Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Minnesota make a median of $107,250 a year, or about $51.56 an hour. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $115,821 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 21% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $107K actually covers in Minnesota, month by month
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Computer programmers pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $107K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 21.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $107K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers salary by metro in Minnesota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $118K | +10% | 1,570 |
| Mankato | $85K | -21% | 40 |
| St. Cloud | $78K | -28% | 40 |
| Rochester | $65K | -39% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $107K, rent takes 21.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,521/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $107K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Minnesota pays $107K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Minnesota?
The median is $107,250 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,740, and experienced computer programmers can clear $125,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $107K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,498/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 21.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $115,821 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.