Software Developers Salary
The median pay for a software developers in Helena, MT is $99,370/year ($47.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.67), that's roughly $103,867 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,404/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $99K get you in Helena?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Helena’s Regional Price Parity (95.67). 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 software developers
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What this looks like in Helena
Pay for software developers in Helena runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,404/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 95.67) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Helena can be a reasonable trade-off for software developerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for software developers in metros near Helena, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $126K | $123K |
| Billings | $100K | $107K |
| Boise City | $132K | $134K |
| Sioux Falls | $101K | $111K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Helena, MT
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $89K spread from bottom to top.
Software Developers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Software Developers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $174K | +28% | 284,390 |
| Washington | $167K | +22% | 107,030 |
| New York | $166K | +22% | 113,510 |
| Massachusetts | $165K | +21% | 48,190 |
| Oregon | $143K | +5% | 21,830 |
| New Hampshire | $140K | +3% | 10,840 |
| Maryland | $139K | +2% | 31,350 |
| Colorado | $138K | +2% | 43,320 |
| District of Columbia | $137K | +1% | 6,120 |
| Virginia | $136K | +0% | 88,280 |
| New Jersey | $136K | -0% | 51,570 |
| North Carolina | $135K | -1% | 58,470 |
| Connecticut | $134K | -1% | 13,660 |
| Delaware | $133K | -2% | 3,380 |
| Texas | $132K | -3% | 163,880 |
| Illinois | $132K | -3% | 56,310 |
| Idaho | $132K | -3% | 5,750 |
| Georgia | $131K | -4% | 49,700 |
| Florida | $131K | -4% | 87,890 |
| Rhode Island | $131K | -4% | 5,070 |
| Minnesota | $130K | -4% | 35,890 |
| Arizona | $130K | -5% | 38,050 |
| South Carolina | $129K | -5% | 13,230 |
| Nevada | $129K | -5% | 4,520 |
| Utah | $129K | -5% | 31,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $127K | -7% | 55,920 |
| Missouri | $126K | -7% | 20,020 |
| Michigan | $126K | -8% | 43,460 |
| Vermont | $125K | -8% | 1,740 |
| New Mexico | $125K | -8% | 3,960 |
| Hawaii | $124K | -9% | 1,600 |
| Maine | $123K | -9% | 2,790 |
| Wisconsin | $123K | -10% | 21,730 |
| Alabama | $123K | -10% | 17,450 |
| Tennessee | $122K | -10% | 19,030 |
| Montana | $122K | -10% | 2,160 |
| West Virginia | $121K | -11% | 2,650 |
| Oklahoma | $118K | -13% | 6,880 |
| Wyoming | $115K | -15% | 1,510 |
| Iowa | $115K | -16% | 9,040 |
| Ohio | $114K | -16% | 44,790 |
| Kansas | $113K | -17% | 13,580 |
| Nebraska | $111K | -18% | 7,260 |
| Kentucky | $109K | -20% | 7,660 |
| Indiana | $106K | -22% | 14,130 |
| North Dakota | $106K | -22% | 1,450 |
| Arkansas | $104K | -23% | 6,050 |
| Louisiana | $103K | -24% | 4,080 |
| South Dakota | $96K | -29% | 2,380 |
| Mississippi | $95K | -30% | 1,880 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track software developers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Helena numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a software developer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Helena?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,404/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for software developers in Helena?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software developers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,690/month. At HUD’s $1,404/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is software developer a high-paying job in Helena?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $99K here vs. $136K nationally.
How does Helena compare to the national average for software developers?
Helena pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — below the national median.
How much do software developers make in Helena, MT?
The median is $99,370 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,160, and experienced software developers can clear $167,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Helena?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,128/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,404/month, which eats 22.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a software developers salary go in Helena?
Helena has a Regional Price Parity of 95.67 (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 software developers salary is worth about $103,867 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do software developers 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.