How Much Does a Software Release Manager Make? (2025)
A software release manager is mainly responsible for identifying bugs and kinks within a company's software and addressing it immediately. They are also responsible for helping with the development of applications and programs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding a software release manager's salary, Salary'com's data suggests that a Software Release Managers with the average yearly salary of $148,290.
Learn more about the salary trend for software release managers, top-paying cities in the US, and some FAQs about the occupation in this salary guide.
What is The Average Software Release Manager's Salary?
The salary of a Software Release Manager is $148,290 per year. As of August 7, 2025, Software Release Manager salaries range from $113,329 to $162,236, with the majority earning between $129,990 to $155,590.
2025 Software Release Manager salary: $148,290 ($71 per hour)
A Software Release Manager's average monthly salary is $12,358, while the average weekly pay is $2,098. Meanwhile, the salary of a Software Release Manager per hour is $71, according to the report.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $54 | $2,179 | $9,444 | $113,329 |
| 25th Percentile | $62 | $2,500 | $10,833 | $129,990 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $71 | $2,852 | $12,358 | $148,290 |
| 75th Percentile | $75 | $2,992 | $12,966 | $155,590 |
| 90th Percentile | $78 | $3,120 | $13,520 | $162,236 |
Software Release Manager Salaries State by State
The salary for Software Release Managers differs across US states based on factors like minimum wage, job demand, location, and cost of living.
As shown in the table below, the three (3) states with the lowest average annual salary for Software Release Managers in the United States are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas with $132,290, $133,590, and $133,990, respectively.
Meanwhile, the three (3) states with the highest average annual salary for Software Release Managers are the District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts with $164,190, $163,590, and $161,390, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $136,290 |
| Alaska | $160,590 |
| Arizona | $144,490 |
| Arkansas | $133,990 |
| California | $163,590 |
| Colorado | $151,290 |
| Connecticut | $158,490 |
| Delaware | $150,190 |
| District of Columbia | $164,190 |
| Florida | $140,390 |
| Georgia | $143,090 |
| Hawaii | $154,990 |
| Idaho | $138,490 |
| Illinois | $151,190 |
| Indiana | $142,390 |
| Iowa | $141,990 |
| Kansas | $141,190 |
| Kentucky | $139,590 |
| Louisiana | $140,990 |
| Maine | $144,590 |
| Maryland | $152,890 |
| Massachusetts | $161,390 |
| Michigan | $146,090 |
| Minnesota | $151,790 |
| Mississippi | $132,290 |
| Missouri | $140,890 |
| Montana | $139,990 |
| Nebraska | $139,690 |
| Nevada | $146,790 |
| New Hampshire | $149,990 |
| New Jersey | $160,790 |
| New Mexico | $137,390 |
| New York | $157,690 |
| North Carolina | $140,990 |
| North Dakota | $146,490 |
| Ohio | $144,390 |
| Oklahoma | $137,190 |
| Oregon | $150,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $147,690 |
| Rhode Island | $153,790 |
| South Carolina | $138,990 |
| South Dakota | $134,790 |
| Tennessee | $138,590 |
| Texas | $144,690 |
| Utah | $141,990 |
| Vermont | $145,590 |
| Virginia | $149,390 |
| Washington | $160,790 |
| West Virginia | $133,590 |
| Wisconsin | $145,890 |
| Wyoming | $142,290 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Software Release Managers?
Software Release Managers' salaries also vary by city due to the differences in the standard of living, local demand for the occupation, and industry rates in metropolitan areas.
The table below shows that the labor industry in California is offering higher average annual salaries for Software Release Managers, specifically in cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Certain cities such as New York, Queens Village, and Paramus also show signs of increased demand for the role and are considered as few of the highest paying cities for Software Release Managers:
| City | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $187,090 |
| San Francisco, CA | $185,190 |
| Oakland, CA | $181,090 |
| New York, NY | $171,890 |
| Queens Village, NY | $170,790 |
| Paramus, NJ | $169,590 |
How Does Experience Affect a Software Release Manager's Salary?
Having more experience gives Software Release Managers an advantage over their peers, along with having an important role in increasing their salaries.
Salary.com reports that an entry-level Software Release Manager earns an average annual income of $141,462. Having 2 more years of experience can increase a Software Release Manager's salary to $142,281.
After 2 to 4 years of experience, the salary of Software Release Managers could increase to about $145,012. Specialist and expert-level Software Release Managers can earn up to $148,290 and $150,142, respectively.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Software Release Manager | $141,462 |
| Intermediate Level Software Release Manager | $142,281 |
| Senior Level Software Release Manager | $145,012 |
| Specialist Level Software Release Manager | $148,290 |
| Expert Level Software Release Manager | $150,142 |
How to Increase Salary as a Software Release Manager?
To be a software release manager, an employee has to have a bachelor's degree in information technology or any other similar degree. However, there are some software release managers that have other degrees as well.
Below are some of the common skills and advancements needed for a salary raise as a Software Release Manager.
Software Release Manager Advancements
- Education: Completing a degree in information technology or other computer-related courses is what most companies look for in their software release employees. However, some companies are looking for candidates with enough computer savvy and unique problem-solving skills.
- Experience: Most software release managers should have at least 1 or 2 years of prior experience to be considered for the role.
- Learn the needed skills: Some skills, like coding, are requirements for software release managers to have in the first place. Thus, learning the said skills can help aspiring software release managers to have a better understanding of their role.
Software Release Manager Skills
Gaining sought-after skills for a Software Release Manager is an effective way to earn a better salary and unlock more career opportunities.
The Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report indicates that the most in-demand Software Release Manager skills are cloud platform and Jira, with 6.34% and 5.83%, respectively.
On the other hand, essential skills such as Jira and software engineering knowledge can increase the salary for Software Release Managers by 10.90% and 10.60%, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Jira | 10.60% | +6.34% |
| Software Engineering | 10.00% | +5.83% |
| Application Development | 10.00% | +5.77% |
| Cloud Platform | 10.90% | +5.70% |
| Software Development Life Cycle | 10.00% | +5.69% |
| Mobile Application QA | 10.50% | +5.54% |
What are The FAQs About Software Release Managers' Salary?
Here are some common questions about a Software Release Manager's salary:
What does a Software Release Manager do?
A software release manager's role is mostly defined as planning, implementing, and scheduling a company's software tech releases, adding a more human element to the application, and ensuring that it works perfectly for their consumers. This means that they are also responsible for double-checking the program and coordinating with the cybersecurity team to ensure that it runs properly and running security checks on apps.
What skills should Software Release Managers possess?
As mentioned above, an ideal candidate for the Software Release Manager role should possess skills like cloud platform and Jira knowledge as well as the ability to QA mobile applications. However, having software engineering and application development skills can help Software Release Managers earn more.
How much does a Software Release Manager earn in the U.S.?
The average Software Release Manager salary in the United States is $148,290 or $71 per hour, as of August 7, 2025. The highest median salary can go up to $162,236 for those in the 90th percentile.
