Software Developer Salary in Richmond, VA
Software Developers in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $132,120 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,787 take-home, or $7,899 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,443
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,191
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,916
- Virginia income tax$6,783
- Take-home pay$94,787
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.75% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,290 | $40.52 | $64,095 | $5,341 |
| 25th percentile | $107,430 | $51.65 | $79,044 | $6,587 |
| Median (50th) | $132,120 | $63.52 | $94,787 | $7,899 |
| 75th percentile | $165,690 | $79.66 | $115,802 | $9,650 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,990 | $100.48 | $144,345 | $12,029 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,120 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $94,787 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,862 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 Richmond, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #67 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 |
| 67 | Richmond, VA | $132,120 | $94,787 | $96,862 |
*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 Virginia
- Virginia Beach, VA — $129,090
- Roanoke, VA — $121,110
- Charlottesville, VA — $128,520
- Lynchburg, VA — $109,840
- Blacksburg, VA — $111,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Richmond, VA?
The median software developer salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $132,120 a year, or about $63.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $107,430 and $165,690.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $132,120 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $94,787 a year ($7,899 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,783 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,862 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #67 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 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 Richmond, VA
- Database Architect — $133,770
- Computer Network Architect — $129,210
- Information Security Analyst — $126,230
- Data Scientist — $122,510
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $111,070
- Operations Research Analyst — $109,650
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $106,300
- Computer Systems Analyst — $105,190
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $99,750
- Database Administrator — $99,690
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $65,460
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,790