Software Developer salary in Iowa
Software Developers in Iowa earn a median of $114,890 a year ($55.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,880 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $135,980. Iowa ranks 40th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 5.8 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $118,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,390 | $35.77 |
| 25th percentile | $95,600 | $45.96 |
| Median | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| 75th percentile | $137,090 | $65.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,880 | $79.75 |
| Average (mean) | $118,780 | $57.10 |
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 | $9,574.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,787.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,418.85 |
| Weekly | $2,209.42 |
| Hourly | $55.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $129,440 | 470 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $126,460 | 4,240 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $125,220 | 3,920 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $115,780 | 1,220 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $114,340 | 1,250 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $113,970 | 280 |
| Iowa City, IA | $107,680 | 690 |
| Dubuque, IA | $105,360 | 330 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $101,150 | 230 |
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 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $58,810 | $28.27 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,920 | $46.11 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,340 | $51.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $84,500 | $40.62 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,600 | $31.06 |
| Computer Network Architect | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| Information Security Analyst | $119,710 | $57.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $88,590 | $42.59 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,180 | $38.07 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $69,060 | $33.20 |
| Web Developer | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| Database Administrator | $101,210 | $48.66 |
| Database Architect | $124,040 | $59.64 |
| Data Scientist | $95,830 | $46.07 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for software developers in Iowa is $114,890 a year, or $55.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of software developers in Iowa earn at least $165,880 a year. The top 25% earn $137,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,390 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $95,600 or less.
How many software developers work in Iowa?
About 9,040 software developers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.