Software Developers Salary by State
The national median pay for software developers is $135,980 a year. By state, it ranges from $95,330 in Mississippi to $174,410 in California.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $82,460
- 25th percentile
- $105,210
- Median
- $135,980
- 75th percentile
- $171,980
- Top 10%
- $214,670
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 1,687,890 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $174,410 | +28% | $105,060 | $272,670 | 284,390 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,540 | +22% | $96,810 | $255,350 | 107,030 |
| 3 | New York | $166,180 | +22% | $97,430 | $224,590 | 113,510 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 | +21% | $102,810 | $213,970 | 48,190 |
| 5 | Oregon | $142,720 | +5% | $83,070 | $213,540 | 21,830 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $139,720 | +3% | $92,510 | $205,370 | 10,840 |
| 7 | Maryland | $138,680 | +2% | $87,690 | $222,610 | 31,350 |
| 8 | Colorado | $138,390 | +2% | $96,480 | $213,010 | 43,320 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $136,880 | +1% | $85,140 | $197,000 | 6,120 |
| 10 | Virginia | $136,460 | 0% | $83,350 | $211,930 | 88,280 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $135,940 | 0% | $84,880 | $207,200 | 51,570 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $134,710 | −1% | $83,840 | $179,310 | 58,470 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $134,120 | −1% | $85,930 | $205,160 | 13,660 |
| 14 | Delaware | $133,020 | −2% | $96,620 | $174,390 | 3,380 |
| 15 | Texas | $132,150 | −3% | $82,600 | $183,680 | 163,880 |
| 16 | Illinois | $132,110 | −3% | $80,980 | $194,740 | 56,310 |
| 17 | Idaho | $131,590 | −3% | $71,030 | $178,980 | 5,750 |
| 18 | Georgia | $131,010 | −4% | $80,110 | $176,000 | 49,700 |
| 19 | Florida | $130,980 | −4% | $80,050 | $204,400 | 87,890 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $130,590 | −4% | $83,540 | $168,630 | 5,070 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $130,050 | −4% | $79,900 | $169,810 | 35,890 |
| 22 | Arizona | $129,690 | −5% | $81,740 | $178,500 | 38,050 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $129,450 | −5% | $76,010 | $212,460 | 13,230 |
| 24 | Nevada | $128,810 | −5% | $73,990 | $194,470 | 4,520 |
| 25 | Utah | $128,810 | −5% | $77,810 | $177,970 | 31,940 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $126,550 | −7% | $77,750 | $178,080 | 55,920 |
| 27 | Missouri | $126,120 | −7% | $72,570 | $169,340 | 20,020 |
| 28 | Michigan | $125,570 | −8% | $78,930 | $166,510 | 43,460 |
| 29 | Vermont | $125,280 | −8% | $82,480 | $209,420 | 1,740 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $124,520 | −8% | $77,110 | $184,710 | 3,960 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $124,040 | −9% | $64,690 | $238,930 | 1,600 |
| 32 | Maine | $123,120 | −9% | $82,930 | $179,990 | 2,790 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $122,660 | −10% | $77,710 | $168,630 | 21,730 |
| 34 | Alabama | $122,540 | −10% | $71,590 | $175,330 | 17,450 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $122,430 | −10% | $75,280 | $166,380 | 19,030 |
| 36 | Montana | $121,990 | −10% | $73,370 | $221,400 | 2,160 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $121,000 | −11% | $60,480 | $168,620 | 2,650 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $118,100 | −13% | $75,190 | $169,700 | 6,880 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $115,170 | −15% | $72,950 | $156,620 | 1,510 |
| 40 | Iowa | $114,890 | −16% | $74,390 | $165,880 | 9,040 |
| 41 | Ohio | $114,090 | −16% | $77,790 | $168,400 | 44,790 |
| 42 | Kansas | $113,420 | −17% | $71,690 | $165,740 | 13,580 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $110,900 | −18% | $77,520 | $158,720 | 7,260 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $109,010 | −20% | $76,310 | $168,110 | 7,660 |
| 45 | Indiana | $105,920 | −22% | $74,850 | $164,650 | 14,130 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $105,600 | −22% | $62,900 | $158,060 | 1,450 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $104,490 | −23% | $60,570 | $162,380 | 6,050 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $102,800 | −24% | $66,350 | $151,780 | 4,080 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $96,310 | −29% | $65,530 | $160,380 | 2,380 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $95,330 | −30% | $44,700 | $158,300 | 1,880 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Software Developers salary questions
Which state pays software developers the most?
California, with a median of $174,410 a year (+28% vs. the national median of $135,980). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays software developers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $95,330 a year (−30% vs. national).
Where do most software developers work?
California has the most jobs, about 284,390, with a median of $174,410.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.