Software Developer Salary
The median pay for a software developers in Pennsylvania is $126,550/year ($60.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $178K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $133,253 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 17.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $127K actually covers in Pennsylvania, month by month
About software developers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Software developers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $127K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 17.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $178K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Software Developers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $133K | +5% | 28,480 |
| Pittsburgh | $125K | -2% | 10,320 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $123K | -3% | 1,770 |
| Reading | $121K | -4% | 640 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $120K | -5% | 730 |
| York-Hanover | $115K | -9% | 720 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $109K | -13% | 2,580 |
| Lebanon | $108K | -15% | 90 |
| Chambersburg | $106K | -16% | 200 |
| Lancaster | $105K | -17% | 850 |
| State College | $104K | -18% | 450 |
| Altoona | $102K | -20% | 180 |
| Erie | $102K | -20% | 390 |
| Gettysburg | $101K | -21% | 50 |
| Johnstown | $100K | -21% | 140 |
| Williamsport | $94K | -26% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 17.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for software developers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software developers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,058/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is software developer a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for software developers?
Pennsylvania pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — below the national median.
How much do software developers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $126,550 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,750, and experienced software developers can clear $178,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,780/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 17.4% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $133,253 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.