Software Developer Salary by State (May 2025 BLS Data)
By The College Match Editorial Team · Data: May 2025 · Updated October 2026
Software developers earn a median of $135,980 a year nationally, but pay depends heavily on location: from $95,330 in Mississippi to $174,410 in California.
Software developers design and build computer applications and systems. The table below covers 49 states and DC (BLS does not publish figures for the rest), using the latest wage survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. median
$135,980
Highest: California
$174,410
Lowest: Mississippi
$95,330
Employed in the U.S.
1,687,890
Software Developer pay in every state
Sorted by median annual wage. "Typical range" is the 10th to 90th percentile: 80% of software developers in the state earn within it.
| Rank | State | Median | Average | Typical range | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $174,410 | $186,770 | $105,060 – $272,670 | 284,390 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,540 | $171,040 | $96,810 – $255,350 | 107,030 |
| 3 | New York | $166,180 | $163,820 | $97,430 – $224,590 | 113,510 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 | $161,730 | $102,810 – $213,970 | 48,190 |
| 5 | Oregon | $142,720 | $149,060 | $83,070 – $213,540 | 21,830 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $139,720 | $144,530 | $92,510 – $205,370 | 10,840 |
| 7 | Maryland | $138,680 | $151,560 | $87,690 – $222,610 | 31,350 |
| 8 | Colorado | $138,390 | $150,940 | $96,480 – $213,010 | 43,320 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $136,880 | $144,430 | $85,140 – $197,000 | 6,120 |
| 10 | Virginia | $136,460 | $146,340 | $83,350 – $211,930 | 88,280 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $135,940 | $143,800 | $84,880 – $207,200 | 51,570 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $134,710 | $136,940 | $83,840 – $179,310 | 58,470 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $134,120 | $141,260 | $85,930 – $205,160 | 13,660 |
| 14 | Delaware | $133,020 | $138,110 | $96,620 – $174,390 | 3,380 |
| 15 | Texas | $132,150 | $136,450 | $82,600 – $183,680 | 163,880 |
| 16 | Illinois | $132,110 | $136,540 | $80,980 – $194,740 | 56,310 |
| 17 | Idaho | $131,590 | $134,370 | $71,030 – $178,980 | 5,750 |
| 18 | Georgia | $131,010 | $132,150 | $80,110 – $176,000 | 49,700 |
| 19 | Florida | $130,980 | $137,010 | $80,050 – $204,400 | 87,890 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $130,590 | $129,080 | $83,540 – $168,630 | 5,070 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $130,050 | $127,530 | $79,900 – $169,810 | 35,890 |
| 22 | Arizona | $129,690 | $132,530 | $81,740 – $178,500 | 38,050 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $129,450 | $136,240 | $76,010 – $212,460 | 13,230 |
| 24 | Nevada | $128,810 | $137,350 | $73,990 – $194,470 | 4,520 |
| 25 | Utah | $128,810 | $129,860 | $77,810 – $177,970 | 31,940 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $126,550 | $128,110 | $77,750 – $178,080 | 55,920 |
| 27 | Missouri | $126,120 | $123,810 | $72,570 – $169,340 | 20,020 |
| 28 | Michigan | $125,570 | $122,720 | $78,930 – $166,510 | 43,460 |
| 29 | Vermont | $125,280 | $136,100 | $82,480 – $209,420 | 1,740 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $124,520 | $126,620 | $77,110 – $184,710 | 3,960 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $124,040 | $134,600 | $64,690 – $238,930 | 1,600 |
| 32 | Maine | $123,120 | $129,040 | $82,930 – $179,990 | 2,790 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $122,660 | $122,620 | $77,710 – $168,630 | 21,730 |
| 34 | Alabama | $122,540 | $122,840 | $71,590 – $175,330 | 17,450 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $122,430 | $120,560 | $75,280 – $166,380 | 19,030 |
| 36 | Montana | $121,990 | $133,550 | $73,370 – $221,400 | 2,160 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $121,000 | $118,410 | $60,480 – $168,620 | 2,650 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $118,100 | $118,510 | $75,190 – $169,700 | 6,880 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $115,170 | $123,360 | $72,950 – $156,620 | 1,510 |
| 40 | Iowa | $114,890 | $118,780 | $74,390 – $165,880 | 9,040 |
| 41 | Ohio | $114,090 | $119,860 | $77,790 – $168,400 | 44,790 |
| 42 | Kansas | $113,420 | $116,560 | $71,690 – $165,740 | 13,580 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $110,900 | $115,590 | $77,520 – $158,720 | 7,260 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $109,010 | $120,730 | $76,310 – $168,110 | 7,660 |
| 45 | Indiana | $105,920 | $113,980 | $74,850 – $164,650 | 14,130 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $105,600 | $107,000 | $62,900 – $158,060 | 1,450 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $104,490 | $109,590 | $60,570 – $162,380 | 6,050 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $102,800 | $108,270 | $66,350 – $151,780 | 4,080 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $96,310 | $104,790 | $65,530 – $160,380 | 2,380 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $95,330 | $99,840 | $44,700 – $158,300 | 1,880 |
| United States | $135,980 | $148,100 | $82,460 – $214,670 | 1,687,890 |
Common questions
How much do software developers make in the U.S.?
The national median annual wage for software developers was $135,980 in May 2025, with an average of $148,100. The middle 80% earned between $82,460 and $214,670.
Which state pays software developers the most?
California has the highest median wage at $174,410 a year. Of the 50 areas (states plus DC) with published figures, 10 pay above the national median.
Which state pays software developers the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median wage at $95,330 a year. Lower pay often comes with a lower cost of living, so compare against local living costs.
Which state employs the most software developers?
California employs the most, about 284,390.
Find a technology program that fits
Compare accredited programs matched to your goals and schedule.
Find My MatchAbout this data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, occupation code 15-1252. Figures are annual wages for employed software developers and exclude the self-employed. Some states' figures are not published by BLS and show as n/a. See our editorial standards for how we build these pages.