Software Developer Salary in Rochester, NY
Software Developers in the Rochester, NY metro area earn a median $122,770 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $88,976 take-home, or $7,415 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Rochester, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,612
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,780
- New York income tax$6,203
- Take-home pay$88,976
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Rochester, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,580 | $38.26 | $61,114 | $5,093 |
| 25th percentile | $99,640 | $47.90 | $74,088 | $6,174 |
| Median (50th) | $122,770 | $59.02 | $88,976 | $7,415 |
| 75th percentile | $151,540 | $72.86 | $106,943 | $8,912 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,170 | $81.81 | $118,577 | $9,881 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,770 buys in Rochester, NY
Prices in Rochester, NY are 3.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $88,976 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,695 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 Rochester, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, NY ranks #122 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 |
| 122 | Rochester, NY | $122,770 | $88,976 | $91,695 |
*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 New York
- New York, NY — $166,830
- Binghamton, NY — $128,460
- Syracuse, NY — $129,100
- Buffalo, NY — $127,850
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $145,830
- Albany, NY — $127,910
- Utica, NY — $113,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Rochester, NY?
The median software developer salary in the Rochester, NY metro area is $122,770 a year, or about $59.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,640 and $151,540.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Rochester, NY?
On the median $122,770 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $88,976 a year ($7,415 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,203 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 3.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,695 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, NY ranks #122 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Rochester, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, NY is $1,256 a month ($1,573 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, NY
- Computer Network Architect — $107,200
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $97,840
- Computer Systems Analyst — $97,240
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $96,750
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $94,130
- Data Scientist — $92,800
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $65,180
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,620