Software Developer Salary in Portland, ME
Software Developers in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area earn a median $128,710 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,532 take-home, or $7,628 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$19,624
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,980
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,866
- Maine income tax$7,707
- Take-home pay$91,532
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 7.15% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Portland, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,760 | $40.27 | $63,262 | $5,272 |
| 25th percentile | $96,940 | $46.61 | $71,592 | $5,966 |
| Median (50th) | $128,710 | $61.88 | $91,532 | $7,628 |
| 75th percentile | $166,330 | $79.97 | $114,556 | $9,546 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $185,130 | $89.00 | $126,100 | $10,508 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,710 buys in Portland, ME
Prices in Portland, ME are 1.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $91,532 take-home pay has the buying power of $89,863 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 Portland, ME than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, ME ranks #136 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 |
| 136 | Portland, ME | $128,710 | $91,532 | $89,863 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Portland, ME?
The median software developer salary in the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area is $128,710 a year, or about $61.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $96,940 and $166,330.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Portland, ME?
On the median $128,710 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $91,532 a year ($7,628 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,707 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, ME a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 1.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $89,863 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, ME ranks #136 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Portland, ME?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, ME is $1,548 a month ($1,968 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, ME
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $113,760
- Computer Systems Analyst — $101,470
- Data Scientist — $97,840
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,540