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Software Developers salary in Tacoma, WA

Software Developers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area earn a median of $167,280 a year, an average of $174,920. About 92,770 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Software Developers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$167,280
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$174,920
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$99,190
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$257,960
Top of the range
People employed
92,770
In Tacoma metro area
Rent share of median wage
11.5%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Tacoma

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,597
per month, in Tacoma, WA
Income needed for median rent
$63,900
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median software developers wage
$167,280
161.8% above income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
11.5%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$83,857
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Tacoma area. Read the Tacoma, WA cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Software Developers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Port St. Lucie, FL
-23.2%
Median $128,510
Mean $133,040
Employed 420
San Bernardino, CA
-20.3%
Median $133,270
Mean $139,570
Employed 4,150
Huntsville, AL
-23.4%
Median $128,080
Mean $127,280
Employed 7,030
Modesto, CA
-28.4%
Median $119,770
Mean $122,860
Employed 300
Baton Rouge, LA
-39.1%
Median $101,900
Mean $105,470
Employed 980
Richmond, VA
-21.0%
Median $132,120
Mean $139,340
Employed 7,680
Des Moines, IA
-24.4%
Median $126,460
Mean $122,980
Employed 4,240
Fremont, CA
+11.6%
Median $186,640
Mean $193,430
Employed 69,030

See software developers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $167,280 / year
$167,280
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Washington (WA)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.