Software Developers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,660 or more. The middle half of software developers in Washington earn between $123,720 and $176,230.
- $96K10th
- $124K25th
- $155KMedian
- $176K75th
- $214K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $153,100 | $12,758 | $73.61 |
| Median | $154,930 | $12,911 | $74.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $123,720 | $10,310 | $59.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $176,230 | $14,686 | $84.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Software Developers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $153,100, a single filer in Washington takes home about $105,865 a year, or $8,822 a month and $4,072 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 | $109,787 | $9,149 |
| Working in MD | $108,663 | $9,055 |
| Working in VA | $107,921 | $8,993 |
| Working in DC | $105,865 | $8,822 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for software developers? 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 $153,100 buys what about $140,608 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Developers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$118,410
- Baltimore, MD$153,910
- Winchester, VA$126,010
- Lexington Park, MD$142,960
- Gettysburg, PA$107,840
- Chambersburg, PA$113,550
Highest-paying cities for software developers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($221,710).
- San Jose, CA$221,710
- San Francisco, CA$193,430
- Seattle, WA$174,920
- Oxnard, CA$174,020
- Boulder, CO$166,480
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Software Developers salary in Washington: questions
How much do software developers make an hour in Washington?
$73.61 an hour on average, and $74.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software developers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $123,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software developers take-home pay in Washington?
About $105,865 a year ($8,822 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $153,100.
Do software developers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($150,439).
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 15-1252; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 2.03, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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