At a glance
Median pay for Software Developers runs from $101,900 in Baton Rouge to $213,110 in San Jose across 75 curated metros; the middle value is $129,620.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($192,994), San Francisco ($161,435), Boston ($153,409).
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
Software Developers salary comparison
Software developer wages vary across technology centers and broader regional labor markets. Compare the local median alongside regional price levels rather than relying on a national salary headline. 75 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 | $213,110 | $192,994 | $2,840 |
| San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | $161,435 | $2,474 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $166,090 | $153,409 | $2,023 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $152,203 | $1,875 |
| Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $150,522 | $2,000 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $166,830 | $148,210 | $1,830 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $156,000 | $147,978 | $1,724 |
| San Diego, CA | $163,270 | $145,924 | $2,246 |
| Worcester, MA | $146,950 | $143,334 | $1,426 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $154,930 | $142,289 | $2,027 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,920 | $141,697 | $2,063 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $135,920 | $139,623 | $1,473 |
| Durham, NC | $135,620 | $138,995 | $1,466 |
| Des Moines, IA | $126,460 | $137,905 | $1,150 |
| Birmingham, AL | $125,410 | $136,845 | $1,172 |
| Austin, TX | $134,120 | $136,765 | $1,726 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $125,220 | $136,240 | $1,192 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $125,580 | $136,235 | $1,220 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $129,030 | $135,695 | $1,113 |
| San Antonio, TX | $128,430 | $135,595 | $1,363 |
Show all 75 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $192,994 | $2,840 |
| San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | $161,435 | $2,474 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $166,090 | $153,409 | $2,023 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $152,203 | $1,875 |
| Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $150,522 | $2,000 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $166,830 | $148,210 | $1,830 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $156,000 | $147,978 | $1,724 |
| San Diego, CA | $163,270 | $145,924 | $2,246 |
| Worcester, MA | $146,950 | $143,334 | $1,426 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $154,930 | $142,289 | $2,027 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,920 | $141,697 | $2,063 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $135,920 | $139,623 | $1,473 |
| Durham, NC | $135,620 | $138,995 | $1,466 |
| Des Moines, IA | $126,460 | $137,905 | $1,150 |
| Birmingham, AL | $125,410 | $136,845 | $1,172 |
| Austin, TX | $134,120 | $136,765 | $1,726 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $125,220 | $136,240 | $1,192 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $125,580 | $136,235 | $1,220 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $129,030 | $135,695 | $1,113 |
| San Antonio, TX | $128,430 | $135,595 | $1,363 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $122,390 | $135,375 | $1,124 |
| Raleigh, NC | $132,770 | $135,263 | $1,573 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $124,990 | $135,062 | $1,249 |
| Richmond, VA | $132,120 | $135,012 | $1,447 |
| Greensboro, NC | $125,190 | $134,809 | $1,093 |
| Madison, WI | $130,630 | $134,273 | $1,354 |
| Boise City, ID | $131,590 | $133,742 | $1,487 |
| Buffalo, NY | $127,850 | $133,394 | $1,057 |
| Baltimore, MD | $138,900 | $132,935 | $1,611 |
| Atlanta, GA | $132,960 | $132,883 | $1,672 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $129,090 | $131,804 | $1,478 |
| Columbia, SC | $123,380 | $131,729 | $1,193 |
| Knoxville, TN | $121,750 | $131,524 | $1,145 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $124,500 | $131,508 | $1,053 |
| Nashville, TN | $126,610 | $131,423 | $1,528 |
| Houston, TX | $129,440 | $131,239 | $1,430 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $130,330 | $131,006 | $1,513 |
| Sacramento, CA | $139,640 | $130,908 | $1,819 |
| Charleston, SC | $132,150 | $130,891 | $1,605 |
| Greenville, SC | $121,790 | $130,592 | $1,150 |
| Detroit, MI | $130,760 | $130,371 | $1,207 |
| Denver, CO | $137,610 | $130,088 | $1,874 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $133,040 | $129,727 | $1,480 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $134,380 | $129,717 | $1,430 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $129,940 | $129,661 | $1,626 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $123,700 | $129,466 | $1,156 |
| Tampa, FL | $130,450 | $129,299 | $1,628 |
| Dallas, TX | $133,290 | $129,295 | $1,614 |
| Hartford, CT | $132,520 | $128,978 | $1,416 |
| North Port, FL | $131,890 | $128,777 | $1,747 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $129,600 | $128,485 | $1,583 |
| Albany, NY | $127,910 | $128,468 | $1,280 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $130,690 | $128,413 | $1,307 |
| Columbus, OH | $122,340 | $128,146 | $1,274 |
| Orlando, FL | $129,620 | $127,808 | $1,760 |
| Tucson, AZ | $123,710 | $127,673 | $1,212 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $123,730 | $127,640 | $1,139 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $131,750 | $127,521 | $1,702 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $121,420 | $127,315 | $1,105 |
| Rochester, NY | $122,770 | $126,521 | $1,143 |
| Fresno, CA | $129,060 | $126,334 | $1,392 |
| Riverside, CA | $133,270 | $125,204 | $1,846 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $130,920 | $124,897 | $1,440 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $122,930 | $122,969 | $1,365 |
| Tulsa, OK | $108,730 | $121,875 | $1,078 |
| Cleveland, OH | $111,310 | $118,512 | $1,050 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $110,270 | $118,476 | $1,116 |
| Little Rock, AR | $104,070 | $116,456 | $1,055 |
| Miami, FL | $132,650 | $116,202 | $1,869 |
| New Orleans, LA | $106,950 | $115,501 | $1,217 |
| Dayton, OH | $106,910 | $115,336 | $1,039 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $107,520 | $112,532 | $1,202 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $101,900 | $112,249 | $1,135 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $106,870 | $111,677 | $1,191 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $120,230 | $108,353 | $2,083 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 75 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 Software Developers varies across metros
Across the 75 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Software Developers runs from $101,900 in Baton Rouge to $213,110 in San Jose, a 2.09× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $108,353 in Urban Honolulu to $192,994 in San Jose, a 1.78× difference. The middle value across these metros is $129,620 nominal and $130,908 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 75 metros, Oklahoma City moves from 61st on nominal pay to 21st on adjusted pay while Miami moves from 24th to 69th. 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 | $138,420 | $173,650 | $213,110 | $226,080 | $289,150 |
| San Francisco, CA | $128,090 | $163,500 | $186,640 | $219,670 | $273,400 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $102,950 | $131,880 | $166,090 | $183,740 | $214,100 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $102,200 | $124,970 | $162,650 | $204,070 | $223,320 |
| Seattle, WA | $99,190 | $132,800 | $167,280 | $211,860 | $257,960 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $101,690 | $130,650 | $166,830 | $205,970 | $224,590 |
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 Software developers 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 +10.2% ranks 14th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 95,300 projected annual openings rank 17th. 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: 1,717,800 workers in 2025; projected 1,892,600 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: Software development spans product engineering, internal applications, platforms and embedded systems. Two jobs with the same broad BLS code may have very different expectations around on-call coverage, architecture ownership and in-office work.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask how base pay compares with variable compensation, equity vesting, work-location rules and expected on-call hours. A remote offer can also have location-dependent pay that a metropolitan wage median cannot reveal.
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 Software Developers in New York, NY–NJ
New York 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. Of 75 metros, it ranks 4th on nominal median and 6th on price-adjusted median.
For the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $166,830. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $130,650 to $205,970. The price-adjusted median of $148,210 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 112.6 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,830 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$5. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Portland has a published BLS median of $156,000 and adjusted median of $147,978. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare New York with Portland in the interactive tool, or review the New York 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.