SOC 15-1252 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Software Developers — North Carolina
North Carolina · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Software Developers in North Carolina is $134,710 per year, close to the national median of $135,980 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Software Developers in North Carolina is $134,710 per year, close to the national median of $135,980 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $104,530 and $164,750. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $83,840 and the ninetieth at $179,310.
The area has 58,470 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 11.8 of every thousand jobs. North Carolina ranks number 12th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Charlotte records the highest median at $135,920. Of the 745 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 36th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,840 | −38.3% |
| 25th | $104,530 | −23.1% |
| Median (50th) | $134,710 | −0.9% |
| 75th | $164,750 | +21.2% |
| 90th | $179,310 | +31.9% |
| Mean | $136,940 | +0.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $135,920 | 20,820 | |
| 2 | Durham | $135,620 | 9,790 | |
| 3 | Asheville | $134,350 | 780 | |
| 4 | Raleigh | $132,770 | 12,580 | |
| 5 | Rocky Mount | $130,600 | 120 | |
| 6 | Pinehurst | $130,240 | 200 | |
| 7 | Burlington | $127,570 | 270 | |
| 8 | Greensboro | $125,190 | 1,710 | |
| 9 | Winston-Salem | $124,130 | 1,050 | |
| 10 | Wilmington | $123,730 | 880 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $134,710 goes as far as $142,853 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$134,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$142,853US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $134,710 a year, 0.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,840 to $179,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 58,470 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlotte, at $135,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Software Developers in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $134,710, or $64.76 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 North Carolina is 0.9% 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 North Carolina earns more than $179,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,840 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 Charlotte, at $135,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 58,470 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. 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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