Software Developer salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Software Developers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median of $123,730 a year ($59.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,660 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 1% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $122,660. There are 7.5 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $120,680, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,740 | $37.38 |
| 25th percentile | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Median | $123,730 | $59.49 |
| 75th percentile | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,660 | $79.17 |
| Average (mean) | $120,680 | $58.02 |
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 | $10,310.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,155.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,758.85 |
| Weekly | $2,379.42 |
| Hourly | $59.49 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Appleton, WI | $102,970 | 570 |
| 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $102,120 | $49.10 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $83,120 | $39.96 |
| Computer Network Architect | $134,070 | $64.46 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $97,390 | $46.82 |
| Information Security Analyst | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| Computer Programmer | $85,280 | $41.00 |
| Database Administrator | $101,510 | $48.80 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $74,960 | $36.04 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Database Architect | $148,020 | $71.16 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $74,850 | $35.98 |
| Data Scientist | $104,710 | $50.34 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Milwaukee-Waukesha, 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median salary for software developers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $123,730 a year, or $59.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The top 10% of software developers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn at least $164,660 a year. The top 25% earn $138,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,740 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $99,990 or less.
How many software developers work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About 6,170 software developers are employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.