Software Developer Salary in Nashville, TN
Software Developers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $126,610 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,804 take-home, or $8,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,120
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,850
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,836
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$97,804
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,410 | $37.70 | $63,991 | $5,333 |
| 25th percentile | $99,030 | $47.61 | $78,498 | $6,541 |
| Median (50th) | $126,610 | $60.87 | $97,804 | $8,150 |
| 75th percentile | $140,170 | $67.39 | $107,072 | $8,923 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,070 | $81.28 | $126,825 | $10,569 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,610 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $97,804 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,522 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 Nashville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Nashville, TN | $126,610 | $97,804 | $101,522 |
*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
- Memphis, TN — $125,580
- Knoxville, TN — $121,750
- Chattanooga, TN — $106,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Nashville, TN?
The median software developer salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $126,610 a year, or about $60.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,030 and $140,170.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $126,610 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $97,804 a year ($8,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,522 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #27 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- Computer Network Architect — $129,370
- Database Administrator — $123,920
- Data Scientist — $103,020
- Computer Systems Analyst — $99,270
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $93,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $81,310
- Operations Research Analyst — $79,140
- Web Developer — $78,990
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $76,980
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $63,510
- Computer User Support Specialist — $58,960