Software Developer Salary in St. Louis, MO
Software Developers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $129,030 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,331 take-home, or $7,861 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,701
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,000
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,871
- Missouri income tax$5,127
- Take-home pay$94,331
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $1,290 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $93,041 ($7,753 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Software Developer pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,730 | $37.37 | $60,797 | $5,066 |
| 25th percentile | $101,670 | $48.88 | $76,514 | $6,376 |
| Median (50th) | $129,030 | $62.03 | $94,331 | $7,861 |
| 75th percentile | $156,320 | $75.15 | $111,701 | $9,308 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,030 | $81.26 | $119,791 | $9,983 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $129,030 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median software developer's $94,331 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,204 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 St. Louis, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | St. Louis, MO | $129,030 | $94,331 | $99,204 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $124,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in St. Louis, MO?
The median software developer salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $129,030 a year, or about $62.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,670 and $156,320.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $129,030 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $94,331 a year ($7,861 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,127 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,204 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #27 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 13% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $108,450
- Data Scientist — $99,600
- Computer Systems Analyst — $96,290
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $88,940
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,940