Software Developer Salary in Worcester, MA
Software Developers in the Worcester, MA metro area earn a median $146,950 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $104,579 take-home, or $8,715 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Worcester, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$24,002
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,111
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,131
- Massachusetts income tax$7,128
- Take-home pay$104,579
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Worcester, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,400 | $45.87 | $71,394 | $5,949 |
| 25th percentile | $120,330 | $57.85 | $87,686 | $7,307 |
| Median (50th) | $146,950 | $70.65 | $104,579 | $8,715 |
| 75th percentile | $167,290 | $80.43 | $117,464 | $9,789 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,790 | $97.50 | $141,062 | $11,755 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $146,950 buys in Worcester, MA
Prices in Worcester, MA are 2.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $104,579 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,005 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 Worcester, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Worcester, MA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Worcester, MA | $146,950 | $104,579 | $102,005 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Boston, MA — $166,090
- Springfield, MA — $127,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Worcester, MA?
The median software developer salary in the Worcester, MA metro area is $146,950 a year, or about $70.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $120,330 and $167,290.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Worcester, MA?
On the median $146,950 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $104,579 a year ($8,715 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,128 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Worcester, MA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 2.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,005 would in a typical U.S. city. Worcester, MA ranks #23 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Worcester, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Worcester, MA is $1,558 a month ($1,997 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Worcester, MA
- Data Scientist — $123,640
- Computer Systems Analyst — $119,260
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $100,790
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,280