Software Developer salary in Wilmington, NC
Software Developers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $123,730 a year ($59.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 880 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $190,390 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 8% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $134,710. There are 4.6 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $131,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,980 | $37.97 |
| 25th percentile | $98,170 | $47.20 |
| Median | $123,730 | $59.49 |
| 75th percentile | $158,410 | $76.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $190,390 | $91.53 |
| Average (mean) | $131,450 | $63.20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,240 | $29.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,060 | $47.62 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $96,350 | $46.32 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $93,830 | $45.11 |
| Information Security Analyst | $145,170 | $69.79 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $86,200 | $41.44 |
| Computer Network Architect | $114,230 | $54.92 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,530 | $38.23 |
| Database Architect | $131,470 | $63.21 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Web Developer | $91,480 | $43.98 |
| Data Scientist | $93,090 | $44.76 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for software developers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $123,730 a year, or $59.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $190,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of software developers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $190,390 a year. The top 25% earn $158,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,980 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $98,170 or less.
How many software developers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 880 software developers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.