At a glance
Median pay for Computer Programmers runs from $66,760 in Knoxville to $154,920 in San Jose across 69 curated metros; the middle value is $99,750.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($140,297), Hartford ($138,127), Bridgeport ($122,389).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Computer Programmers salary comparison
The BLS separates computer programmers from software developers, though employers often use the titles interchangeably. If your role includes design as well as coding, compare it with the software developer figures too. 69 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $140,297 | $2,840 |
| Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $138,127 | $1,416 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $130,790 | $122,389 | $1,875 |
| San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $119,880 | $2,246 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $130,390 | $119,751 | $2,027 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $128,900 | $119,059 | $2,023 |
| Worcester, MA | $119,010 | $116,081 | $1,426 |
| Richmond, VA | $112,690 | $115,157 | $1,447 |
| Birmingham, AL | $103,750 | $113,210 | $1,172 |
| San Francisco, CA | $130,730 | $113,076 | $2,474 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $105,050 | $112,867 | $1,116 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $126,750 | $112,604 | $1,830 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $118,000 | $112,572 | $1,440 |
| Little Rock, AR | $100,070 | $111,980 | $1,055 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $111,290 | $110,332 | $1,583 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $101,830 | $110,035 | $1,249 |
| Durham, NC | $105,160 | $107,777 | $1,466 |
| Charleston, SC | $107,770 | $106,743 | $1,605 |
| Greenville, SC | $99,520 | $106,712 | $1,150 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $102,070 | $106,661 | $1,191 |
Show all 69 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $140,297 | $2,840 |
| Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $138,127 | $1,416 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $130,790 | $122,389 | $1,875 |
| San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $119,880 | $2,246 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $130,390 | $119,751 | $2,027 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $128,900 | $119,059 | $2,023 |
| Worcester, MA | $119,010 | $116,081 | $1,426 |
| Richmond, VA | $112,690 | $115,157 | $1,447 |
| Birmingham, AL | $103,750 | $113,210 | $1,172 |
| San Francisco, CA | $130,730 | $113,076 | $2,474 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $105,050 | $112,867 | $1,116 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $126,750 | $112,604 | $1,830 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $118,000 | $112,572 | $1,440 |
| Little Rock, AR | $100,070 | $111,980 | $1,055 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $111,290 | $110,332 | $1,583 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $101,830 | $110,035 | $1,249 |
| Durham, NC | $105,160 | $107,777 | $1,466 |
| Charleston, SC | $107,770 | $106,743 | $1,605 |
| Greenville, SC | $99,520 | $106,712 | $1,150 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $102,070 | $106,661 | $1,191 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $101,640 | $106,574 | $1,105 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $103,070 | $105,237 | $1,478 |
| Columbia, SC | $98,490 | $105,155 | $1,193 |
| Dayton, OH | $96,350 | $103,944 | $1,039 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $95,150 | $103,524 | $1,192 |
| Austin, TX | $100,700 | $102,686 | $1,726 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $92,790 | $102,635 | $1,124 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $96,920 | $101,927 | $1,113 |
| Atlanta, GA | $101,910 | $101,851 | $1,672 |
| Baltimore, MD | $106,420 | $101,850 | $1,611 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $111,170 | $100,188 | $2,083 |
| Madison, WI | $97,410 | $100,126 | $1,354 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $99,050 | $99,564 | $1,513 |
| Tampa, FL | $100,140 | $99,257 | $1,628 |
| Dallas, TX | $102,240 | $99,175 | $1,614 |
| Orlando, FL | $100,450 | $99,046 | $1,760 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $101,420 | $98,894 | $1,480 |
| Denver, CO | $104,610 | $98,892 | $1,874 |
| Buffalo, NY | $94,260 | $98,347 | $1,057 |
| Houston, TX | $96,440 | $97,781 | $1,430 |
| Fresno, CA | $99,370 | $97,271 | $1,392 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $99,750 | $96,288 | $1,430 |
| Sacramento, CA | $102,600 | $96,184 | $1,819 |
| Riverside, CA | $101,810 | $95,648 | $1,846 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $97,300 | $95,605 | $1,307 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $107,090 | $94,298 | $2,063 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $99,150 | $94,051 | $1,724 |
| Boise City, ID | $92,270 | $93,779 | $1,487 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $93,510 | $93,540 | $1,365 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $93,600 | $93,399 | $1,626 |
| Tucson, AZ | $88,990 | $91,841 | $1,212 |
| Greensboro, NC | $84,700 | $91,208 | $1,093 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $85,340 | $90,144 | $1,053 |
| Miami, FL | $101,530 | $88,940 | $1,869 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $91,110 | $88,186 | $1,702 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $85,280 | $87,975 | $1,139 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $83,750 | $87,654 | $1,156 |
| Detroit, MI | $87,860 | $87,599 | $1,207 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $84,720 | $87,028 | $1,473 |
| Des Moines, IA | $79,200 | $86,368 | $1,150 |
| Rochester, NY | $83,420 | $85,969 | $1,143 |
| Columbus, OH | $80,910 | $84,750 | $1,274 |
| Albany, NY | $84,140 | $84,507 | $1,280 |
| Cleveland, OH | $79,290 | $84,420 | $1,050 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $80,060 | $83,792 | $1,202 |
| New Orleans, LA | $77,220 | $83,394 | $1,217 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $73,970 | $80,246 | $1,220 |
| North Port, FL | $78,730 | $76,872 | $1,747 |
| Knoxville, TN | $66,760 | $72,119 | $1,145 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 69 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Computer Programmers varies across metros
Across the 69 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Computer Programmers runs from $66,760 in Knoxville to $154,920 in San Jose, a 2.32× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $72,119 in Knoxville to $140,297 in San Jose, a 1.95× difference. The middle value across these metros is $99,750 nominal and $99,175 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 69 metros, Oklahoma City moves from 50th on nominal pay to 27th on adjusted pay while Los Angeles moves from 15th to 46th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $81,750 | $119,590 | $154,920 | $179,860 | $202,640 |
| Hartford, CT | $84,850 | $101,970 | $141,920 | $141,920 | $141,920 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $85,290 | $97,650 | $130,790 | $133,620 | $173,140 |
| San Diego, CA | $71,010 | $101,360 | $134,130 | $163,990 | $178,930 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $67,010 | $93,490 | $130,390 | $163,340 | $184,660 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $78,940 | $102,290 | $128,900 | $142,650 | $168,320 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Computer programmers from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of -7.3% ranks 80th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 4,400 projected annual openings rank 78th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 110,800 workers in 2025; projected 102,700 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Computer programmers write and test code, and many employers now use titles such as software developer for similar work, so a job title and a BLS category may not match. Industry and the systems involved affect pay.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Match the actual duties to this category or to the software developer category, and ask about the technology stack, on-call duty and remote rules. Compare an offer against both categories.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Computer Programmers in Seattle, WA
Seattle is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median.
The corresponding metropolitan wage median is not reported in the current BLS snapshot; the site leaves it unavailable instead of substituting a state or national estimate.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $2,000 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$10. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, New York has a published BLS median of $126,750 and adjusted median of $112,604. This example has a published median and the highest estimated employment among our available curated metros; no comparison to the missing focus wage is inferred. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Seattle with New York in the interactive tool, or review the Seattle metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.