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Software Developer Salary by State (2026)
Software Developers (Software Developers) hold 1,687,900 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $142,991 per year, but the median ranges from $95,330 in Mississippi to $174,410 in California. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Software Developer salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| California | $174,410 | 284,390 |
| Washington | $166,540 | 107,030 |
| New York | $166,180 | 113,510 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 | 48,190 |
| Oregon | $142,720 | 21,830 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 | 10,840 |
| Maryland | $138,680 | 31,350 |
| Colorado | $138,390 | 43,320 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 | 6,120 |
| Virginia | $136,460 | 88,280 |
| New Jersey | $135,940 | 51,570 |
| North Carolina | $134,710 | 58,470 |
| Connecticut | $134,120 | 13,660 |
| Delaware | $133,020 | 3,380 |
| Texas | $132,150 | 163,880 |
| Illinois | $132,110 | 56,310 |
| Idaho | $131,590 | 5,750 |
| Georgia | $131,010 | 49,700 |
| Florida | $130,980 | 87,890 |
| Rhode Island | $130,590 | 5,070 |
| Minnesota | $130,050 | 35,890 |
| Arizona | $129,690 | 38,050 |
| South Carolina | $129,450 | 13,230 |
| Nevada | $128,810 | 4,520 |
| Utah | $128,810 | 31,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $126,550 | 55,920 |
| Missouri | $126,120 | 20,020 |
| Michigan | $125,570 | 43,460 |
| Vermont | $125,280 | 1,740 |
| New Mexico | $124,520 | 3,960 |
| Hawaii | $124,040 | 1,600 |
| Maine | $123,120 | 2,790 |
| Wisconsin | $122,660 | 21,730 |
| Alabama | $122,540 | 17,450 |
| Tennessee | $122,430 | 19,030 |
| Montana | $121,990 | 2,160 |
| West Virginia | $121,000 | 2,650 |
| Oklahoma | $118,100 | 6,880 |
| Wyoming | $115,170 | 1,510 |
| Iowa | $114,890 | 9,040 |
| Ohio | $114,090 | 44,790 |
| Kansas | $113,420 | 13,580 |
| Nebraska | $110,900 | 7,260 |
| Kentucky | $109,010 | 7,660 |
| Indiana | $105,920 | 14,130 |
| North Dakota | $105,600 | 1,450 |
| Arkansas | $104,490 | 6,050 |
| Louisiana | $102,800 | 4,080 |
| South Dakota | $96,310 | 2,380 |
| Mississippi | $95,330 | 1,880 |
| Alaska | — | 530 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Software Developer salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Software Developer salary in the US is about $142,991 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 1,687,900 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Software Developers the most?
- California has the highest median Software Developer salary at $174,410 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Software Developers the least?
- Mississippi has the lowest median at $95,330 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Software Developers, code 15-1252). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.