SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — Ithaca
Ithaca, NY · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Ithaca, NY is $122,730 a year, trailing the national median of $135,980 by 9.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Ithaca, NY is $122,730 a year, trailing the national median of $135,980 by 9.7%. Half of workers earn between $95,160 and $158,890. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $79,580 and the ninetieth at $199,310.
The area has 310 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 6.5 of every thousand jobs. New York leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $166,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 26th of 239 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,580 | −41.5% |
| 25th | $95,160 | −30.0% |
| Median (50th) | $122,730 | −9.7% |
| 75th | $158,890 | +16.8% |
| 90th | $199,310 | +46.6% |
| Mean | $136,090 | +0.1% |
Other metro areas in New York
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $166,830 | 121,000 | |
| 2 | Kiryas Joel | $145,830 | 1,010 | |
| 3 | Glens Falls | $132,040 | 150 | |
| 4 | Syracuse | $129,100 | 2,180 | |
| 5 | Binghamton | $128,460 | 1,070 | |
| 6 | Albany | $127,910 | 3,280 | |
| 7 | Buffalo | $127,850 | 3,960 | |
| 8 | Kingston | $124,300 | 230 | |
| 9 | Rochester | $122,770 | 4,650 | |
| 10 | Watertown | $119,350 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Ithaca run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $122,730 buys what $113,744 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 16.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$122,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$113,744US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $122,730 a year, 9.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $79,580 to $199,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $166,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in Ithaca, NY?
The median annual wage is $122,730, or $59.01 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $135,980, so pay in Ithaca, NY is 9.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Ithaca, NY earns more than $199,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $79,580 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in New York, at $166,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Ithaca, NY. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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