Software Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Software Specialist make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Software Specialist in the United States is $70,404 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,365
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,892 to $76,665
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,964
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View as table View as graph 25% $63,892 10% $57,964 90% $82,365 75% $76,665 $70,404 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Software Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $76,665 $6,389 $1,474 $37
Average $70,404 $5,867 $1,354 $34
25th Percentile $63,892 $5,324 $1,229 $31
Check out Software Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Software Support Specialist

Routeware, Inc. - Cleveland, OH

Software Configuration Specialist

Jonas Software - Dayton, OH

Senior Software Support Specialist

Tyler Technologies, Inc. - , OH

Search More Software Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Software Specialist Salaries

A Software Specialist'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.

Top Paying Cities for Software Specialists

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: $88,800
  • San Francisco: $87,927
  • Oakland: $85,977

What Skills Can Increase a Software Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.3% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.8% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
  • Tableau (Mentioned in 1.73% Job Postings): Using business intelligence software to perform data analysis, data visualization, and the BI process of an organization.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.3%
Computer Science 2.8%
Tableau 1.73%
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 Software Specialist's salary.
  • Java: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Linux: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Java
$73,220
4%
Linux
$72,516
3%
Collaboration
$72,516
3%
SQL
$71,812
2%
Computer Science
$71,812
2%
Python
$71,812
2%
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How Education impacts a Software Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Software Specialists 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 Software Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $72,815 and $78,346).

Software Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Software Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 13.2%
Associates 11.5%
Bachelors 57.0%
Masters 16.9%
Doctorate 0.9%
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Software Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Software Specialist'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

Salary Trends for Software Specialist

Salaries for a Software Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $64,504 in 2023 to around $63,923 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Software Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Software Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$64,504
2024
$64,403
2025
$63,923
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $64,504
2024 $64,403
2025 $63,923
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Software Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Software Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Software Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Software Specialist Job

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

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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.

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