Software Developer salary in State College, PA
Software Developers in the State College, PA metro area earn a median of $103,620 a year ($49.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,720 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 18% lower than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $126,550. There are 6.5 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $112,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in State College, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,970 | $35.56 |
| 25th percentile | $88,750 | $42.67 |
| Median | $103,620 | $49.82 |
| 75th percentile | $132,160 | $63.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,720 | $77.27 |
| Average (mean) | $112,920 | $54.29 |
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 | $8,635 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,317.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,985.38 |
| Weekly | $1,992.69 |
| Hourly | $49.82 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $133,040 | 28,480 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $124,500 | 10,320 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $122,930 | 1,770 |
| Reading, PA | $120,920 | 640 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $119,960 | 730 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $114,600 | 720 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $109,470 | 2,580 |
| Lebanon, PA | $107,810 | 90 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $106,200 | 200 |
| Lancaster, PA | $104,740 | 850 |
| Altoona, PA | $101,670 | 180 |
| Erie, PA | $101,550 | 390 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $100,560 | 50 |
| Johnstown, PA | $100,340 | 140 |
| Williamsport, PA | $93,960 | 120 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in State College, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $63,790 | $30.67 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $84,330 | $40.54 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $78,520 | $37.75 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $97,920 | $47.08 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $93,680 | $45.04 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,040 | $30.79 |
| Computer Programmer | $87,610 | $42.12 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $78,040 | $37.52 |
| Web Developer | $91,300 | $43.89 |
| Computer Network Architect | $112,410 | $54.04 |
| Data Scientist | $81,840 | $39.35 |
| Statistician | $93,830 | $45.11 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in State College, PA
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 State College, PA?
The median salary for software developers in the State College, PA metro area is $103,620 a year, or $49.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in State College, PA?
The top 10% of software developers in the State College, PA metro area earn at least $160,720 a year. The top 25% earn $132,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in State College, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,970 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $88,750 or less.
How many software developers work in State College, PA?
About 450 software developers are employed in the State College, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.