Software Developer salary in Iowa City, IA
Software Developers in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn a median of $107,680 a year ($51.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,280 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 6% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $114,890. There are 7.4 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $113,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Iowa City, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,330 | $35.74 |
| 25th percentile | $86,430 | $41.55 |
| Median | $107,680 | $51.77 |
| 75th percentile | $134,790 | $64.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,280 | $80.42 |
| Average (mean) | $113,220 | $54.43 |
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 | $8,973.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,486.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,141.54 |
| Weekly | $2,070.77 |
| Hourly | $51.77 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Iowa City, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,750 | $29.69 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,770 | $42.20 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $82,040 | $39.44 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $66,680 | $32.06 |
| Computer Programmer | $113,590 | $54.61 |
| Information Security Analyst | $120,370 | $57.87 |
| Computer Network Architect | $96,790 | $46.54 |
| Database Administrator | $101,580 | $48.84 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $75,330 | $36.22 |
| Data Scientist | $72,120 | $34.67 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Iowa City, IA
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 City, IA?
The median salary for software developers in the Iowa City, IA metro area is $107,680 a year, or $51.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Iowa City, IA?
The top 10% of software developers in the Iowa City, IA metro area earn at least $167,280 a year. The top 25% earn $134,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Iowa City, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,330 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $86,430 or less.
How many software developers work in Iowa City, IA?
About 690 software developers are employed in the Iowa City, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.