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Software Developer Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Software developers build the apps and systems we use daily, and pay differs sharply by state. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly, monthly and yearly wages for the role.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Software Developer pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $89.80 | $15,564 | $186,770 |
| Washington | $82.23 | $14,253 | $171,040 |
| New York | $78.76 | $13,652 | $163,820 |
| Massachusetts | $77.76 | $13,478 | $161,730 |
| Maryland | $72.87 | $12,630 | $151,560 |
| Colorado | $72.57 | $12,578 | $150,940 |
| Oregon | $71.66 | $12,422 | $149,060 |
| Virginia | $70.36 | $12,195 | $146,340 |
| New Hampshire | $69.48 | $12,044 | $144,530 |
| District of Columbia | $69.44 | $12,036 | $144,430 |
| New Jersey | $69.14 | $11,983 | $143,800 |
| Connecticut | $67.91 | $11,772 | $141,260 |
| Delaware | $66.40 | $11,509 | $138,110 |
| Nevada | $66.04 | $11,446 | $137,350 |
| Florida | $65.87 | $11,418 | $137,010 |
| North Carolina | $65.84 | $11,412 | $136,940 |
| Illinois | $65.65 | $11,378 | $136,540 |
| Texas | $65.60 | $11,371 | $136,450 |
| South Carolina | $65.50 | $11,353 | $136,240 |
| Vermont | $65.43 | $11,342 | $136,100 |
| Hawaii | $64.71 | $11,217 | $134,600 |
| Idaho | $64.60 | $11,198 | $134,370 |
| Montana | $64.21 | $11,129 | $133,550 |
| Arizona | $63.72 | $11,044 | $132,530 |
| Georgia | $63.54 | $11,013 | $132,150 |
| Utah | $62.43 | $10,822 | $129,860 |
| Rhode Island | $62.06 | $10,757 | $129,080 |
| Maine | $62.04 | $10,753 | $129,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $61.59 | $10,676 | $128,110 |
| Minnesota | $61.31 | $10,628 | $127,530 |
| New Mexico | $60.88 | $10,552 | $126,620 |
| Missouri | $59.52 | $10,318 | $123,810 |
| Wyoming | $59.31 | $10,280 | $123,360 |
| Alabama | $59.06 | $10,237 | $122,840 |
| Michigan | $59.00 | $10,227 | $122,720 |
| Wisconsin | $58.95 | $10,218 | $122,620 |
| Kentucky | $58.04 | $10,061 | $120,730 |
| Tennessee | $57.96 | $10,047 | $120,560 |
| Ohio | $57.63 | $9,988 | $119,860 |
| Iowa | $57.10 | $9,898 | $118,780 |
| Oklahoma | $56.98 | $9,876 | $118,510 |
| West Virginia | $56.93 | $9,868 | $118,410 |
| Kansas | $56.04 | $9,713 | $116,560 |
| Nebraska | $55.57 | $9,633 | $115,590 |
| Indiana | $54.80 | $9,498 | $113,980 |
| Arkansas | $52.69 | $9,133 | $109,590 |
| Louisiana | $52.06 | $9,023 | $108,270 |
| North Dakota | $51.44 | $8,917 | $107,000 |
| South Dakota | $50.38 | $8,733 | $104,790 |
| Mississippi | $48.00 | $8,320 | $99,840 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- California — $186,770 a year
- Washington — $171,040 a year
- New York — $163,820 a year
- Massachusetts — $161,730 a year
- Maryland — $151,560 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays software developers the most?
The table above ranks every published state and California currently leads. Tech hubs and remote-friendly employers change the picture fast.
What is the average software developer salary?
The U.S. mean software developer wage is about $148,100 a year (about $71.20 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $135,980.
Does remote work change what I should expect?
The table uses local employer wages. Remote developers are often paid against the employer's base state — check both when comparing.
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