SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Lakeland, FL is $122,200 a year, trailing the national median of $135,980 by 10.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Lakeland, FL is $122,200 a year, trailing the national median of $135,980 by 10.1%. Half of workers earn between $97,290 and $136,730. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $76,790 and the ninetieth at $162,230.
The area has 990 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.34 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Punta Gorda leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $134,510. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 20th of 429 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $76,790 | −43.5% |
| 25th | $97,290 | −28.5% |
| Median (50th) | $122,200 | −10.1% |
| 75th | $136,730 | +0.6% |
| 90th | $162,230 | +19.3% |
| Mean | $119,900 | −11.8% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punta Gorda | $134,510 | 280 | |
| 2 | Sebastian | $132,720 | 190 | |
| 3 | Miami | $132,650 | 18,900 | |
| 4 | North Port | $131,890 | 1,680 | |
| 5 | Palm Bay | $131,760 | 5,030 | |
| 6 | Naples | $130,730 | 720 | |
| 7 | Crestview | $130,640 | 1,380 | |
| 8 | Tampa | $130,450 | 14,230 | |
| 9 | Jacksonville | $130,330 | 7,200 | |
| 10 | Orlando | $129,620 | 13,440 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lakeland run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $122,200 buys what $118,182 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 13.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$122,200as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$118,182US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $122,200 a year, 10.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $76,790 to $162,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 990 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Punta Gorda, at $134,510.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in Lakeland, FL?
The median annual wage is $122,200, or $58.75 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 Lakeland, FL is 10.1% 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 Lakeland, FL earns more than $162,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $76,790 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 Punta Gorda, at $134,510 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 990 jobs in this occupation in Lakeland, FL. 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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