Research Summary. Extensive research by the Zippia data science team has uncovered the following details regarding developer salaries across the United States in 2026:
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Washington offers the highest average developer salary at $125,725.
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Kansas has the lowest average developer salary at $80,777.
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The national average salary for developers stands at $100,076.
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The national hourly wage for developers is $48.11.
For more information, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers, with many asking, “What do developers earn in my area?” Understanding salary trends is essential, especially as the job market evolves.
While individual salaries can vary based on many factors, comprehensive data on average developer salaries by state—broken down by seniority level—provides valuable insights. Although your local salary may differ from the state average, these figures offer a reliable basis for salary expectations.
Currently, Washington leads the pack with the highest salaries for developers.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for developer salaries:
Now, let’s explore the full ranking of developer salaries by state.
Highest-Paid Developers By State
| Rank | State | Average Developer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $125,725 | $93,000 | $168,000 |
| 2 | California | $118,473 | $87,000 | $160,000 |
| 3 | Oregon | $109,071 | $80,000 | $147,000 |
| 4 | New York | $103,261 | $78,000 | $136,000 |
| 5 | Nevada | $102,322 | $75,000 | $138,000 |
| 6 | Idaho | $97,488 | $72,000 | $130,000 |
| 7 | Utah | $96,917 | $72,000 | $129,000 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $96,471 | $73,000 | $126,000 |
| 9 | Arizona | $95,263 | $71,000 | $127,000 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $94,679 | $71,000 | $125,000 |
| 11 | Montana | $93,656 | $70,000 | $123,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $93,598 | $71,000 | $122,000 |
| 13 | Alaska | $92,474 | $75,000 | $113,000 |
| 14 | Delaware | $92,004 | $69,000 | $122,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $91,955 | $69,000 | $121,000 |
| 16 | Maryland | $91,887 | $69,000 | $121,000 |
| 17 | Texas | $91,725 | $69,000 | $121,000 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $90,880 | $68,000 | $120,000 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $90,835 | $68,000 | $119,000 |
| 20 | Virginia | $90,784 | $68,000 | $120,000 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $90,017 | $67,000 | $119,000 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $89,824 | $67,000 | $118,000 |
| 23 | Vermont | $89,250 | $68,000 | $116,000 |
| 24 | Colorado | $89,045 | $67,000 | $117,000 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $88,424 | $66,000 | $117,000 |
| 26 | Georgia | $88,395 | $67,000 | $116,000 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $88,033 | $67,000 | $114,000 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $87,812 | $66,000 | $115,000 |
| 29 | Illinois | $87,659 | $66,000 | $115,000 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $87,072 | $67,000 | $113,000 |
| 31 | Michigan | $86,553 | $65,000 | $113,000 |
| 32 | Ohio | $86,038 | $65,000 | $113,000 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $85,971 | $65,000 | $112,000 |
| 34 | Maine | $85,803 | $65,000 | $111,000 |
| 35 | Florida | $85,561 | $64,000 | $113,000 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $85,044 | $63,000 | $113,000 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $84,228 | $64,000 | $110,000 |
| 38 | Alabama | $84,134 | $63,000 | $110,000 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $83,992 | $64,000 | $109,000 |
| 40 | Iowa | $83,248 | $63,000 | $109,000 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $83,003 | $63,000 | $109,000 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $82,826 | $65,000 | $104,000 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $82,776 | $62,000 | $109,000 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $82,775 | $62,000 | $108,000 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $82,565 | $62,000 | $108,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $81,833 | $62,000 | $107,000 |
| 47 | Indiana | $81,530 | $61,000 | $107,000 |
| 48 | Missouri | $81,467 | $62,000 | $106,000 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $81,426 | $62,000 | $106,000 |
| 50 | Kansas | $80,777 | $61,000 | $105,000 |
Methodology: Developer Salary By State
To analyze developer salaries by state, Zippia aggregates data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, and supplements this with actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to determine the average pay for developers by state.
We ranked all states based on the average annual salary data derived from these estimates, highlighting the state with the highest salary as leading the average salary for developers.
Developer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for developers?
The highest-paid state for developers is Washington with an average salary of $125,725 per year.
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What city pays developers the most?
The city with the highest average salary for developers is not specified, but major tech hubs like San Francisco and New York City are generally recognized for their competitive salaries.
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What is the worst state for developers?
The state with the lowest average salary for developers is Kansas, averaging $80,777 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
