Software Developer Salary
The median pay for a software developers in Ohio is $114,090/year ($54.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $124,757 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 16.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $114K actually covers in Ohio, month by month
About software developers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for software developers in Ohio runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 16.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Ohio can be a reasonable trade-off for software developerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $114K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Software Developers salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $122K | +7% | 9,880 |
| Cincinnati | $121K | +6% | 9,900 |
| Springfield | $118K | +4% | 80 |
| Lima | $115K | +0% | 140 |
| Cleveland | $111K | -2% | 8,460 |
| Sandusky | $108K | -5% | 90 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $108K | -5% | 260 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $107K | -6% | 3,910 |
| Canton-Massillon | $106K | -8% | 480 |
| Akron | $105K | -8% | 2,240 |
| Toledo | $104K | -9% | 880 |
| Mansfield | $100K | -13% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a software developer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $114K, rent takes 16.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for software developers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software developers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,139/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is software developer a high-paying job in Ohio?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $114K here vs. $136K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for software developers?
Ohio pays $114K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — below the national median.
How much do software developers make in Ohio?
The median is $114,090 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,790, and experienced software developers can clear $168,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $114K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,174/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 16.6% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $124,757 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.