National Salary Info » Systems Software Developers

Highest Paying Industries for Systems Software Developers

The top 100 highest paying industries for systems software developers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $154,180, petroleum and coal products manufacturing is the highest paying industry for systems software developers. It is followed by computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing industry (average annual salary $119,190). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of systems software developers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Systems Software Developers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$154,180	$89,360	n/a
2	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$119,190	$77,030	21,690
3	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$118,900	$87,330	120
4	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$117,040	$71,440	60
5	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$116,640	$74,630	13,240
6	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$114,310	$72,400	14,500
7	Other Financial Investment Activities	$113,380	$71,860	2,820
8	Other Information Services	$113,040	$72,200	4,100
9	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$112,960	$73,180	5,130
10	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$112,800	$71,240	51,060
11	Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media	$112,430	$66,530	160
12	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$112,400	$72,600	14,640
13	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$112,280	$50,720	220
14	Scientific Research and Development Services	$112,240	$72,450	14,830
15	Manufacturing	$112,090	$70,530	71,160
16	Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage	$111,940	$74,220	2,190
17	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$109,580	$69,480	15,750
18	Depository Credit Intermediation	$108,380	$75,640	5,280
19	Support Activities for Mining	$107,730	$80,880	n/a
20	Plastics Product Manufacturing	$107,390	$66,740	n/a
21	Mining	$107,310	$75,190	n/a
22	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	$107,190	$71,980	80
23	Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing	$107,130	$66,820	n/a
24	Natural Gas Distribution	$106,930	$70,040	270
25	Rail Transportation	$106,760	$80,560	240
26	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$106,630	$67,940	8,540
27	Utility System Construction	$106,550	$70,650	90
28	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$106,340	$68,990	5,540
29	Satellite Telecommunications	$106,240	$61,990	110
30	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$106,160	$70,500	800
31	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities	$106,110	$69,880	9,340
32	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$106,100	$61,990	13,440
33	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$105,950	$73,070	530
34	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	$105,560	$67,780	1,360
35	Travel Agencies	$105,100	$79,740	720
36	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$105,090	$65,100	1,220
37	Oil and Gas Extraction	$104,990	$68,460	50
38	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$104,910	$67,320	90
39	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$104,780	$64,670	11,890
40	Monetary Authorities-Central Bank	$104,660	$67,140	220
41	Temporary Help Services	$104,620	$61,880	5,840
42	Educational Support Services - Privately owned	$104,510	$70,110	400
43	Educational Support Services	$104,410	$69,800	400
44	Finance and Insurance	$104,350	$65,640	18,880
45	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$104,240	$65,510	18,610
46	Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing	$104,230	$74,820	70
47	Outpatient Care Centers	$104,070	$70,910	110
48	Other Building Equipment Contractors	$104,070	$77,520	30
49	Employment Services	$104,040	$61,840	7,720
50	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$103,970	$67,630	4,650
51	Software Publishers	$103,500	$61,680	21,100
52	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$103,410	$64,110	330
53	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$103,120	$61,830	22,260
54	Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$103,010	$66,140	1,550
55	Specialized Design Services	$102,780	$57,760	280
56	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$102,590	$61,500	174,850
57	Engineering Services	$102,540	$64,620	14,980
58	Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services	$102,410	$73,100	990
59	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$102,290	$64,400	15,280
60	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$102,230	$67,690	1,290
61	Waste Management and Remediation Services	$102,220	$71,220	240
62	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$102,220	$38,620	350
63	Rental and Leasing Services	$101,900	$76,740	90
64	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$101,750	$65,480	2,840
65	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$101,670	$66,740	270
66	Home Health Care Services	$101,670	$51,190	40
67	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$101,390	$36,760	310
68	Wholesale Trade	$101,380	$64,220	24,940
69	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$100,990	$59,720	128,550
70	Utilities	$100,930	$68,460	810
71	Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works)	$100,900	$57,060	40
72	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	$100,700	$62,170	12,130
73	Administrative and Support Services	$100,660	$61,970	11,890
74	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$100,580	$66,130	390
75	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$100,400	$61,030	1,090
76	Other Support Services	$100,110	$60,280	160
77	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	$100,020	$61,030	970
78	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$99,980	$67,140	1,020
79	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$99,890	$66,350	180
80	Social Advocacy Organizations	$99,880	$67,170	90
81	Machinery Manufacturing	$99,690	$64,850	2,230
82	Ship and Boat Building	$99,480	$50,600	30
83	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$99,250	$59,030	620
84	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	$99,050	$65,510	230
85	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$98,350	$53,560	290
86	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$98,260	$54,340	910
87	Information	$98,020	$61,300	48,810
88	Chemical Manufacturing	$97,950	$63,720	700
89	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$97,850	$62,080	15,420
90	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$97,780	$67,800	n/a
91	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$97,730	$66,130	50
92	Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance	$97,360	$49,840	460
93	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$97,330	$62,610	570
94	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$97,240	$64,820	450
95	Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing	$97,110	$63,050	190
96	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$96,970	$63,890	1,160
97	Transportation and Warehousing	$96,630	$63,090	1,170
98	Support Activities for Air Transportation	$96,440	$63,550	280
99	Repair and Maintenance	$96,430	$50,150	500
100	Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories	$96,320	$57,980	120