Software Developers salary in Madison, WI
Median pay for software developers in Madison, WI: $105,330/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $71,120 – $158,240 · about 5,610 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($111,055) by −$5,725 (-5%).
What it's really worth in Madison
With Madison's cost of living at 96 (US=100), that $105,330 has the buying power of about $109,794 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $82,996 · median home $452,769 · median rent $1,683/mo.
How Madison ranks for this job
On raw pay, Madison, WI is 123rd of the 186 metros we hold software developers wages for. Once Madison's cost of living is applied, it ranks 142nd.
The headline number flatters Madison. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, software developers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Madison
A median home in Madison, WI costs $452,769 — about 4.3× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,683/mo works out at 19% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where software developers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Madison.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Madison | Rent vs Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $199,100 | +89% | 2.2× |
| San Francisco, CA | $172,340 | +64% | 1.9× |
| Seattle, WA | $167,030 | +59% | 1.3× |
| Santa Maria, CA | $154,200 | +46% | 2× |
Same job elsewhere in WI
| Metro | Median pay | vs Madison | Rent vs Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | $107,830 | +2% | 0.9× |
| Appleton, WI | $101,070 | −4% | 0.7× |
| Green Bay, WI | $100,200 | −5% | 0.7× |
Staying in WI keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires software developers around Madison
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Epic Systems Corporation · Tech
- American Family Insurance · Finance
Other jobs in Madison
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.