Software Developer Salary in Madison, WI
Software Developers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $130,630 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,009 take-home, or $7,917 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,085
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,099
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,894
- Wisconsin income tax$5,543
- Take-home pay$95,009
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,790 | $39.80 | $64,065 | $5,339 |
| 25th percentile | $101,970 | $49.02 | $76,542 | $6,379 |
| Median (50th) | $130,630 | $62.80 | $95,009 | $7,917 |
| 75th percentile | $161,050 | $77.43 | $114,189 | $9,516 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,290 | $82.35 | $120,645 | $10,054 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,630 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $95,009 take-home pay has the buying power of $97,658 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 1.5× the national concentration of software developer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | Madison, WI | $130,630 | $95,009 | $97,658 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $123,730
- Eau Claire, WI — $104,490
- Oshkosh, WI — $104,000
- Appleton, WI — $102,970
- Green Bay, WI — $103,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Madison, WI?
The median software developer salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $130,630 a year, or about $62.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,970 and $161,050.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $130,630 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $95,009 a year ($7,917 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,543 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $97,658 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #59 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- Computer Systems Analyst — $100,550
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $97,950
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $97,840
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $91,580
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $90,400
- Operations Research Analyst — $75,650
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,590