Software Developer Salary in Raleigh, NC
Software Developers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $132,770 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,225 take-home, or $8,102 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,599
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,232
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,925
- North Carolina income tax$4,789
- Take-home pay$97,225
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.99% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,080 | $38.50 | $62,480 | $5,207 |
| 25th percentile | $103,480 | $49.75 | $78,008 | $6,501 |
| Median (50th) | $132,770 | $63.83 | $97,225 | $8,102 |
| 75th percentile | $166,650 | $80.12 | $119,031 | $9,919 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $185,110 | $89.00 | $130,949 | $10,912 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,770 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $97,225 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,051 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Raleigh, NC has 1.6× the national concentration of software developer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #47 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 |
| 47 | Raleigh, NC | $132,770 | $97,225 | $99,051 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $135,920
- Asheville, NC — $134,350
- Durham, NC — $135,620
- Winston, NC — $124,130
- Greensboro, NC — $125,190
- Wilmington, NC — $123,730
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Raleigh, NC?
The median software developer salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $132,770 a year, or about $63.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,480 and $166,650.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $132,770 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $97,225 a year ($8,102 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,789 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,051 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #47 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 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 Raleigh, NC
- Information Security Analyst — $143,640
- Database Architect — $132,740
- Database Administrator — $122,950
- Data Scientist — $120,710
- Computer Network Architect — $120,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $110,800
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $108,480
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,380
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $102,860
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $63,910
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,460