Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA make a median of $68,090 a year, or about $32.73 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.24), that's roughly $67,927 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,004/month, about 44.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $68K get you in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Amherst Town-Northampton’s Regional Price Parity (100.24). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Amherst Town-Northampton
Pay for computer programmers in Amherst Town-Northampton runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $100K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,004/month, which is 45.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.24) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for computer programmerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer programmers in metros near Amherst Town-Northampton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $129K | $119K |
| Worcester | $119K | $116K |
| New Haven | $106K | $101K |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | $116K | $116K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $62K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Programmers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $134K | +33% | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +28% | 1,930 |
| Washington | $126K | +25% | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $126K | +25% | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $122K | +21% | 3,070 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +18% | 450 |
| California | $117K | +16% | 11,340 |
| Arkansas | $112K | +11% | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +7% | 2,070 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +5% | 3,930 |
| Utah | $105K | +4% | 690 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 930 |
| New York | $104K | +4% | 7,020 |
| Maine | $102K | +1% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | -1% | 990 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -1% | 790 |
| Oregon | $100K | -1% | 1,370 |
| Texas | $99K | -1% | 7,620 |
| Georgia | $98K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $97K | -3% | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $96K | -4% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -5% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -6% | 950 |
| Alabama | $94K | -7% | 890 |
| Nevada | $94K | -7% | 840 |
| Florida | $93K | -7% | 4,760 |
| Kansas | $93K | -7% | 460 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 190 |
| Alaska | $92K | -9% | 530 |
| Missouri | $90K | -10% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $90K | -10% | N/A |
| Vermont | $90K | -11% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -11% | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $89K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $89K | -11% | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $85K | -15% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $85K | -15% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -17% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -19% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 4,120 |
| Iowa | $79K | -21% | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | -26% | N/A |
| Illinois | $73K | -28% | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $66K | -34% | 4,400 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -35% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -42% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer programmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Amherst Town-Northampton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Amherst Town-Northampton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 45.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,004/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Amherst Town-Northampton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,228/month. At HUD’s $2,004/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $68K here vs. $100K nationally.
How does Amherst Town-Northampton compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Amherst Town-Northampton pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.24), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA?
The median is $68,090 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,800, and experienced computer programmers can clear $115,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Amherst Town-Northampton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,407/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,004/month, which eats 45.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Amherst Town-Northampton has a Regional Price Parity of 100.24 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $67,927 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.