Software Developer Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Software Developers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $123,730 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,658 take-home, or $7,555 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,429
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,671
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,794
- Wisconsin income tax$5,177
- Take-home pay$90,658
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.30% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,740 | $37.38 | $60,780 | $5,065 |
| 25th percentile | $99,990 | $48.07 | $75,254 | $6,271 |
| Median (50th) | $123,730 | $59.49 | $90,658 | $7,555 |
| 75th percentile | $138,590 | $66.63 | $100,028 | $8,336 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,660 | $79.16 | $116,465 | $9,705 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $123,730 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $90,658 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,523 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 Milwaukee, WI than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #109 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 |
| 109 | Milwaukee, WI | $123,730 | $90,658 | $93,523 |
*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
- Madison, WI — $130,630
- 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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median software developer salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $123,730 a year, or about $59.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,990 and $138,590.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $123,730 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $90,658 a year ($7,555 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,177 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,523 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #109 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 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 Milwaukee, WI
- Computer Network Architect — $134,070
- Data Scientist — $104,710
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,120
- Information Security Analyst — $101,550
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $97,390
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $90,140
- Computer Programmer — $85,280
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $83,120
- Operations Research Analyst — $74,850
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,230