,743
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $103,037
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,652
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,417
  • Expert (over 8 years): $110,686
Levels Salary
Entry Level Java Developer$102,743
Intermediate Level Java Developer$103,037
Senior Level Java Developer$106,652
Specialist Level Java Developer$110,417
Expert Level Java Developer$110,686
$102,743 0 yr
$103,037 < 2 yrs
$106,652 2-4 yrs
$110,417 5-8 yrs
$110,686 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Java Developers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $133,675
  • San Francisco: $132,361
  • Oakland: $129,425

What Skills Can Increase a Java Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Team Development (Mentioned in 2.34% Job Postings): Building and developing effective teams to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way.
  • Agile (Mentioned in 3.41% Job Postings): Agile is a development process where feedback is continuously gathered from users to create the best user experience.
  • Business Requirements (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Also known as stakeholder requirements specifications , describe the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of the system's end user. Often discussed in the context of developing or procuring software or other systems.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Team Development 2.34%
Agile 3.41%
Business Requirements 2.12%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Java Developer's salary.
  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 1%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Python
$108,102
2%
Initiative
$107,042
1%
Leadership
$107,042
1%
SDLC
$107,042
1%
Collaboration
$107,042
1%
Kubernetes
$107,042
1%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Java Developer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Java Developers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Java Developer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,148 and $106,616).

Java Developer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Java Developer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 2.7%
Associates 3.4%
Bachelors 60.1%
Masters 31.8%
Doctorate 1.3%
view as graph

Java Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Java Developer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

Java Developer Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Java Developer, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Java Developer Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Applications Programmer III $122,556 16%
Software Architect III $128,647 21%
Backend Developer III $125,128 18%
Full Stack Developer III $128,380 21%

Most common benefits for Java Developer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Java Developer

Here are companies hiring for Java Developer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Java Developer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Java Developer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Java Developer

1. Where can a Java Developer earn the most?

A Java Developer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Java Developer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Java Developer is $133,675.

2. What is the highest pay for Java Developer?

The highest pay for Java Developer is $122,500.

3. What is the lowest pay for Java Developer?

The lowest pay for Java Developer is $86,589.

4. What are the responsibilities of Java Developer?

Designs, develops, and implements web-based Java applications to support business requirements. Follows approved life cycle methodologies, creates design documents, and performs program coding and testing. Resolves technical issues through debugging, research, and investigation. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 2 to 4 years of related experience. Gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst