Software Developer Salary in Charlottesville, VA
Software Developers in the Charlottesville, VA metro area earn a median $128,520 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,534 take-home, or $7,711 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Charlottesville, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,579
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,968
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,864
- Virginia income tax$6,576
- Take-home pay$92,534
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.75% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Charlottesville, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,200 | $39.04 | $62,099 | $5,175 |
| 25th percentile | $100,850 | $48.49 | $74,793 | $6,233 |
| Median (50th) | $128,520 | $61.79 | $92,534 | $7,711 |
| 75th percentile | $161,720 | $77.75 | $113,317 | $9,443 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $196,240 | $94.35 | $135,654 | $11,305 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,520 buys in Charlottesville, VA
Prices in Charlottesville, VA are 0.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.07× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $92,534 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,331 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 about as common in Charlottesville, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Charlottesville, VA ranks #111 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 |
| 111 | Charlottesville, VA | $128,520 | $92,534 | $93,331 |
*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 Virginia
- Richmond, VA — $132,120
- Virginia Beach, VA — $129,090
- Roanoke, VA — $121,110
- Lynchburg, VA — $109,840
- Blacksburg, VA — $111,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Charlottesville, VA?
The median software developer salary in the Charlottesville, VA metro area is $128,520 a year, or about $61.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,850 and $161,720.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Charlottesville, VA?
On the median $128,520 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $92,534 a year ($7,711 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,576 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Charlottesville, VA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 0.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,331 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlottesville, VA ranks #111 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Charlottesville, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlottesville, VA is $1,602 a month ($1,824 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlottesville, VA
- Computer Systems Analyst — $110,290