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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 $135,645, with entry-level positions averaging $97,664 and senior roles reaching $192,616. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $252,484, 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.
$147,240 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Software Developer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $252,484 — $147,240 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($105,244). 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: $97,664 at entry (P10), $135,645 at midpoint, and $192,616 at the senior end (P90). The state breakdown adds another layer. The $94,952 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $55,278 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $238,994 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $107,832 (average of the bottom 3). That $131,162 delta is real money — $10,930/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 Santa Clara, California earns a median of $252,484 — $147,240 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($105,244). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Software Developer is $97,664, while senior-level (P90) earners average $192,616. That $94,952 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Software Developers at $172,310 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $141,513) is $30,797.
At the 90th percentile, Software Developers pull in an average of $192,616. 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 | $97,664 | $135,645 | $192,616 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £65,322 | £90,724 | £128,829 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$84,673 | CA$117,601 | CA$166,994 |
| Australia | 13 | A$98,145 | A$136,312 | A$193,564 |
| Sweden | 24 | 618,217 kr | 858,635 kr | 1,219,262 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $124,063 | $172,310 | $244,680 |
| California | 61 | $111,467 | $154,815 | $219,837 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $107,456 | $149,244 | $211,926 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $104,638 | $145,331 | $206,370 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $101,889 | $141,513 | $200,948 |
| Washington | 8 | $99,851 | $138,682 | $196,928 |
| Oregon | 5 | $98,737 | $137,135 | $194,732 |
| Colorado | 11 | $98,216 | $136,411 | $193,704 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $98,163 | $136,338 | $193,600 |
| New York | 5 | $97,693 | $135,685 | $192,672 |
| Illinois | 5 | $97,473 | $135,379 | $192,238 |
| Nevada | 5 | $96,355 | $133,827 | $190,034 |
| Virginia | 7 | $96,300 | $133,750 | $189,925 |
| Idaho | 3 | $96,300 | $133,750 | $189,925 |
| Utah | 4 | $95,498 | $132,637 | $188,344 |
| Florida | 22 | $95,409 | $132,512 | $188,167 |
| Arizona | 12 | $95,315 | $132,382 | $187,982 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $95,201 | $132,223 | $187,757 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $94,101 | $130,696 | $185,588 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $93,460 | $129,805 | $184,323 |
| Michigan | 6 | $93,353 | $129,657 | $184,113 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $93,307 | $129,593 | $184,022 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $93,111 | $129,322 | $183,637 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $91,627 | $127,260 | $180,709 |
| Alaska | 1 | $91,627 | $127,260 | $180,709 |
| Iowa | 2 | $91,627 | $127,260 | $180,709 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $91,627 | $127,260 | $180,709 |
| Montana | 1 | $91,627 | $127,260 | $180,709 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $90,375 | $125,521 | $178,239 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $90,253 | $125,351 | $177,999 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $90,242 | $125,337 | $177,978 |
| Texas | 40 | $90,120 | $125,167 | $177,736 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $89,817 | $124,747 | $177,140 |
| Georgia | 6 | $89,566 | $124,397 | $176,643 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $89,451 | $124,238 | $176,417 |
| Indiana | 3 | $89,214 | $123,909 | $175,950 |
| Alabama | 5 | $88,218 | $122,526 | $173,987 |
| Ohio | 6 | $88,023 | $122,255 | $173,601 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $87,962 | $122,170 | $173,481 |
| Maryland | 1 | $87,870 | $122,042 | $173,300 |
| Missouri | 4 | $87,802 | $121,947 | $173,164 |
| Kansas | 4 | $87,596 | $121,661 | $172,758 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $87,229 | $121,152 | $172,036 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $86,771 | $120,516 | $171,132 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $81,181 | $112,752 | $160,108 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $77,425 | $107,535 | $152,700 |
Geography shapes Software Developer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $172,310 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas 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. Santa Clara ($252,484 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $127,517 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 | Oceanside California | $186,436 | 146 | $127,696 | $109,591 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $252,484 | 198 | $127,517 | $140,844 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $192,544 | 151 | $127,513 | $121,185 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $215,451 | 169 | $127,486 | $123,683 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $225,632 | 177 | $127,476 | $128,473 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $234,540 | 184 | $127,467 | $132,665 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $215,324 | 169 | $127,411 | $152,262 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $204,761 | 161 | $127,181 | $118,654 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $186,945 | 147 | $127,173 | $109,871 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $185,672 | 146 | $127,173 | $109,170 |
The $94,952 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Software Developer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Technology sector, high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Software Developers is $135,645 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $97,664, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $192,616.
The highest-paying city for Software Developers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $252,484. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($252,484), Irvine ($234,540), San Francisco ($229,959). 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 $105,244. 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 $97,664 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $181,788. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Software Developers average $192,616 nationally — $94,952 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Software Developers can earn up to $358,527.
The top-paying states for Software Developers are Hawaii ($172,310 median), California ($154,815 median), Massachusetts ($149,244 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 $135,645 and representation across 288 metro areas, Software Developer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $94,952 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.