Software Developer Salary in Seattle, WA
Software Developers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $167,280 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $125,602 take-home, or $10,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$28,881
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,371
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,426
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$125,602
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,190 | $47.69 | $78,610 | $6,551 |
| 25th percentile | $132,800 | $63.85 | $102,035 | $8,503 |
| Median (50th) | $167,280 | $80.42 | $125,602 | $10,467 |
| 75th percentile | $211,860 | $101.86 | $157,662 | $13,138 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $257,960+ | $124.02 | $188,408 | $15,701 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $167,280 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $125,602 take-home pay has the buying power of $113,019 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Seattle, WA has 4.1× 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
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Washington
- Bremerton, WA — $146,200
- Spokane, WA — $130,690
- Kennewick, WA — $127,800
- Bellingham, WA — $128,250
- Olympia, WA — $124,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Seattle, WA?
The median software developer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $167,280 a year, or about $80.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $132,800 and $211,860.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $167,280 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $125,602 a year ($10,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $113,019 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 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 Seattle, WA
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $211,270
- Computer Network Architect — $172,650
- Data Scientist — $164,740
- Information Security Analyst — $161,780
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $136,120
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $133,760
- Computer Systems Analyst — $133,690
- Database Administrator — $133,180
- Web Developer — $130,440
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $129,690
- Statistician — $105,650
- Database Architect — $105,430