Software Developers Salary
The median pay for a software developers in Virginia is $136,460/year ($65.61/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $143,960 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $136K get you in Virginia?
About software developers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Software developers pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $136K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 20.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (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, Virginia
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Software Developers salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | $133K | -2% | 350 |
| Richmond | $132K | -3% | 7,680 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $129K | -5% | 7,160 |
| Charlottesville | $129K | -6% | 1,390 |
| Roanoke | $121K | -11% | 770 |
| Harrisonburg | $119K | -13% | 220 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $116K | -15% | 140 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $112K | -18% | 590 |
| Lynchburg | $110K | -20% | 510 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a software developer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 20.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for software developers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software developers typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,001/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is software developer a high-paying job in Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $136K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for software developers?
Virginia pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do software developers make in Virginia?
The median is $136,460 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,350, and experienced software developers can clear $211,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,058/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 20.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $143,960 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.