Software Developers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,410 or more. The middle half of software developers in Durham earn between $128,290 and $168,720.
- $101K10th
- $128K25th
- $136KMedian
- $169K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $148,390 | $12,366 | $71.34 |
| Median | $135,620 | $11,302 | $65.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,290 | $10,691 | $61.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $168,720 | $14,060 | $81.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Software Developers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Software developers in Durham earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($136,940) and about the same as the U.S. average ($148,100). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $135,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $148,390 | $135,620 | $100,670 | $209,410 | 9,790 |
| North Carolina | $136,940 | $134,710 | $83,840 | $179,310 | 58,470 |
| United States | $148,100 | $135,980 | $82,460 | $214,670 | 1,687,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Software Developers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $148,390, a single filer in Durham takes home about $107,279 a year, or $8,940 a month and $4,126 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for software developers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $148,390 buys what about $152,083 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Developers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$148,390
- Asheville$142,150
- Charlotte$139,030
- Raleigh$136,640
- Wilmington$131,450
- Hickory$129,200
- Burlington$127,100
- Rocky Mount$126,520
- Greensboro$126,400
- Jacksonville$125,900
Highest-paying cities for software developers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($221,710).
- San Jose, CA$221,710
- San Francisco, CA$193,430
- Seattle, WA$174,920
- Oxnard, CA$174,020
- Boulder, CO$166,480
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Software Developers salary in Durham: questions
How much do software developers make an hour in Durham?
$71.34 an hour on average, and $65.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software developers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software developers take-home pay in Durham?
About $107,279 a year ($8,940 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $148,390.
Do software developers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($148,100).
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 15-1252; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 2.62, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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