For role-by-role compensation benchmarking and career income strategy, see the Profession Salary Guides hub.
For conversion formulas, overtime scenarios, and annual-pay planning, see the Hourly to Annual hub.
Software Engineer Salary by State (2025)
Top 10 Highest Paying States (Unadjusted)
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $165,200 | $148,500 |
| 2 | Washington | $155,400 | $140,200 |
| 3 | New York | $145,800 | $132,100 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $142,500 | $128,400 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $138,200 | $125,600 |
| 6 | Colorado | $135,400 | $122,800 |
| 7 | Maryland | $132,800 | $120,500 |
| 8 | Virginia | $130,200 | $118,400 |
| 9 | Texas | $128,600 | $116,200 |
| 10 | Illinois | $126,400 | $114,800 |
Cost of Living Adjusted Rankings
When we factor in cost of living and state taxes, the picture changes dramatically:
Best States After Cost-of-Living Adjustment
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $155,400 | 110 | $141,300 | 0% |
| 2 | Texas | $128,600 | 93 | $138,300 | 0% |
| 3 | Colorado | $135,400 | 103 | $131,500 | 4.4% |
| 4 | Georgia | $118,200 | 90 | $131,300 | 5.49% |
| 5 | North Carolina | $115,800 | 92 | $125,900 | 4.75% |
| 6 | Tennessee | $108,400 | 89 | $121,800 | 0% |
| 7 | Florida | $112,500 | 101 | $111,400 | 0% |
| 8 | Utah | $118,400 | 101 | $117,200 | 4.65% |
| 9 | Arizona | $114,200 | 99 | $115,400 | 2.5% |
| 10 | Nevada | $116,800 | 102 | $114,500 | 0% |
Worst States After Adjustment
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | New York | $145,800 | 142 | $102,700 | 10.9% |
| 47 | Massachusetts | $142,500 | 135 | $105,600 | 5.0% |
| 48 | California | $165,200 | 149 | $110,900 | 13.3% |
| 49 | New Jersey | $138,200 | 132 | $104,700 | 10.75% |
| 50 | Hawaii | $108,400 | 186 | $58,300 | 11.0% |
Metro Area Breakdown
Top Tech Hubs Compared
| Metro | Avg Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $185,400 | 179 | $103,600 |
| Seattle | $168,500 | 153 | $110,100 |
| New York City | $158,200 | 187 | $84,600 |
| Austin | $145,800 | 103 | $141,600 |
| Denver | $138,400 | 115 | $120,300 |
| Boston | $145,200 | 148 | $98,100 |
| Los Angeles | $152,600 | 166 | $91,900 |
| Raleigh-Durham | $128,400 | 99 | $129,700 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $132,500 | 98 | $135,200 |
| Atlanta | $125,800 | 102 | $123,300 |
Take-Home Pay Comparison: $150,000 Salary
After federal and state taxes, what you actually keep:
| Location | Gross | Federal Tax | State Tax | Net Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $150,000 | $28,400 | $0 | $121,600 |
| Austin, TX | $150,000 | $28,400 | $0 | $121,600 |
| Miami, FL | $150,000 | $28,400 | $0 | $121,600 |
| Nashville, TN | $150,000 | $28,400 | $0 | $121,600 |
| Denver, CO | $150,000 | $28,400 | $6,600 | $115,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $150,000 | $28,400 | $8,235 | $113,365 |
| Chicago, IL | $150,000 | $28,400 | $7,425 | $114,175 |
| Boston, MA | $150,000 | $28,400 | $7,500 | $114,100 |
| New York, NY | $150,000 | $28,400 | $9,400 | $112,200 |
| NYC (city tax) | $150,000 | $28,400 | $15,200 | $106,400 |
| San Francisco | $150,000 | $28,400 | $12,200 | $109,400 |
Real World Scenario: Junior Engineer
Starting salary comparison for junior software engineer:
| Location | Typical Salary | After Tax | Rent (1BR) | After Rent/Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $95,000 | $77,500 | $1,600 | $58,300 |
| Denver | $90,000 | $72,800 | $1,800 | $51,200 |
| Atlanta | $85,000 | $68,300 | $1,500 | $50,300 |
| Seattle | $105,000 | $85,600 | $2,400 | $56,800 |
| San Francisco | $115,000 | $91,200 | $3,200 | $52,800 |
| NYC | $110,000 | $83,400 | $3,000 | $47,400 |
Senior Engineer Comparison ($200,000)
| Location | Gross | After Tax | Housing (Buy)* | Net Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $200,000 | $161,400 | $450,000 | Best |
| Seattle | $200,000 | $161,400 | $750,000 | Good |
| Denver | $200,000 | $151,200 | $600,000 | Good |
| San Francisco | $200,000 | $145,800 | $1,400,000 | Challenging |
| NYC | $200,000 | $140,200 | $1,100,000 | Challenging |
*Typical home price in tech worker neighborhoods
Tech Industry Employment by State
| State | Tech Jobs | % of Workforce | Avg Tech Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,890,000 | 8.2% | $165,200 |
| Texas | 725,000 | 5.6% | $128,600 |
| Washington | 320,000 | 8.5% | $155,400 |
| New York | 410,000 | 4.2% | $145,800 |
| Virginia | 285,000 | 7.1% | $130,200 |
| Massachusetts | 240,000 | 6.8% | $142,500 |
| Colorado | 175,000 | 6.1% | $135,400 |
| Georgia | 210,000 | 4.5% | $118,200 |
| North Carolina | 190,000 | 4.2% | $115,800 |
| Florida | 260,000 | 2.9% | $112,500 |
Emerging Tech Hubs
Best Value Tech Markets (2025)
| City | Avg SWE Salary | COL Index | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $145,800 | 103 | 25% (5yr) |
| Raleigh, NC | $128,400 | 99 | 22% (5yr) |
| Nashville, TN | $112,500 | 95 | 28% (5yr) |
| Salt Lake City | $118,200 | 101 | 24% (5yr) |
| Phoenix, AZ | $114,200 | 98 | 21% (5yr) |
| Tampa, FL | $108,700 | 99 | 20% (5yr) |
Remote Work Arbitrage
Living in Low-Cost Area, Earning Coastal Salary
| Strategy | Example | Effective Income |
|---|---|---|
| SF salary, Austin living | $175,000 in Austin (COL 103) | $169,900 adj. |
| NYC salary, Nashville | $155,000 in Nashville (COL 95) | $163,200 adj. |
| Seattle salary, Phoenix | $165,000 in Phoenix (COL 98) | $168,400 adj. |
Tax Savings: CA vs. TX on $175,000
| Category | California | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $175,000 | $175,000 |
| Federal Tax | $33,400 | $33,400 |
| State Tax | $14,200 | $0 |
| Net Income | $127,400 | $141,600 |
| Annual Savings | – | $14,200 |
Factors Beyond Salary
Quality of Life Considerations
| Factor | Top States |
|---|---|
| Tech job opportunities | CA, WA, TX, NY, CO |
| No state income tax | WA, TX, FL, TN, NV |
| Weather | CA, FL, AZ, CO |
| Outdoor recreation | CO, WA, OR, UT |
| Cultural amenities | NY, CA, IL, MA |
| Family affordability | TX, NC, GA, TN |
Career Growth Potential
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Bay Area | Most opportunities, highest pay | Extreme COL |
| Seattle | Major employers, no state tax | High COL, weather |
| Austin | Fast growth, no state tax, affordable | Getting expensive |
| NYC | Finance tech, media tech | Very high COL + taxes |
| Denver | Good balance, outdoor lifestyle | Rising costs |
Key Takeaways
-
Washington wins on raw take-home — High salaries + no state tax
-
Texas offers best overall value — Strong salaries, no tax, affordable COL
-
California salary premium shrinks after taxes — 13.3% state tax hurts
-
Remote work is a game-changer — Coastal salary + affordable location = best deal
-
Austin is the new tech hotspot — Balance of salary, COL, and opportunity
-
NYC COL erases salary gains — $150k there feels like $90k elsewhere
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes
The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy