[OC] Cost of Software Development in the U.S. (2025) by Role and Region

This chart compares average annual software developer salaries in the U.S. (2025) across different roles and regions, using salary as a proxy for development cost.

Key takeaways:

• West Coast roles consistently show the highest average salaries across all positions
• AI/ML and DevOps engineers command the highest compensation nationwide
• Regional salary gaps remain significant, especially at senior levels
• Junior and QA roles show smaller regional spreads compared to specialized roles

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Notes: Values represent estimated averages and may vary by city, company size, and experience level.

Tool: Canva