Software Developer salary in North Carolina
Software Developers in North Carolina earn a median of $134,710 a year ($64.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 58,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,310 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $135,980. North Carolina ranks 12th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 12 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $136,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,840 | $40.31 |
| 25th percentile | $104,530 | $50.25 |
| Median | $134,710 | $64.76 |
| 75th percentile | $164,750 | $79.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $179,310 | $86.21 |
| Average (mean) | $136,940 | $65.84 |
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 | $11,225.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,612.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,181.15 |
| Weekly | $2,590.58 |
| Hourly | $64.76 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $135,920 | 20,820 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $135,620 | 9,790 |
| Asheville, NC | $134,350 | 780 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $132,770 | 12,580 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $130,600 | 120 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $130,240 | 200 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $129,090 | 7,160 |
| Burlington, NC | $127,570 | 270 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $125,190 | 1,710 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $124,130 | 1,050 |
| Wilmington, NC | $123,730 | 880 |
| Greenville, NC | $123,680 | 230 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $123,110 | 140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $122,900 | 420 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $122,540 | 420 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $96,140 | 50 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $60,120 | $28.90 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $106,850 | $51.37 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $104,850 | $50.41 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $95,230 | $45.78 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $100,390 | $48.27 |
| Information Security Analyst | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Computer Network Architect | $127,320 | $61.21 |
| Computer Programmer | $81,070 | $38.98 |
| Database Architect | $134,630 | $64.73 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $97,990 | $47.11 |
| Web Developer | $96,610 | $46.45 |
| Database Administrator | $113,900 | $54.76 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $128,370 | $61.72 |
| Data Scientist | $119,090 | $57.25 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for software developers in North Carolina is $134,710 a year, or $64.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of software developers in North Carolina earn at least $179,310 a year. The top 25% earn $164,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,840 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $104,530 or less.
How many software developers work in North Carolina?
About 58,470 software developers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.