Software Developer salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Software Developers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $126,610 a year ($60.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,070 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 3% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $122,430. There are 7.1 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $124,600, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,410 | $37.70 |
| 25th percentile | $99,030 | $47.61 |
| Median | $126,610 | $60.87 |
| 75th percentile | $140,170 | $67.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,070 | $81.29 |
| Average (mean) | $124,600 | $59.90 |
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 | $10,550.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,275.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,869.62 |
| Weekly | $2,434.81 |
| Hourly | $60.87 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $125,580 | 2,270 |
| Knoxville, TN | $121,750 | 2,390 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $115,310 | 430 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $106,750 | 990 |
| Johnson City, TN | $103,320 | 300 |
| Cleveland, TN | $102,600 | 110 |
| Morristown, TN | $102,390 | 50 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $96,650 | 310 |
| Jackson, TN | $96,540 | 130 |
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 Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $99,270 | $47.73 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $58,960 | $28.34 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $93,170 | $44.79 |
| Computer Network Architect | $129,370 | $62.20 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,980 | $37.01 |
| Web Developer | $78,990 | $37.98 |
| Database Administrator | $123,920 | $59.58 |
| Database Architect | $121,730 | $58.53 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $111,090 | $53.41 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| Data Scientist | $103,020 | $49.53 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $79,140 | $38.05 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for software developers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $126,610 a year, or $60.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of software developers in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $169,070 a year. The top 25% earn $140,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,410 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $99,030 or less.
How many software developers work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 7,750 software developers are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.