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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Here's the number most Software Developer job seekers don't research — but should. The national median salary for Software Developers in 2026 is $150,845, with entry-level positions averaging $81,457 and senior roles reaching $238,336. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $275,600, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Software Developer sits at the intersection of Technology and Technology. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in CS, and the field is characterized by high demand. The work itself is remote-eligible. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$167,700 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Software Developer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $275,600 — $167,700 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($107,900). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For a career with that education requirement, the pay trajectory is strong.
The three-tier salary picture for Software Developers in 2026: $81,457 at entry (P10), $150,845 at midpoint, and $238,336 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $156,879 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $70,478 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $257,400 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $108,767 (average of the bottom 3). That $148,633 delta is real money — $12,386/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Software Developer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $275,600 — $167,700 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($107,900). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Software Developer is $81,457, while senior-level (P90) earners average $238,336. That $156,879 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Software Developers at $182,618 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $160,550) is $22,068.
At the 90th percentile, Software Developers pull in an average of $238,336. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $81,457 | $150,845 | $238,336 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £67,592 | £93,877 | £133,306 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$89,038 | CA$123,663 | CA$175,602 |
| Australia | 13 | A$103,890 | A$144,291 | A$204,893 |
| Sweden | 24 | 639,771 kr | 888,571 kr | 1,261,771 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $98,614 | $182,618 | $288,536 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $95,297 | $176,475 | $278,831 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $94,770 | $175,500 | $277,290 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $87,750 | $162,500 | $256,750 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $86,697 | $160,550 | $253,669 |
| Washington | 8 | $85,030 | $157,463 | $248,791 |
| New York | 5 | $80,028 | $148,200 | $234,156 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $80,028 | $148,200 | $234,156 |
| Florida | 22 | $79,422 | $147,077 | $232,382 |
| Colorado | 11 | $78,050 | $144,536 | $228,367 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $77,922 | $144,300 | $227,994 |
| Nevada | 5 | $77,782 | $144,040 | $227,583 |
| Arizona | 12 | $77,396 | $143,325 | $226,454 |
| Oregon | 5 | $77,220 | $143,000 | $225,940 |
| Idaho | 3 | $76,986 | $142,567 | $225,255 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $76,378 | $141,440 | $223,475 |
| Utah | 4 | $76,167 | $141,050 | $222,859 |
| Virginia | 7 | $74,913 | $138,729 | $219,191 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $73,944 | $136,933 | $216,355 |
| Alaska | 1 | $73,710 | $136,500 | $215,670 |
| Illinois | 5 | $72,868 | $134,940 | $213,205 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $71,058 | $131,589 | $207,910 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $70,200 | $130,000 | $205,400 |
| Montana | 1 | $70,200 | $130,000 | $205,400 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $69,966 | $129,567 | $204,715 |
| Texas | 40 | $69,621 | $128,928 | $203,705 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $69,498 | $128,700 | $203,346 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $69,147 | $128,050 | $202,319 |
| Georgia | 6 | $68,913 | $127,617 | $201,634 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $68,796 | $127,400 | $201,292 |
| Kansas | 4 | $68,445 | $126,750 | $200,265 |
| Michigan | 6 | $68,211 | $126,317 | $199,580 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $67,392 | $124,800 | $197,184 |
| Maryland | 1 | $67,392 | $124,800 | $197,184 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $66,690 | $123,500 | $195,130 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $66,690 | $123,500 | $195,130 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $64,935 | $120,250 | $189,995 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $64,584 | $119,600 | $188,968 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $63,707 | $117,975 | $186,401 |
| Missouri | 4 | $63,707 | $117,975 | $186,401 |
| Alabama | 5 | $63,461 | $117,520 | $185,682 |
| Indiana | 3 | $62,478 | $115,700 | $182,806 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $62,478 | $115,700 | $182,806 |
| Iowa | 2 | $61,776 | $114,400 | $180,752 |
| Ohio | 6 | $61,659 | $114,183 | $180,410 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $58,968 | $109,200 | $172,536 |
Geography shapes Software Developer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $182,618 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($275,600 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $130,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $275,600 | 212 | $130,000 | $151,027 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $257,400 | 198 | $130,000 | $143,010 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $239,200 | 184 | $130,000 | $134,857 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $235,300 | 181 | $130,000 | $133,022 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $231,400 | 178 | $130,000 | $131,187 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $230,100 | 177 | $130,000 | $130,576 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $230,100 | 177 | $130,000 | $130,576 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $224,900 | 173 | $130,000 | $128,129 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $224,900 | 173 | $130,000 | $128,129 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $219,700 | 169 | $130,000 | $125,682 |
The $156,879 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Software Developer career. Senior-level earners make 2.9× what entry-level professionals do — an aggressive growth curve that rewards experience and specialization. In the Technology sector, high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Software Developers is $150,845 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $81,457, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $238,336.
The highest-paying city for Software Developers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $275,600. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($275,600), Santa Clara ($257,400), Irvine ($239,200). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Software Developer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $107,900. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Software Developers (10th percentile) average $81,457 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $148,824. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Software Developers average $238,336 nationally — $156,879 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Software Developers can earn up to $435,448.
The top-paying states for Software Developers are California ($182,618 median), Massachusetts ($176,475 median), Hawaii ($175,500 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Software Developer involves Bachelor's in CS. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically remote-eligible.
With a national median of $150,845 and representation across 288 metro areas, Software Developer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $156,879 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.