Software Developer salary in Tennessee
Software Developers in Tennessee earn a median of $122,430 a year ($58.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,380 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $135,980. Tennessee ranks 35th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 5.8 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $120,560, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,280 | $36.19 |
| 25th percentile | $90,750 | $43.63 |
| Median | $122,430 | $58.86 |
| 75th percentile | $138,890 | $66.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,380 | $79.99 |
| Average (mean) | $120,560 | $57.96 |
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 | $10,202.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,101.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,708.85 |
| Weekly | $2,354.42 |
| Hourly | $58.86 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $126,610 | 7,750 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $55,990 | $26.92 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $76,470 | $36.77 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,630 | $45.98 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $88,100 | $42.36 |
| Computer Network Architect | $123,860 | $59.55 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $63,510 | $30.53 |
| Information Security Analyst | $115,430 | $55.50 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| Database Administrator | $115,500 | $55.53 |
| Web Developer | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $91,040 | $43.77 |
| Database Architect | $115,170 | $55.37 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $108,830 | $52.32 |
| Data Scientist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for software developers in Tennessee is $122,430 a year, or $58.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of software developers in Tennessee earn at least $166,380 a year. The top 25% earn $138,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,280 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $90,750 or less.
How many software developers work in Tennessee?
About 19,030 software developers are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.