Software Developer salary in Appleton, WI
Software Developers in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $102,970 a year ($49.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,080 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 16% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $122,660. There are 4.6 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $116,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,410 | $32.41 |
| 25th percentile | $82,240 | $39.54 |
| Median | $102,970 | $49.51 |
| 75th percentile | $133,020 | $63.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,080 | $78.89 |
| Average (mean) | $116,010 | $55.77 |
Half of software developers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,580.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,290.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,960.38 |
| Weekly | $1,980.19 |
| Hourly | $49.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $130,920 | 27,410 |
| Madison, WI | $130,630 | 6,720 |
| Kenosha, WI | $130,330 | 410 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $123,730 | 6,170 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $105,670 | 280 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $104,490 | 440 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $104,140 | 100 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $104,000 | 600 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $103,500 | 460 |
| Green Bay, WI | $103,160 | 860 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $102,110 | 380 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $101,380 | 190 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $101,220 | 300 |
| Wausau, WI | $98,650 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $82,750 | $39.78 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,360 | $48.73 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $83,660 | $40.22 |
| Computer Network Architect | $129,410 | $62.22 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,270 | $38.11 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $90,890 | $43.70 |
| Web Developer | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $72,630 | $34.92 |
| Data Scientist | $103,210 | $49.62 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Appleton, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for software developers in the Appleton, WI metro area is $102,970 a year, or $49.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of software developers in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $164,080 a year. The top 25% earn $133,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,410 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $82,240 or less.
How many software developers work in Appleton, WI?
About 570 software developers are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.