How much do Software Developers make in Madison, WI?

Percentile spread

For Software Developers, the published 10th percentile is $82,790 and the 90th percentile is $171,290. The difference is $88,500, which is 67.7% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $101,970 to the 75th at $161,050, covers $59,080.

The mean annual wage is $129,020, which sits below the median of $130,630. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Madison, WI median is 3.9% lower than the national median of $135,980 for Software Developers. In 2024 national prices the local median is $134,273, which is 1.3% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 6.5% higher than the Wisconsin median of $122,660.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Madison, WI is 97.287, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $130,630 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Software Developers at $134,273 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

28 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Software Developers. Madison, WI ranks 3rd of 29 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Janesville-Beloit, WI is 39 miles away, with a median of $105,670 and employment of 280. That median is 19.1% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $112,771, against $134,273 here.
• Rockford, IL is 59 miles away, with a median of $107,640 and employment of 380. That median is 17.6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $116,804, against $134,273 here.
• Fond du Lac, WI is 72 miles away, with a median of $104,140 and employment of 100. That median is 20.3% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $113,637, against $134,273 here.

Employment share

Software Developers accounts for 1.6% of wage-and-salary employment in Madison, WI (6,720 of 408,070). Nationally the occupation is 1.1% of employment (1,687,890 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.52 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.