Software Developer Salary
The median pay for a software developers in Wisconsin is $122,660/year ($58.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $169K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $130,033 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 16.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $123K actually covers in Wisconsin, month by month
About software developers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Software developers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $123K locally vs. $136K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $169K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Software Developers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $131K | +6% | 6,720 |
| Kenosha | $130K | +6% | 410 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $124K | +1% | 6,170 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $106K | -14% | 280 |
| Eau Claire | $104K | -15% | 440 |
| Fond du Lac | $104K | -15% | 100 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $104K | -15% | 600 |
| Green Bay | $103K | -16% | 860 |
| Appleton | $103K | -16% | 570 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $102K | -17% | 380 |
| Sheboygan | $101K | -17% | 190 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $101K | -17% | 300 |
| Wausau | $99K | -20% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 16.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for software developers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software developers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,999/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is software developer a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $123K locally vs. $136K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for software developers?
Wisconsin pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $130K — below the national median.
How much do software developers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $122,660 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,710, and experienced software developers can clear $168,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 16.2% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $130,033 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.