Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Software Developer's pay go, state by state?
A Software Developer's pay leaves the most room in California — about $10,963/mo take-home against $1,969/mo typical rent — and the least in West Virginia.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $10,963/mo | $1,969/mo | 18% |
| Washington | $10,555/mo | $1,641/mo | 16% |
| Alaska | $9,841/mo | $1,361/mo | 14% |
| Wyoming | $8,961/mo | $979/mo | 11% |
| New York | $9,456/mo | $1,621/mo | 17% |
| North Carolina | $8,490/mo | $1,147/mo | 14% |
| Maryland | $8,973/mo | $1,683/mo | 19% |
| Delaware | $8,560/mo | $1,321/mo | 15% |
| Virginia | $8,778/mo | $1,547/mo | 18% |
| District of Columbia | $9,123/mo | $1,900/mo | 21% |
| Massachusetts | $8,913/mo | $1,716/mo | 19% |
| New Mexico | $8,226/mo | $1,034/mo | 13% |
| Colorado | $8,772/mo | $1,659/mo | 19% |
| Rhode Island | $8,384/mo | $1,289/mo | 15% |
| Oregon | $8,450/mo | $1,431/mo | 17% |
| Illinois | $8,203/mo | $1,246/mo | 15% |
| New Hampshire | $8,376/mo | $1,424/mo | 17% |
| Georgia | $8,260/mo | $1,320/mo | 16% |
| Texas | $8,255/mo | $1,328/mo | 16% |
| Minnesota | $8,150/mo | $1,230/mo | 15% |
| New Jersey | $8,559/mo | $1,656/mo | 19% |
| Nevada | $8,163/mo | $1,478/mo | 18% |
| Connecticut | $8,130/mo | $1,483/mo | 18% |
| Arizona | $8,007/mo | $1,419/mo | 18% |
| Florida | $7,950/mo | $1,542/mo | 19% |
| Maine | $7,357/mo | $1,104/mo | 15% |
| Utah | $7,594/mo | $1,396/mo | 18% |
| Nebraska | $7,137/mo | $1,017/mo | 14% |
| Vermont | $7,320/mo | $1,207/mo | 16% |
| Pennsylvania | $7,274/mo | $1,176/mo | 16% |
| South Carolina | $7,223/mo | $1,131/mo | 16% |
| Tennessee | $7,193/mo | $1,111/mo | 15% |
| Montana | $7,103/mo | $1,031/mo | 15% |
| Ohio | $6,991/mo | $986/mo | 14% |
| Iowa | $6,885/mo | $932/mo | 14% |
| Indiana | $6,873/mo | $1,022/mo | 15% |
| Missouri | $6,799/mo | $997/mo | 15% |
| Oklahoma | $6,762/mo | $970/mo | 14% |
| Louisiana | $6,815/mo | $1,028/mo | 15% |
| Kentucky | $6,697/mo | $918/mo | 14% |
| Kansas | $6,776/mo | $1,025/mo | 15% |
| Alabama | $6,677/mo | $967/mo | 14% |
| Michigan | $6,749/mo | $1,072/mo | 16% |
| North Dakota | $6,564/mo | $911/mo | 14% |
| Wisconsin | $6,673/mo | $1,033/mo | 15% |
| Idaho | $6,676/mo | $1,163/mo | 17% |
| Arkansas | $5,989/mo | $903/mo | 15% |
| Hawaii | $6,816/mo | $1,927/mo | 28% |
| Mississippi | $5,537/mo | $933/mo | 17% |
| South Dakota | $5,385/mo | $910/mo | 17% |
| West Virginia | $5,290/mo | $848/mo | 16% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.