The median annual wage of applications developers was $87,790 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than the amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,360, and the top 10 percent earned more than $133,110. The median annual wage of systems developers was $94,180 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,040, and the top 10 percent earned more than $143,330.
Most software developers work full time, and long hours are common. Nearly one-fourth worked more than 40 hours per week in 2010.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition