Software Developers Salary in Raleigh, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Raleigh-Cary, NC

Median annual salary $131,390 -1.3% vs national
Median hourly $63.17
10th percentile $82,900
90th percentile $180,630
Employed locally 12,290
National median $133,080

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Software Developers
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Raleigh, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $82,900
    25th
    $103,660
    50th (median)
    $131,390
    75th
    $163,430
    90th
    $180,630

    Raleigh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,066 2023 • Census ACS
    Software Developers salary vs area income 137% Median Software Developers salary is 37% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Software Developers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $208,270
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $174,910
    California $170,910
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $169,340
    Washington $166,910
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $163,020

    Nearby metros — Software Developers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $174,910
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $149,010
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $140,820
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $132,100
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $132,010
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $131,980

    Related occupations in Raleigh, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Computer User Support Specialists $60,010
    Computer Systems Analysts $105,610
    Computer Occupations, All Other $114,300
    Network and Computer Systems Administrators $100,470
    Data Scientists $102,690
    Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $106,290

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Software Developers make per hour in Raleigh?

    The median hourly wage for Software Developers in Raleigh, NC is $63.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $89.00 or more per hour.

    Is Raleigh above or below average for Software Developers salaries?

    The median Software Developers salary in Raleigh, NC is 1.3% below the national median of $133,080. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Software Developers in Raleigh?

    Entry-level Software Developers (10th percentile) earn around $82,900 per year in Raleigh, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $103,660.