Software Developer Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Software Developers in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $124,500 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,540 take-home, or $7,712 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,614
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,719
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,805
- Pennsylvania income tax$3,822
- Take-home pay$92,540
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Pittsburgh? City residents also pay Pittsburgh’s 1% city + 2% school district — about $3,735 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $88,805 ($7,400 a month). Choose “Pittsburgh” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Software Developer pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,030 | $36.55 | $59,983 | $4,999 |
| 25th percentile | $95,560 | $45.94 | $73,123 | $6,094 |
| Median (50th) | $124,500 | $59.86 | $92,540 | $7,712 |
| 75th percentile | $155,770 | $74.89 | $112,953 | $9,413 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,710 | $92.17 | $136,861 | $11,405 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $124,500 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $92,540 take-home pay has the buying power of $97,749 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 Pittsburgh, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #33 of 72 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 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | $123,413 | $106,747 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $134,120 | $102,937 | $104,967 |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $124,500 | $92,540 | $97,749 |
*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.
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA — $133,040
- Harrisburg, PA — $109,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median software developer salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $124,500 a year, or about $59.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,560 and $155,770.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $124,500 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $92,540 a year ($7,712 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,822 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $97,749 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #33 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $103,420
- Computer Systems Analyst — $98,550
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,010