GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Software Developers
Best States to Be a Software Developers
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a software developers salary goes furthest in Washington — a $166,540 BLS median worth $155,626 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 123.6).
Which US states are best for a software developers after cost of living and tax?
For a software developers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Washington #1: a $166,540 BLS median becomes $155,626 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 123.6). Hawaii ranks last ($105,632, index 83.9). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Washington ranks #1 of 50 states for a software developers. Index 100 = the average state; 123.6 means pay goes 23.6% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedSoftware Developers — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $166,540 | — | 107.0 | $155,626 | 123.6 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $165,210 | $8,041 | 105.8 | $148,614 | 118.0 |
| 3 | California | $174,410 | $12,098 | 110.7 | $146,597 | 116.4 |
| 4 | New York | $166,180 | $8,923 | 107.9 | $145,715 | 115.7 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $134,710 | $5,183 | 94.3 | $137,318 | 109.0 |
| 6 | Texas | $132,150 | — | 97.1 | $136,157 | 108.1 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $139,720 | — | 104.2 | $134,133 | 106.5 |
| 8 | Missouri | $126,120 | $5,047 | 90.8 | $133,316 | 105.8 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $122,430 | — | 91.9 | $133,264 | 105.8 |
| 10 | Alabama | $122,540 | $5,862 | 88.8 | $131,360 | 104.3 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $129,450 | $6,419 | 93.7 | $131,235 | 104.2 |
| 12 | Idaho | $131,590 | $6,374 | 95.5 | $131,125 | 104.1 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $124,520 | $4,824 | 92.2 | $129,805 | 103.1 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $121,000 | $4,897 | 89.5 | $129,728 | 103.0 |
| 15 | Georgia | $131,010 | $6,415 | 96.3 | $129,392 | 102.7 |
| 16 | Colorado | $138,390 | $5,429 | 103.1 | $129,023 | 102.4 |
| 17 | Nevada | $128,810 | — | 100.0 | $128,837 | 102.3 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $118,100 | $5,072 | 87.8 | $128,670 | 102.2 |
| 19 | Virginia | $136,460 | $7,047 | 101.1 | $128,000 | 101.6 |
| 20 | Florida | $130,980 | — | 103.4 | $126,656 | 100.6 |
| 21 | Oregon | $142,720 | $11,856 | 103.4 | $126,609 | 100.5 |
| 22 | Maryland | $138,680 | $6,356 | 105.0 | $126,072 | 100.1 |
| 23 | Arizona | $129,690 | $2,767 | 100.7 | $126,069 | 100.1 |
| 24 | Iowa | $114,890 | $4,326 | 87.8 | $125,982 | 100.0 |
| 25 | Delaware | $133,020 | $7,438 | 99.8 | $125,823 | 99.9 |
| 26 | Illinois | $132,110 | $6,398 | 100.0 | $125,764 | 99.9 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $126,550 | $3,885 | 97.6 | $125,717 | 99.8 |
| 28 | Michigan | $125,570 | $5,090 | 96.2 | $125,217 | 99.4 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $122,660 | $5,349 | 94.1 | $124,673 | 99.0 |
| 30 | Utah | $128,810 | $5,861 | 98.9 | $124,362 | 98.7 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $130,050 | $7,440 | 98.6 | $124,325 | 98.7 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $115,170 | — | 92.7 | $124,252 | 98.7 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $134,120 | $5,897 | 103.6 | $123,755 | 98.3 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $130,590 | $4,644 | 102.3 | $123,138 | 97.8 |
| 35 | Montana | $121,990 | $6,059 | 94.6 | $122,490 | 97.3 |
| 36 | Vermont | $125,280 | $5,887 | 98.0 | $121,882 | 96.8 |
| 37 | Ohio | $114,090 | $2,443 | 92.8 | $120,343 | 95.5 |
| 38 | Maine | $123,120 | $6,854 | 97.0 | $119,800 | 95.1 |
| 39 | Kansas | $113,420 | $5,529 | 90.1 | $119,788 | 95.1 |
| 40 | New Jersey | $135,940 | $6,469 | 108.8 | $118,993 | 94.5 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $110,900 | $4,671 | 90.1 | $117,898 | 93.6 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $105,600 | $821 | 89.0 | $117,783 | 93.5 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $136,880 | $8,760 | 109.9 | $116,578 | 92.6 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $109,010 | $4,230 | 90.2 | $116,217 | 92.3 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $104,490 | $3,867 | 86.9 | $115,743 | 91.9 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $102,800 | $2,709 | 88.2 | $113,473 | 90.1 |
| 47 | Indiana | $105,920 | $3,148 | 93.3 | $110,118 | 87.4 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $96,310 | — | 88.6 | $108,719 | 86.3 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $95,330 | $3,389 | 87.0 | $105,736 | 84.0 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $124,040 | $7,897 | 110.0 | $105,632 | 83.9 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Washington, a $166,540 salary is worth about $155,626 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $166,540 · BEA cost of living 107.0 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $187,998, a $32,372 gain over Washington.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $187,998 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $184,093 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $183,142 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $183,101 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $182,552 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $182,530 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $181,278 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $180,583 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $179,672 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $178,122 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $177,329 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $177,115 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Software Developers — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a software developers?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Washington is the best state for a software developers: a BLS median of $166,540 is worth $155,626 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 107.0), an index of 123.6 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. California has the highest headline BLS median for a software developers at $174,410, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 50 on real pay (index 116.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a software developers salary go least far?
- Hawaii ranks last of 50 states for a software developers: a $124,040 BLS median is worth only $105,632 after tax and cost of living (index 83.9). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a software developers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.