Software Developer Salary in Waco, TX
Software Developers in the Waco, TX metro area earn a median $123,080 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,391 take-home, or $7,949 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Waco, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,631
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,785
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$95,391
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Waco, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,740 | $35.93 | $61,410 | $5,117 |
| 25th percentile | $94,420 | $45.39 | $75,254 | $6,271 |
| Median (50th) | $123,080 | $59.17 | $95,391 | $7,949 |
| 75th percentile | $148,430 | $71.36 | $112,718 | $9,393 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,880 | $77.35 | $121,227 | $10,102 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $123,080 buys in Waco, TX
Prices in Waco, TX are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 16% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $95,391 take-home pay has the buying power of $103,070 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 Waco, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.35), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Waco, TX ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Waco, TX | $123,080 | $95,391 | $103,070 |
*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 Texas
- El Paso, TX — $127,310
- Austin, TX — $134,120
- Killeen, TX — $123,320
- San Antonio, TX — $128,430
- Corpus Christi, TX — $123,580
- Houston, TX — $129,440
- Dallas, TX — $133,290
- College Station, TX — $101,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Waco, TX?
The median software developer salary in the Waco, TX metro area is $123,080 a year, or about $59.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $94,420 and $148,430.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Waco, TX?
On the median $123,080 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $95,391 a year ($7,949 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Waco, TX a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $103,070 would in a typical U.S. city. Waco, TX ranks #20 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Waco, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Waco, TX is $966 a month ($1,208 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Waco, TX
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