Investing

Here's How Much Software Developers Make in Every US State

Samuel Stebbins

Published: October 20, 2023 5:39 pm

Last Updated: October 26, 2023 10:20 am

Software development is one of the fastest growing fields in the U.S. labor market. Driven by expanding use of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics, and automation applications, the number of jobs in software development is projected to rise by 26% between 2022 and 2032, more than eight times faster than employment growth across all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Day-to-day, software developers are tasked with designing computer programs to meet users’ needs, modeling and planning out each piece of a system, deciding how it will interact with the whole, and documenting each detail. Software developers typically have a strong background in computer programming and a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology, engineering, or mathematics. (Here is a look at the college majors most likely to earn six figures.)

Such highly specialized skill sets often command high-salaries, and software development is no exception. There are over 1.5 million Americans working in software development, and most of them earn over $127,000 a year, nearly three times more than the median annual wage of $46,310 across all occupations. But going rates for software developers vary across the country, and in some states, salaries are far higher than in others.

Using data from the BLS’ May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, 24/7 Wall St. identified how much software developers make in each state. We ranked every state, except Montana where data was unavailable, on the median annual wage for all software developers in 2022. Data on cost of living is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is based on regional price parity in 2021.

Among the 49 states on this list, the median annual wage for software developers ranges from about $80,000 to over $160,000. While many of the highest ranking states on this list have a higher than average cost of living, living expenses in many of these places are not high enough to offset the premium companies are paying for software developers.

Many of the states with the highest pay for software developers also have large technology sectors. The two highest ranking states on this list are home to some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Alphabet and Meta in California, and Amazon and Microsoft in Washington. (Here is a look at the states where AI and robots will put the most people out of work.)

49. South Dakota

• Median annual salary for occupation: $80,290
• Cost of living: 9.9% lower than avg. (7th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $88,201 (2nd lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 4.2 (14th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 1,840 (6th lowest)

48. North Dakota

• Median annual salary for occupation: $84,860
• Cost of living: 8.9% lower than avg. (11th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $92,410 (4th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 5.1 (17th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 2,070 (7th lowest)

47. Arkansas

• Median annual salary for occupation: $87,880
• Cost of living: 10.6% lower than avg. (4th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $97,156 (6th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 4.2 (13th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 5,140 (15th lowest)

46. West Virginia

• Median annual salary for occupation: $88,190
• Cost of living: 9.2% lower than avg. (9th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $96,336 (5th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.6 (6th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 1,750 (5th lowest)

45. Mississippi

• Median annual salary for occupation: $91,750
• Cost of living: 13.4% lower than avg. (the lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $104,044 (8th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.3 (4th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 2,600 (12th lowest)

44. South Carolina

• Median annual salary for occupation: $98,630
• Cost of living: 6.3% lower than avg. (22nd lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $104,851 (9th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 5.2 (18th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 11,100 (23rd lowest)

43. Vermont

• Median annual salary for occupation: $99,250
• Cost of living: 1.3% lower than avg. (17th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $100,580 (7th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 5.4 (19th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 1,580 (4th lowest)

42. Oklahoma

• Median annual salary for occupation: $99,510
• Cost of living: 9.7% lower than avg. (8th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $109,193 (16th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 4.8 (16th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 7,740 (20th lowest)

41. Wisconsin

• Median annual salary for occupation: $100,310
• Cost of living: 6.7% lower than avg. (21st lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $106,984 (12th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 6.5 (22nd lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 18,450 (22nd highest)

40. Kentucky

• Median annual salary for occupation: $100,320
• Cost of living: 10.9% lower than avg. (3rd lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $111,231 (22nd lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 3.4 (9th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 6,400 (18th lowest)

39. Indiana

• Median annual salary for occupation: $100,510
• Cost of living: 7.3% lower than avg. (20th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $107,812 (15th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 3.8 (10th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 11,660 (24th lowest)

38. New Mexico

• Median annual salary for occupation: $100,750
• Cost of living: 10.1% lower than avg. (6th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $110,919 (20th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 3.1 (8th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 2,580 (11th lowest)

37. Michigan

• Median annual salary for occupation: $101,070
• Cost of living: 5.7% lower than avg. (24th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $106,878 (11th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 9.9 (17th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 42,200 (14th highest)

36. Wyoming

• Median annual salary for occupation: $101,410
• Cost of living: 8.6% lower than avg. (14th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $110,113 (19th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (5th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 660 (3rd lowest)

35. Idaho

• Median annual salary for occupation: $101,440
• Cost of living: 8.2% lower than avg. (17th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $109,782 (18th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 6.9 (23rd lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 5,500 (17th lowest)

34. Missouri

• Median annual salary for occupation: $101,650
• Cost of living: 8.0% lower than avg. (18th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $109,760 (17th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 8.0 (23rd highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 22,530 (19th highest)

33. Louisiana

• Median annual salary for occupation: $102,670
• Cost of living: 8.7% lower than avg. (13th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $111,627 (23rd lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.6 (3rd lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 2,930 (13th lowest)

32. Kansas

• Median annual salary for occupation: $102,700
• Cost of living: 8.8% lower than avg. (12th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $111,782 (24th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 8.9 (21st highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 12,270 (25th lowest)

31. Hawaii

• Median annual salary for occupation: $103,210
• Cost of living: 13.2% higher than avg. (the highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $89,558 (3rd lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 4.0 (11th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 2,380 (9th lowest)

30. Tennessee

• Median annual salary for occupation: $103,270
• Cost of living: 9.1% lower than avg. (10th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $112,715 (24th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 5.7 (20th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 17,850 (23rd highest)

29. Alabama

• Median annual salary for occupation: $103,520
• Cost of living: 11.9% lower than avg. (2nd lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $115,799 (17th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 7.8 (25th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 15,680 (25th highest)

28. Iowa

• Median annual salary for occupation: $103,580
• Cost of living: 10.4% lower than avg. (5th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $114,385 (19th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 6.1 (21st lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 9,310 (22nd lowest)

27. Maine

• Median annual salary for occupation: $104,430
• Cost of living: 2.8% lower than avg. (21st highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $107,349 (13th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 4.1 (12th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 2,500 (10th lowest)

26. Ohio

• Median annual salary for occupation: $104,500
• Cost of living: 7.5% lower than avg. (19th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $112,380 (25th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 8.1 (22nd highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 43,400 (12th highest)

25. Nebraska

• Median annual salary for occupation: $106,720
• Cost of living: 8.2% lower than avg. (16th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $115,523 (18th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 7.6 (25th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 7,350 (19th lowest)

24. Pennsylvania

• Median annual salary for occupation: $107,170
• Cost of living: 3.6% lower than avg. (23rd highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $111,059 (21st lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 7.5 (24th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 43,370 (13th highest)

23. Florida

• Median annual salary for occupation: $107,440
• Cost of living: 1.4% higher than avg. (15th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $105,904 (10th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 7.9 (24th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 73,090 (6th highest)

22. Nevada

• Median annual salary for occupation: $107,920
• Cost of living: 4.5% lower than avg. (25th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $112,730 (23rd highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.9 (7th lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 4,150 (14th lowest)

21. Utah

• Median annual salary for occupation: $107,990
• Cost of living: 5.4% lower than avg. (25th lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $113,830 (21st highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 13.5 (6th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 22,030 (20th highest)

20. Arizona

• Median annual salary for occupation: $110,380
• Cost of living: 3.3% lower than avg. (22nd highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $113,999 (20th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 12.6 (10th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 38,120 (16th highest)

19. Connecticut

• Median annual salary for occupation: $110,420
• Cost of living: 2.6% higher than avg. (11th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $107,546 (14th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 9.9 (18th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 16,200 (24th highest)

18. Minnesota

• Median annual salary for occupation: $110,600
• Cost of living: 1.6% lower than avg. (19th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $112,344 (25th lowest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 12.9 (8th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 36,360 (17th highest)

17. Texas

• Median annual salary for occupation: $111,700
• Cost of living: 1.5% lower than avg. (18th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $113,373 (22nd highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 9.0 (20th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 116,970 (2nd highest)

16. Delaware

• Median annual salary for occupation: $118,450
• Cost of living: 2.3% lower than avg. (20th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $121,202 (13th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 11.6 (12th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 5,300 (16th lowest)

15. Illinois

• Median annual salary for occupation: $118,470
• Cost of living: 1.4% higher than avg. (16th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $116,797 (15th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 9.9 (19th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 58,300 (8th highest)

14. Oregon

• Median annual salary for occupation: $121,230
• Cost of living: 3.0% higher than avg. (9th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $117,554 (14th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 10.5 (15th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 19,880 (21st highest)

13. Georgia

• Median annual salary for occupation: $122,430
• Cost of living: 4.2% lower than avg. (24th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $127,592 (6th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 11.5 (13th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 52,920 (11th highest)

12. New Hampshire

• Median annual salary for occupation: $125,280
• Cost of living: 2.5% higher than avg. (12th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $122,135 (11th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 12.7 (9th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 8,350 (21st lowest)

11. North Carolina

• Median annual salary for occupation: $126,520
• Cost of living: 6.2% lower than avg. (23rd lowest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $134,358 (3rd highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 12.4 (11th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 57,690 (9th highest)

10. New Jersey

• Median annual salary for occupation: $127,900
• Cost of living: 9.1% higher than avg. (4th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $116,262 (16th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 13.4 (7th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 54,920 (10th highest)

9. Rhode Island

• Median annual salary for occupation: $129,690
• Cost of living: 2.1% higher than avg. (14th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $126,989 (7th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: N/A
• Total employment in occupation: N/A

8. Maryland

• Median annual salary for occupation: $129,810
• Cost of living: 6.2% higher than avg. (7th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $121,732 (12th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 10.5 (14th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 27,800 (18th highest)

7. Colorado

• Median annual salary for occupation: $129,920
• Cost of living: 3.0% higher than avg. (10th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $126,011 (8th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 14.8 (4th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 40,930 (15th highest)

6. Virginia

• Median annual salary for occupation: $130,980
• Cost of living: 2.3% higher than avg. (13th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $127,996 (5th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 21.7 (2nd highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 84,220 (5th highest)

5. Massachusetts

• Median annual salary for occupation: $132,330
• Cost of living: 6.6% higher than avg. (6th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $123,656 (9th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 16.9 (3rd highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 60,310 (7th highest)

4. Alaska

• Median annual salary for occupation: $134,210
• Cost of living: 4.4% higher than avg. (8th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $128,252 (4th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.3 (2nd lowest)
• Total employment in occupation: 390 (2nd lowest)

3. New York

• Median annual salary for occupation: $135,090
• Cost of living: 9.5% higher than avg. (3rd highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $122,251 (10th highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 10.1 (16th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 92,040 (3rd highest)

2. Washington

• Median annual salary for occupation: $151,930
• Cost of living: 8.9% higher than avg. (5th highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $138,431 (2nd highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 26.8 (the highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 91,200 (4th highest)

1. California

• Median annual salary for occupation: $164,330
• Cost of living: 11.8% higher than avg. (2nd highest)
• Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,944 (the highest)
• Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 14.6 (5th highest)
• Total employment in occupation: 258,170 (the highest)