Software Developer Salary in New Orleans, LA
Software Developers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $106,950 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,247 take-home, or $6,771 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,699
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,631
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,551
- Louisiana income tax$2,822
- Take-home pay$81,247
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,760 | $37.38 | $61,588 | $5,132 |
| 25th percentile | $94,470 | $45.42 | $72,842 | $6,070 |
| Median (50th) | $106,950 | $51.42 | $81,247 | $6,771 |
| 75th percentile | $128,930 | $61.99 | $95,908 | $7,992 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,260 | $77.53 | $117,036 | $9,753 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,950 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $81,247 take-home pay has the buying power of $87,743 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 New Orleans, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.20), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #150 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 |
| 150 | New Orleans, LA | $106,950 | $81,247 | $87,743 |
*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 Louisiana
- Lafayette, LA — $109,010
- Baton Rouge, LA — $101,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in New Orleans, LA?
The median software developer salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $106,950 a year, or about $51.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $94,470 and $128,930.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $106,950 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $81,247 a year ($6,771 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,822 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $87,743 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #150 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Computer Systems Analyst — $97,240
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $94,520
- Computer Programmer — $77,220
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,800