Software Developer Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Software Developers in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $131,750 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,232 take-home, or $8,186 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,354
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,169
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,910
- Arizona income tax$3,085
- Take-home pay$98,232
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.50% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,500 | $39.66 | $65,015 | $5,418 |
| 25th percentile | $104,230 | $50.11 | $79,759 | $6,647 |
| Median (50th) | $131,750 | $63.34 | $98,232 | $8,186 |
| 75th percentile | $163,370 | $78.54 | $119,054 | $9,921 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $180,460 | $86.76 | $130,308 | $10,859 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,750 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $98,232 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,079 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 about as common in Phoenix, AZ as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #94 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 |
| 94 | Phoenix, AZ | $131,750 | $98,232 | $95,079 |
*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 Arizona
- Tucson, AZ — $123,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median software developer salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $131,750 a year, or about $63.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,230 and $163,370.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $131,750 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $98,232 a year ($8,186 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,085 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,079 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #94 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 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 Phoenix, AZ
- Database Architect — $156,100
- Computer Network Architect — $131,990
- Information Security Analyst — $130,360
- Data Scientist — $114,540
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,590
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $104,940
- Database Administrator — $104,280
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,770
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $100,740
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $93,730
- Operations Research Analyst — $79,190
- Web Developer — $76,230