State-by-State Analysis
Best States for Software Developer
Compare salaries, employment, and opportunities across all 50 states
California
Top State
$147,501
Avg Salary
1,209,510
Total Jobs
$51k
Salary Range
State Rankings by Salary
Raw salary data without cost-of-living adjustments
Data organized by SOC code 15-1252. Learn about SOC codes
SOC: 06 | $186,770 | $186,770 | $90 | 284,390 |
SOC: 53 | $171,040 | $171,040 | $82 | 107,030 |
SOC: 36 | $163,820 | $163,820 | $79 | 113,510 |
SOC: 25 | $161,730 | $161,730 | $78 | 48,190 |
SOC: 24 | $151,560 | $151,560 | $73 | 31,350 |
| Find Maryland Jobs | ||||
SOC: 08 | $150,940 | $150,940 | $73 | 43,320 |
SOC: 41 | $149,060 | $149,060 | $72 | 21,830 |
SOC: 51 | $146,340 | $146,340 | $70 | 88,280 |
SOC: 33 | $144,530 | $144,530 | $69 | 10,840 |
SOC: 11 | $144,430 | $144,430 | $69 | 6,120 |
| Find District of Columbia Jobs | ||||
SOC: 34 | $143,800 | $143,800 | $69 | 51,570 |
SOC: 09 | $141,260 | $141,260 | $68 | 13,660 |
SOC: 10 | $138,110 | $138,110 | $66 | 3,380 |
SOC: 32 | $137,350 | $137,350 | $66 | 4,520 |
SOC: 12 | $137,010 | $137,010 | $66 | 87,890 |
| Find Florida Jobs | ||||
SOC: 37 | $136,940 | $136,940 | $66 | 58,470 |
SOC: 17 | $136,540 | $136,540 | $66 | 56,310 |
SOC: 48 | $136,450 | $136,450 | $66 | 163,880 |
SOC: 45 | $136,240 | $136,240 | $66 | 13,230 |
SOC: 50 | $136,100 | $136,100 | $65 | 1,740 |
Move Smart, Earn More
Compare cost of living against salary across states, then explore open roles. All of our salary tools and comparisons are free to use.
Market Analysis & Insights
Top Markets
California leads in Software Developer salaries with $186,770 average compensation.
- High concentration of tech companies
- Strong job market demand
- Competitive benefit packages
Decision Factors
When choosing where to work as a Software Developer, consider both salary and cost of living. The raw salary data shows market rates before cost adjustments.
- Cost of living variations
- Job market competition
- Industry concentration
- Remote work policies
State rankings are based on nominalsalaries using 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment figures reflect full-time equivalent positions.
Related Metrics
Viewing: Software Developer (SOC: 15-1252)