Software Developer Salary in Cleveland, OH
Software Developers in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $111,310 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,858 take-home, or $7,071 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,658
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,901
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,614
- Ohio income tax$2,279
- Take-home pay$84,858
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.75% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,860 | $37.91 | $62,922 | $5,243 |
| 25th percentile | $98,370 | $47.29 | $76,110 | $6,343 |
| Median (50th) | $111,310 | $53.51 | $84,858 | $7,071 |
| 75th percentile | $132,150 | $63.53 | $98,739 | $8,228 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,570 | $80.56 | $121,974 | $10,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $111,310 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $84,858 take-home pay has the buying power of $90,348 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 Cleveland, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #131 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 |
| 131 | Cleveland, OH | $111,310 | $84,858 | $90,348 |
*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 Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $122,340
- Cincinnati, OH — $121,420
- Canton, OH — $105,500
- Dayton, OH — $106,910
- Toledo, OH — $104,360
- Akron, OH — $105,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Cleveland, OH?
The median software developer salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $111,310 a year, or about $53.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,370 and $132,150.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $111,310 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $84,858 a year ($7,071 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,279 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $90,348 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #131 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Computer Network Architect — $128,800
- Information Security Analyst — $105,890
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $104,870
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $102,190
- Data Scientist — $101,860
- Computer Systems Analyst — $101,540
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $96,140
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $67,050
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,890