Software Developer salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Software Developers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $123,510 a year ($59.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,270 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 13% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $109,010. There are 5.0 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $128,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,770 | $38.35 |
| 25th percentile | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Median | $123,510 | $59.38 |
| 75th percentile | $156,180 | $75.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,270 | $80.42 |
| Average (mean) | $128,480 | $61.77 |
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 | $10,292.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,146.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,750.38 |
| Weekly | $2,375.19 |
| Hourly | $59.38 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $121,420 | 9,900 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $110,780 | 280 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $110,270 | 2,770 |
| Owensboro, KY | $102,010 | 90 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $100,650 | 200 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $99,260 | 140 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $96,650 | 310 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $95,980 | 180 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,500 | $45.91 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $92,390 | $44.42 |
| Information Security Analyst | $102,190 | $49.13 |
| Computer Network Architect | $103,840 | $49.92 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $79,610 | $38.27 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $70,980 | $34.12 |
| Computer Programmer | $90,850 | $43.68 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $74,590 | $35.86 |
| Database Administrator | $88,490 | $42.54 |
| Web Developer | $91,260 | $43.88 |
| Database Architect | $101,540 | $48.82 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $78,800 | $37.88 |
| Data Scientist | $84,460 | $40.60 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $72,500 | $34.86 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for software developers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $123,510 a year, or $59.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $167,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of software developers in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $167,270 a year. The top 25% earn $156,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,770 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $97,680 or less.
How many software developers work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 1,430 software developers are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.