Software Developer Salary by City (2026)

Q: How much does software developer salary pay on average?

The national average ranges from $70,000 to $150,000. Jackson is cheapest at $60,500, while San Francisco is most expensive at $288,211.

Q: Where is software developer salary cheapest in the US?

Top 5 cheapest: Jackson ($60,500), Abilene ($60,500), Mobile ($64,180), Birmingham ($68,942), Lansing ($69,613).

Q: Why does software developer salary cost more in some cities?

Factors include local labor rates, state regulations, material costs, competitive density, and regional demand. High cost-of-living cities have higher baseline expenses.

Software Developer Salary vary dramatically across the United States — and location is the single biggest factor most people overlook. The gap between the cheapest and most expensive cities can exceed 100%, meaning the same service that costs $70,000 in one market might run over $150,000 in another. Our data covers salary figures from 301 cities, updated with the latest federal data. Jackson leads as the most affordable market, while San Francisco tops the list for highest costs.

Direct Answer

Software Developer Salary pay averages about $110,000/yr nationally. In this city dataset, San Francisco, CA has the highest modeled pay at $288,211/yr, while Jackson, MS is lowest at $60,500/yr.

This hub is designed to route readers from the national answer into city-specific pages, where local rent, wages, insurance, taxes, and market conditions explain the real decision difference.

National average

$110,000

Reported as $/yr.

Highest city

San Francisco

$288,211/yr modeled pay.

Lowest city

Jackson

$60,500/yr modeled pay.

City spread

$227,711

376% gap between the highest and lowest city values in this topic set.

Why Software Developer Salary Vary by City

Remote work impact — geographic pay differentials are shrinking for some roles

Cost-of-living adjustments baked into compensation packages

Union presence and collective bargaining, which raises wages 10-30% in represented industries

Regional cost of living that employers must match to attract talent

Local demand for this role relative to supply of qualified professionals

How to Use This Guide

Start with the national average, then check the city page because software developer salary can move sharply by local market.
Compare pay against rent and taxes before treating one city as the best option.
Use the related city links and comparison pages to connect this topic to full cost-of-living decisions.

Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities for Software Developer Salary

🟢 Most Affordable

🔴 Most Expensive

Compare Software Developer Salary Across 301 Cities

#	City	State	Low	Average	High	vs National
1	Jackson	MS	$38,500	$60,500	$82,500	-45%
2	Abilene	TX	$38,500	$60,500	$82,500	-45%
3	Mobile	AL	$40,842	$64,180	$87,518	-42%
4	Birmingham	AL	$43,872	$68,942	$94,012	-37%
5	Lansing	MI	$44,299	$69,613	$94,927	-37%
6	Biloxi	MS	$44,597	$70,081	$95,565	-36%
7	Bowling Green	KY	$45,105	$70,879	$96,653	-36%
8	Pierre	SD	$45,360	$71,280	$97,200	-35%
9	Evansville	IN	$45,591	$71,643	$97,695	-35%
10	Jefferson City	MO	$45,945	$72,199	$98,453	-34%
11	Montgomery	AL	$47,047	$73,931	$100,815	-33%
12	La Crosse	WI	$48,062	$75,526	$102,990	-31%
13	Columbia	SC	$48,195	$75,735	$103,275	-31%
14	Fargo	ND	$48,272	$75,856	$103,440	-31%
15	Charleston	WV	$48,608	$76,384	$104,160	-31%
16	Macon	GA	$50,558	$79,448	$108,338	-28%
17	Norfolk	VA	$50,603	$79,519	$108,435	-28%
18	Laredo	TX	$50,911	$80,003	$109,095	-27%
19	Knoxville	TN	$51,139	$80,361	$109,583	-27%
20	Odessa	TX	$51,272	$80,570	$109,868	-27%
21	Oshkosh	WI	$51,632	$81,136	$110,640	-26%
22	Syracuse	NY	$51,681	$81,213	$110,745	-26%
23	McAllen	TX	$51,762	$81,340	$110,918	-26%
24	Little Rock	AR	$52,231	$82,077	$111,923	-25%
25	Warner Robins	GA	$52,262	$82,126	$111,990	-25%
26	Akron	OH	$52,332	$82,236	$112,140	-25%
27	Clarksville	TN	$52,392	$82,330	$112,268	-25%
28	Terre Haute	IN	$52,602	$82,660	$112,717	-25%
29	Buffalo	NY	$52,892	$83,116	$113,340	-24%
30	Amarillo	TX	$53,382	$83,886	$114,390	-24%
31	Lubbock	TX	$53,469	$84,023	$114,577	-24%
32	Louisville	KY	$53,610	$84,244	$114,878	-23%
33	Daytona Beach	FL	$53,644	$84,298	$114,952	-23%
34	Dayton	OH	$53,676	$84,348	$115,020	-23%
35	Arlington	TX	$53,893	$84,689	$115,485	-23%
36	St. Louis	MO	$54,044	$84,926	$115,808	-23%
37	Grand Rapids	MI	$54,093	$85,003	$115,913	-23%
38	Raleigh	NC	$54,268	$85,278	$116,288	-22%
39	Kenosha	WI	$54,971	$86,383	$117,795	-21%
40	Des Moines	IA	$55,569	$87,323	$119,077	-21%
41	Chesapeake	VA	$55,773	$87,643	$119,513	-20%
42	Tallahassee	FL	$55,783	$87,659	$119,535	-20%
43	Janesville	WI	$55,783	$87,659	$119,535	-20%
44	Frisco	TX	$55,920	$87,874	$119,828	-20%
45	Richmond	VA	$56,018	$88,028	$120,038	-20%
46	Houston	TX	$56,116	$88,182	$120,248	-20%
47	San Juan	PR	$56,119	$88,187	$120,255	-20%
48	Independence	MO	$56,200	$88,314	$120,428	-20%
49	Brownsville	TX	$56,245	$88,385	$120,525	-20%
50	Fort Worth	TX	$56,270	$88,424	$120,578	-20%
51	Lexington	KY	$56,277	$88,435	$120,593	-20%
52	Detroit	MI	$56,434	$88,682	$120,930	-19%
53	Murfreesboro	TN	$56,476	$88,748	$121,020	-19%
54	Greensboro	NC	$56,907	$89,425	$121,943	-19%
55	Winston-Salem	NC	$57,505	$90,365	$123,225	-18%
56	Hattiesburg	MS	$57,537	$90,415	$123,293	-18%
57	Omaha	NE	$58,048	$91,218	$124,388	-17%
58	Greeley	CO	$58,219	$91,487	$124,755	-17%
59	St. Joseph	MO	$58,324	$91,652	$124,980	-17%
60	Indianapolis	IN	$58,800	$92,400	$126,000	-16%
61	Kansas City	MO	$58,807	$92,411	$126,015	-16%
62	Beaumont	TX	$58,856	$92,488	$126,120	-16%
63	Oklahoma City	OK	$58,944	$92,626	$126,308	-16%
64	Round Rock	TX	$58,944	$92,626	$126,308	-16%
65	Midland	TX	$59,139	$92,933	$126,727	-16%
66	Chattanooga	TN	$59,143	$92,939	$126,735	-16%
67	Sarasota	FL	$59,154	$92,956	$126,758	-15%
68	Victorville	CA	$59,164	$92,972	$126,780	-15%
69	Champaign	IL	$59,371	$93,297	$127,223	-15%
70	Flint	MI	$59,528	$93,544	$127,560	-15%
71	Harrisburg	PA	$59,745	$93,885	$128,025	-15%
72	Memphis	TN	$59,976	$94,248	$128,520	-14%
73	Newport News	VA	$60,032	$94,336	$128,640	-14%
74	Sioux Falls	SD	$60,046	$94,358	$128,670	-14%
75	Jacksonville	FL	$60,333	$94,809	$129,285	-14%
76	Scranton	PA	$60,455	$95,001	$129,547	-14%
77	Dallas	TX	$60,508	$95,084	$129,660	-14%
78	Wichita	KS	$60,690	$95,370	$130,050	-13%
79	Durham	NC	$60,879	$95,667	$130,455	-13%
80	Fayetteville	AR	$61,030	$95,904	$130,778	-13%
81	Decatur	IL	$61,107	$96,025	$130,943	-13%
82	Lafayette	LA	$61,208	$96,184	$131,160	-13%
83	Rapid City	SD	$61,219	$96,201	$131,183	-13%
84	Columbia	MO	$61,264	$96,272	$131,280	-12%
85	Green Bay	WI	$61,492	$96,630	$131,768	-12%
86	Appleton	WI	$61,530	$96,690	$131,850	-12%
87	College Station	TX	$61,597	$96,795	$131,993	-12%
88	Pocatello	ID	$61,698	$96,954	$132,210	-12%
89	Pueblo	CO	$61,978	$97,394	$132,810	-11%
90	Cedar Rapids	IA	$62,069	$97,537	$133,005	-11%
91	Lincoln	NE	$62,118	$97,614	$133,110	-11%
92	Reading	PA	$62,241	$97,807	$133,373	-11%
93	Pensacola	FL	$62,304	$97,906	$133,508	-11%
94	Frankfort	KY	$62,328	$97,944	$133,560	-11%
95	Pittsburgh	PA	$62,472	$98,170	$133,868	-11%
96	Columbus	OH	$62,584	$98,346	$134,108	-11%
97	Austin	TX	$62,724	$98,566	$134,408	-10%
98	Milwaukee	WI	$63,536	$99,842	$136,148	-9%
99	Davenport	IA	$63,567	$99,891	$136,215	-9%
100	Kalamazoo	MI	$63,567	$99,891	$136,215	-9%
101	Springfield	MO	$63,633	$99,996	$136,358	-9%
102	Cincinnati	OH	$63,655	$100,029	$136,403	-9%
103	Racine	WI	$63,676	$100,062	$136,448	-9%
104	Baton Rouge	LA	$63,735	$100,155	$136,575	-9%
105	Tulsa	OK	$63,952	$100,496	$137,040	-9%
106	Cleveland	OH	$65,040	$102,207	$139,373	-7%
107	Henderson	NV	$65,069	$102,251	$139,433	-7%
108	Shreveport	LA	$65,103	$102,306	$139,508	-7%
109	Virginia Beach	VA	$65,170	$102,410	$139,650	-7%
110	Tyler	TX	$65,264	$102,558	$139,852	-7%
111	Bismarck	ND	$65,370	$102,724	$140,078	-7%
112	Yakima	WA	$65,762	$103,340	$140,918	-6%
113	Charlotte	NC	$66,014	$103,736	$141,458	-6%
114	Erie	PA	$66,136	$103,928	$141,720	-6%
115	Augusta	ME	$66,196	$104,022	$141,848	-5%
116	Springfield	IL	$66,206	$104,038	$141,870	-5%
117	Las Vegas	NV	$66,612	$104,676	$142,740	-5%
118	Conway	AR	$66,661	$104,753	$142,845	-5%
119	South Bend	IN	$66,675	$104,775	$142,875	-5%
120	Sugar Land	TX	$66,910	$105,144	$143,378	-4%
121	Rogers	AR	$66,917	$105,155	$143,393	-4%
122	Ann Arbor	MI	$67,694	$106,376	$145,058	-3%
123	Twin Falls	ID	$67,865	$106,645	$145,425	-3%
124	Rockford	IL	$67,889	$106,683	$145,477	-3%
125	Cheyenne	WY	$67,935	$106,755	$145,575	-3%
126	Topeka	KS	$68,029	$106,903	$145,777	-3%
127	Springfield	MA	$68,289	$107,311	$146,333	-2%
128	Chico	CA	$69,472	$109,170	$148,868	-1%
129	Corpus Christi	TX	$69,594	$109,362	$149,130	-1%
130	Nampa	ID	$69,853	$109,769	$149,685	0%
131	Lowell	MA	$69,895	$109,835	$149,775	0%
132	Kennewick	WA	$70,252	$110,396	$150,540	0%
133	Eau Claire	WI	$70,361	$110,567	$150,773	+1%
134	Miami	FL	$70,574	$110,902	$151,230	+1%
135	Visalia	CA	$70,721	$111,133	$151,545	+1%
136	Charleston	SC	$70,854	$111,342	$151,830	+1%
137	Nashville	TN	$70,900	$111,414	$151,928	+1%
138	Denton	TX	$70,914	$111,436	$151,958	+1%
139	Clearwater	FL	$70,984	$111,546	$152,108	+1%
140	Waco	TX	$71,264	$111,986	$152,707	+2%
141	San Antonio	TX	$71,540	$112,420	$153,300	+2%
142	North Charleston	SC	$71,698	$112,668	$153,638	+2%
143	Bloomington	IL	$71,908	$112,998	$154,088	+3%
144	Baltimore	MD	$71,974	$113,102	$154,230	+3%
145	Bloomington	IN	$72,307	$113,625	$154,943	+3%
146	Rochester	NY	$72,520	$113,960	$155,400	+4%
147	Traverse City	MI	$72,664	$114,186	$155,708	+4%
148	Orlando	FL	$72,688	$114,224	$155,760	+4%
149	Sandy Springs	GA	$72,832	$114,450	$156,068	+4%
150	El Paso	TX	$72,863	$114,499	$156,135	+4%
151	New Haven	CT	$72,926	$114,598	$156,270	+4%
152	Palm Bay	FL	$72,933	$114,609	$156,285	+4%
153	New Bedford	MA	$73,234	$115,082	$156,930	+5%
154	Chicago	IL	$73,259	$115,121	$156,983	+5%
155	Schenectady	NY	$73,360	$115,280	$157,200	+5%
156	Lakeland	FL	$73,399	$115,341	$157,283	+5%
157	Concord	NH	$73,878	$116,094	$158,310	+6%
158	Stockton	CA	$73,934	$116,182	$158,430	+6%
159	Bethlehem	PA	$74,162	$116,540	$158,918	+6%
160	Casper	WY	$74,274	$116,716	$159,158	+6%
161	Duluth	MN	$74,561	$117,167	$159,773	+7%
162	Albuquerque	NM	$74,582	$117,200	$159,818	+7%
163	Great Falls	MT	$74,652	$117,310	$159,967	+7%
164	Savannah	GA	$74,904	$117,706	$160,508	+7%
165	Phoenix	AZ	$74,984	$117,832	$160,680	+7%
166	St. Paul	MN	$74,988	$117,838	$160,688	+7%
167	Madison	WI	$75,117	$118,041	$160,965	+7%
168	Missoula	MT	$75,124	$118,052	$160,980	+7%
169	Worcester	MA	$75,184	$118,146	$161,108	+7%
170	Minneapolis	MN	$75,243	$118,239	$161,235	+7%
171	Tampa	FL	$75,306	$118,338	$161,370	+8%
172	Carson City	NV	$75,765	$119,059	$162,353	+8%
173	McKinney	TX	$75,772	$119,070	$162,368	+8%
174	Spokane	WA	$75,894	$119,262	$162,630	+8%
175	Medford	OR	$75,936	$119,328	$162,720	+8%
176	Wilmington	DE	$75,954	$119,356	$162,758	+9%
177	Huntsville	AL	$75,996	$119,422	$162,848	+9%
178	Roswell	GA	$76,069	$119,537	$163,005	+9%
179	New Orleans	LA	$76,251	$119,823	$163,395	+9%
180	Reno	NV	$76,297	$119,895	$163,493	+9%
181	Laramie	WY	$76,587	$120,351	$164,115	+9%
182	Provo	UT	$76,836	$120,742	$164,648	+10%
183	Tacoma	WA	$77,035	$121,055	$165,075	+10%
184	Corvallis	OR	$77,644	$122,012	$166,380	+11%
185	Helena	MT	$78,519	$123,387	$168,255	+12%
186	Idaho Falls	ID	$78,803	$123,833	$168,863	+13%
187	Paterson	NJ	$78,817	$123,855	$168,893	+13%
188	Gainesville	FL	$78,848	$123,904	$168,960	+13%
189	Atlanta	GA	$79,191	$124,443	$169,695	+13%
190	Cape Coral	FL	$79,555	$125,015	$170,475	+14%
191	Albany	NY	$79,709	$125,257	$170,805	+14%
192	Meridian	ID	$79,786	$125,378	$170,970	+14%
193	Dover	DE	$79,880	$125,526	$171,172	+14%
194	Fort Lauderdale	FL	$80,136	$125,928	$171,720	+14%
195	Tempe	AZ	$80,192	$126,016	$171,840	+15%
196	Boise	ID	$80,385	$126,319	$172,253	+15%
197	Pompano Beach	FL	$80,497	$126,495	$172,493	+15%
198	Glendale	AZ	$81,204	$127,606	$174,008	+16%
199	Warwick	RI	$81,337	$127,815	$174,293	+16%
200	Joliet	IL	$81,613	$128,249	$174,885	+17%
201	Elizabeth	NJ	$81,925	$128,739	$175,553	+17%
202	North Las Vegas	NV	$81,970	$128,810	$175,650	+17%
203	Billings	MT	$82,401	$129,487	$176,573	+18%
204	Mesa	AZ	$82,576	$129,762	$176,948	+18%
205	Coeur d'Alene	ID	$82,870	$130,224	$177,578	+18%
206	Allentown	PA	$82,926	$130,312	$177,698	+18%
207	Colorado Springs	CO	$83,458	$131,148	$178,838	+19%
208	Tucson	AZ	$83,612	$131,390	$179,168	+19%
209	Salt Lake City	UT	$83,738	$131,588	$179,438	+20%
210	Naperville	IL	$83,787	$131,665	$179,543	+20%
211	Olympia	WA	$84,945	$133,485	$182,025	+21%
212	Jersey City	NJ	$84,963	$133,513	$182,063	+21%
213	Santa Fe	NM	$85,071	$133,683	$182,295	+22%
214	Plano	TX	$85,173	$133,843	$182,513	+22%
215	Asheville	NC	$85,379	$134,167	$182,955	+22%
216	Roseville	CA	$86,321	$135,647	$184,973	+23%
217	Redding	CA	$86,667	$136,191	$185,715	+24%
218	Eugene	OR	$86,821	$136,433	$186,045	+24%
219	Cary	NC	$87,122	$136,906	$186,690	+24%
220	Durango	CO	$87,269	$137,137	$187,005	+25%
221	Portland	ME	$87,360	$137,280	$187,200	+25%
222	Fort Collins	CO	$87,777	$137,935	$188,092	+25%
223	Yonkers	NY	$88,116	$138,468	$188,820	+26%
224	Flagstaff	AZ	$88,183	$138,573	$188,963	+26%
225	Sacramento	CA	$88,291	$138,743	$189,195	+26%
226	Vallejo	CA	$88,459	$139,007	$189,555	+26%
227	Bellingham	WA	$88,522	$139,106	$189,690	+26%
228	Philadelphia	PA	$88,781	$139,513	$190,245	+27%
229	Chandler	AZ	$88,970	$139,810	$190,650	+27%
230	Ithaca	NY	$89,023	$139,893	$190,763	+27%
231	Bend	OR	$89,320	$140,360	$191,400	+28%
232	Peoria	AZ	$89,989	$141,411	$192,833	+29%
233	Oceanside	CA	$90,076	$141,548	$193,020	+29%
234	Ontario	CA	$90,314	$141,922	$193,530	+29%
235	Rancho Cucamonga	CA	$90,612	$142,390	$194,168	+29%
236	Lakewood	NJ	$91,056	$143,088	$195,120	+30%
237	Providence	RI	$91,154	$143,242	$195,330	+30%
238	Newark	NJ	$91,753	$144,183	$196,613	+31%
239	Saratoga Springs	NY	$92,001	$144,573	$197,145	+31%
240	Fresno	CA	$92,407	$145,211	$198,015	+32%
241	Cranston	RI	$92,586	$145,492	$198,398	+32%
242	Denver	CO	$93,062	$146,240	$199,418	+33%
243	Bakersfield	CA	$93,538	$146,988	$200,438	+34%
244	Portland	OR	$93,783	$147,373	$200,963	+34%
245	Bridgeport	CT	$94,307	$148,197	$202,087	+35%
246	Montpelier	VT	$94,486	$148,478	$202,470	+35%
247	Trenton	NJ	$94,623	$148,693	$202,763	+35%
248	Simi Valley	CA	$95,266	$149,704	$204,142	+36%
249	Hartford	CT	$95,337	$149,815	$204,293	+36%
250	Modesto	CA	$95,438	$149,974	$204,510	+36%
251	Gilbert	AZ	$95,459	$150,007	$204,555	+36%
252	Aurora	CO	$96,779	$152,081	$207,383	+38%
253	Fontana	CA	$96,796	$152,108	$207,420	+38%
254	Manchester	NH	$97,195	$152,735	$208,275	+39%
255	Key West	FL	$97,510	$153,230	$208,950	+39%
256	Naples	FL	$97,755	$153,615	$209,475	+40%
257	Riverside	CA	$98,000	$154,000	$210,000	+40%
258	San Luis Obispo	CA	$98,889	$155,397	$211,905	+41%
259	Anchorage	AK	$99,369	$156,151	$212,933	+42%
260	Burlington	VT	$101,042	$158,780	$216,517	+44%
261	Elk Grove	CA	$101,259	$159,121	$216,983	+45%
262	Moreno Valley	CA	$101,637	$159,715	$217,793	+45%
263	Palm Springs	CA	$101,815	$159,995	$218,175	+45%
264	Stamford	CT	$102,099	$160,441	$218,783	+46%
265	Santa Ana	CA	$103,142	$162,080	$221,018	+47%
266	Santa Rosa	CA	$103,600	$162,800	$222,000	+48%
267	Juneau	AK	$104,633	$164,423	$224,213	+49%
268	Scottsdale	AZ	$105,732	$166,150	$226,568	+51%
269	Columbia	MD	$106,488	$167,338	$228,188	+52%
270	Portsmouth	NH	$106,519	$167,387	$228,255	+52%
271	Oxnard	CA	$107,398	$168,768	$230,138	+53%
272	Huntington Beach	CA	$110,282	$173,300	$236,318	+58%
273	Cambridge	MA	$110,457	$173,575	$236,693	+58%
274	Long Beach	CA	$110,513	$173,663	$236,813	+58%
275	Sedona	AZ	$111,807	$175,697	$239,587	+60%
276	Concord	CA	$112,119	$176,187	$240,255	+60%
277	Hayward	CA	$112,144	$176,226	$240,308	+60%
278	Park City	UT	$112,613	$176,963	$241,313	+61%
279	Boston	MA	$117,656	$184,888	$252,120	+68%
280	Anaheim	CA	$117,936	$185,328	$252,720	+68%
281	Boulder	CO	$118,475	$186,175	$253,875	+69%
282	Los Angeles	CA	$119,255	$187,401	$255,547	+70%
283	San Diego	CA	$119,700	$188,100	$256,500	+71%
284	Washington	DC	$122,679	$192,781	$262,883	+75%
285	Bellevue	WA	$123,176	$193,562	$263,948	+76%
286	Santa Cruz	CA	$123,183	$193,573	$263,963	+76%
287	New York	NY	$126,214	$198,336	$270,458	+80%
288	Jackson	WY	$126,998	$199,568	$272,138	+81%
289	Santa Barbara	CA	$130,130	$204,490	$278,850	+86%
290	Irvine	CA	$133,945	$210,485	$287,025	+91%
291	Napa	CA	$135,447	$212,845	$290,243	+93%
292	Martha's Vineyard	MA	$139,423	$219,093	$298,763	+99%
293	Seattle	WA	$140,564	$220,886	$301,208	+101%
294	Oakland	CA	$143,413	$225,363	$307,313	+105%
295	San Jose	CA	$147,445	$231,699	$315,953	+111%
296	Vail	CO	$150,763	$236,913	$323,063	+115%
297	Honolulu	HI	$151,939	$238,761	$325,583	+117%
298	Telluride	CO	$152,338	$239,388	$326,438	+118%
299	Aspen	CO	$163,555	$257,015	$350,475	+134%
300	Sunnyvale	CA	$164,829	$259,017	$353,205	+135%
301	San Francisco	CA	$183,407	$288,211	$393,015	+162%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does software developer salary pay on average?

The national average for software developer salary ranges from $70,000 to $150,000. However, actual costs vary significantly by city — Jackson is the most affordable at $60,500, while San Francisco is the most expensive at $288,211. That's a spread of $227,711 between the cheapest and most expensive cities.

Where is software developer salary cheapest in the US?

The top 5 most affordable cities for software developer salary are: 1. Jackson, MS ($60,500); 2. Abilene, TX ($60,500); 3. Mobile, AL ($64,180); 4. Birmingham, AL ($68,942); 5. Lansing, MI ($69,613). These cities benefit from lower labor costs, less regulatory overhead, and more competitive local markets.

Why does software developer salary cost more in some cities?

Several factors drive cost differences: local labor rates (often tied to housing costs), state and city regulations, material transportation costs, competitive density of service providers, and regional demand patterns. High cost-of-living cities like San Francisco (index: 244) have higher baseline expenses that push up service costs across the board.

About This Data

Data SourcesBLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rent data, and regional industry surveys.

MethodologyNational averages adjusted by city-specific cost-of-living indices derived from BLS regional price parities.

Confidence LevelHIGH— BLS OEWS wage data

Limitations: These are estimated ranges based on federal datasets and cost indices, not direct local surveys. Actual costs may vary based on project scope, provider, timing, and local market conditions. Data last updated: May 2026.

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Software Developer Salary by City

Software Developer Salary pay averages about $110,000/yr nationally. In this city dataset, San Francisco, CA has the highest modeled pay at $288,211/yr, while Jackson, MS is lowest at $60,500/yr.

Why Software Developer Salary Vary by City

How to Use This Guide

Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities for Software Developer Salary

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Compare Software Developer Salary Across 301 Cities

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