Computer Programmers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,790 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Memphis earn between $53,620 and $97,830.
- $48K10th
- $54K25th
- $74KMedian
- $98K75th
- $135K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,180 | $6,932 | $39.99 |
| Median | $73,970 | $6,164 | $35.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,620 | $4,468 | $25.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,830 | $8,152 | $47.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Memphis earn 21% less than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $83,180 | $73,970 | $47,770 | $134,790 | 110 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $83,180, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $67,347 a year, or $5,612 a month and $2,590 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $67,347 | $5,612 |
| Working in AR | $64,757 | $5,396 |
| Working in MS | $64,752 | $5,396 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $83,180 buys what about $90,237 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($87,270).
- Chattanooga$87,270
- Memphis$83,180
- Clarksville$73,540
- Knoxville$70,310
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Memphis: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Memphis?
$39.99 an hour on average, and $35.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $67,347 a year ($5,612 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,180. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do computer programmers earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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