Software Developer salary in Wisconsin
Software Developers in Wisconsin earn a median of $122,660 a year ($58.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,630 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $135,980. Wisconsin ranks 33rd of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 7.4 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $122,620, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| 25th percentile | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Median | $122,660 | $58.97 |
| 75th percentile | $138,590 | $66.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,630 | $81.07 |
| Average (mean) | $122,620 | $58.95 |
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 | $10,221.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,110.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,717.69 |
| Weekly | $2,358.85 |
| Hourly | $58.97 |
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 Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $130,920 | 27,410 |
| Madison, WI | $130,630 | 6,720 |
| Kenosha, WI | $130,330 | 410 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $123,730 | 6,170 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $105,670 | 280 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $104,490 | 440 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $104,140 | 100 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $104,000 | 600 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $103,500 | 460 |
| Green Bay, WI | $103,160 | 860 |
| Appleton, WI | $102,970 | 570 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $102,110 | 380 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $101,380 | 190 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $101,220 | 300 |
| Wausau, WI | $98,650 | 190 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialist | $58,810 | $28.27 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $100,440 | $48.29 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $88,130 | $42.37 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $89,400 | $42.98 |
| Computer Network Architect | $131,720 | $63.33 |
| Information Security Analyst | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| Database Administrator | $100,020 | $48.09 |
| Web Developer | $90,630 | $43.57 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $81,010 | $38.95 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $95,340 | $45.84 |
| Database Architect | $137,810 | $66.26 |
| Data Scientist | $106,680 | $51.29 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $71,820 | $34.53 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for software developers in Wisconsin is $122,660 a year, or $58.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of software developers in Wisconsin earn at least $168,630 a year. The top 25% earn $138,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,710 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $97,740 or less.
How many software developers work in Wisconsin?
About 21,730 software developers are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.