Computer Programmers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $184,660 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Washington earn between $93,490 and $163,340.
- $67K10th
- $93K25th
- $130KMedian
- $163K75th
- $185K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $127,780 | $10,648 | $61.43 |
| Median | $130,390 | $10,866 | $62.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,490 | $7,791 | $44.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $163,340 | $13,612 | $78.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $127,780, a single filer in Washington takes home about $90,711 a year, or $7,559 a month and $3,489 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $93,640 | $7,803 |
| Working in MD | $92,685 | $7,724 |
| Working in VA | $92,070 | $7,673 |
| Working in DC | $90,711 | $7,559 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $127,780 buys what about $117,354 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$92,270
- Baltimore, MD$117,960
- Lexington Park, MD$116,010
- Charlottesville, VA$113,190
- York, PA$90,380
- Richmond, VA$111,950
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 Washington: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Washington?
$61.43 an hour on average, and $62.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Washington?
About $90,711 a year ($7,559 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $127,780.
Do computer programmers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($107,279).
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.44, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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