Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Software Developer Salary in Atlanta, GA

Software Developers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $132,960 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,866 take-home, or $7,989 a month.

Median salary
$132,960
$63.92 per hour
Typical range
$83,400 – $178,330
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Atlanta, GA
36,300
1.16× national concentration
▲1.6%
Pay trend: The median for software developers in Atlanta, GA rose from $130,830 (May 2024) to $132,960 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.8%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Software Developer in Atlanta, GA
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$95,866
per year · effective tax rate 27.9%
$7,989Monthly
$3,994Twice a month
$3,687Every 2 weeks
$46.09Hourly
  • Federal income tax$20,644
  • Social Security (6.2%)$8,244
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,928
  • Georgia income tax$6,278
  • Take-home pay$95,866

Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.19% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Software Developer pay by experience in Atlanta, GA

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$83,400$40.10$63,796$5,316
25th percentile$104,640$50.31$77,636$6,470
Median (50th)$132,960$63.92$95,866$7,989
75th percentile$164,200$78.94$115,598$9,633
90th percentile (top earners)$178,330$85.74$124,522$10,377

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $132,960 buys in Atlanta, GA

Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $95,866 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,811 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,646
21% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,806
23% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$6,343
per month for everything else

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 Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).

Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living

Atlanta, GA ranks #43 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1San Jose, CA $213,110$140,222$126,987
2Manchester, NH $162,090$122,055$115,520
3Seattle, WA $167,280$125,602$113,019
4Boulder, CO $164,560$117,211$111,415
5Boston, MA $166,090$116,704$107,794
6Bridgeport, CT $162,650$114,828$107,453
7San Francisco, CA $186,640$123,413$106,747
8Austin, TX $134,120$102,937$104,967
43Atlanta, GA$132,960$95,866$95,811

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →

About the job: software developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+10.2% (much faster than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a software developer make in Atlanta, GA?

The median software developer salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $132,960 a year, or about $63.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,640 and $164,200.

What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?

On the median $132,960 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $95,866 a year ($7,989 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,278 in Georgia taxes in 2026.

Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a software developer?

Pay here is 2% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,811 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #43 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a software developer afford rent in Atlanta, GA?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

Related jobs in Atlanta, GA

Cost of living & all salaries in Atlanta, GA →