Technology Lafayette, LA Pop. 121,374

Software Engineer Salary in Lafayette, Louisiana

The median software engineer salary in Lafayette, LA is $104,328 per year, which is 16% below the national median and 3.4% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$104,328
vs State Avg
$-3,726
vs National
$-19,872
Cost of Living
88%

Software Engineer Pay in Lafayette: What to Expect (2026)

Lafayette offers a median software engineer salary of $104,328, which is $3,726 below the Louisiana state average of $108,054. Compared to the national median of $124,200, Lafayette pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Lafayette's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $104,328 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $118,555 in an average-cost city. This makes Lafayette an attractive option for software engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for software engineers in Lafayette spans from $62,664 at the 10th percentile to $166,807 at the 90th percentile — a $104,143 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $65,520, while senior software engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $155,400. With a population of 121,374, Lafayette is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Software Engineer Salary in Lafayette by Experience

In Lafayette, an entry-level software engineer earns around $65,520, while experienced professionals earn up to $155,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$65,520
$-12,480 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$105,000
$-20,000 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$155,400
$-29,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lafayette, LA

Percentile Lafayette
10th Percentile $62,664
25th Percentile $82,488
Median (50th) $104,328
75th Percentile $132,888
90th Percentile $166,807

Software Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$116,748
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$109,296
Pop. 227,470
Lake Charles, LA
$101,844
Pop. 80,000
Shreveport, LA
$100,602
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Software Engineer in Lafayette

Education

Most software engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Lafayette and the surrounding Louisiana area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonJavaScriptSQLGitCloud PlatformsSystem Design

Job Outlook

Nationally, software engineer employment is projected to grow 25% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Lafayette may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Software Engineer Jobs in Lafayette

Browse open software engineer positions in Lafayette, LA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in Lafayette

How much does a Software Engineer make in Lafayette, LA? ▼
The median software engineer salary in Lafayette, Louisiana is $104,328 per year, which is 16% below the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $62,664 (10th percentile) to $166,807 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in Lafayette? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $104,328, a software engineer in Lafayette earns approximately $50 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lafayette compare to the Louisiana state average for software engineer pay? ▼
Lafayette's median software engineer salary of $104,328 is 3.4% below the Louisiana state average of $108,054. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Lafayette, LA? ▼
Lafayette has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a software engineer salary of $104,328 in Lafayette has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a software engineer in Lafayette? ▼
Most software engineer positions in Lafayette require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git. The job market is projected to grow 25% nationally over the next decade.