Software Developer Salary in Ames, IA
Software Developers in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median $129,440 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,471 take-home, or $7,956 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Ames, IA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,800
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,025
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,877
- Iowa income tax$4,267
- Take-home pay$95,471
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.80% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Ames, IA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,990 | $36.05 | $59,388 | $4,949 |
| 25th percentile | $100,120 | $48.13 | $76,112 | $6,343 |
| Median (50th) | $129,440 | $62.23 | $95,471 | $7,956 |
| 75th percentile | $147,690 | $71.00 | $107,252 | $8,938 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,040 | $79.35 | $118,451 | $9,871 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Iowa resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $129,440 buys in Ames, IA
Prices in Ames, IA are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $95,471 take-home pay has the buying power of $107,476 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Ames, IA than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Ames, IA ranks #7 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Iowa
- Des Moines, IA — $126,460
- Davenport, IA — $115,780
- Cedar Rapids, IA — $114,340
- Iowa City, IA — $107,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Ames, IA?
The median software developer salary in the Ames, IA metro area is $129,440 a year, or about $62.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,120 and $147,690.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Ames, IA?
On the median $129,440 salary, a single filer living in Iowa takes home about $95,471 a year ($7,956 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,267 in Iowa taxes in 2026.
Is Ames, IA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $107,476 would in a typical U.S. city. Ames, IA ranks #7 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Ames, IA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Ames, IA is $975 a month ($1,126 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.