Software Developer Salary in Memphis, TN
Software Developers in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $125,580 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,100 take-home, or $8,092 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,873
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,786
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,821
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$97,100
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Software Developer pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,520 | $37.27 | $63,365 | $5,280 |
| 25th percentile | $98,140 | $47.18 | $77,871 | $6,489 |
| Median (50th) | $125,580 | $60.38 | $97,100 | $8,092 |
| 75th percentile | $139,510 | $67.07 | $106,621 | $8,885 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,000 | $80.77 | $126,094 | $10,508 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,580 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $97,100 take-home pay has the buying power of $105,338 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 Memphis, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.34), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $125,580 | $97,100 | $105,338 |
*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 Tennessee
- Knoxville, TN — $121,750
- Nashville, TN — $126,610
- Chattanooga, TN — $106,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Memphis, TN?
The median software developer salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $125,580 a year, or about $60.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,140 and $139,510.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $125,580 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $97,100 a year ($8,092 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $105,338 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #10 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Computer Network Architect — $126,400
- Computer Systems Analyst — $100,640
- Information Security Analyst — $97,370
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $89,250
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $81,690
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,460