Computer Programmers pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,480 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Wilmington earn between $45,290 and $100,200.
- $44K10th
- $45K25th
- $80KMedian
- $100K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,310 | $6,776 | $39.09 |
| Median | $79,530 | $6,628 | $38.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,290 | $3,774 | $21.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,200 | $8,350 | $48.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($81,740) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $81,310 | $79,530 | $43,910 | $129,480 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $81,740 | $81,070 | $26,170 | $134,780 | 4,120 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Wilmington
On the average salary of $81,310, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $63,296 a year, or $5,275 a month and $2,434 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $81,310 buys what about $84,327 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 7th of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($107,800).
- Durham$107,800
- Greenville$98,290
- Charlotte$93,520
- Winston-Salem$90,720
- Greensboro$87,360
- Asheville$83,150
- Wilmington$81,310
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Wilmington: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Wilmington?
$39.09 an hour on average, and $38.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $63,296 a year ($5,275 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,310.
Do computer programmers earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 15.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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