Cited pay, by city
Tech salary by metro
A national average hides where tech actually pays what. Here’s the cited, occupation-level BLS wage for tech roles in 120 U.S. metros— the government’s estimate for each area, not a self-reported number. Each card shows the metro’s largest tech occupation and its cited median.
How to read this
The area estimate, not an average
Each figure is the BLS OEWS median annual wage for that occupation in that metro (May 2025). It reflects the whole area, not one employer or a self-reported survey. Pay is set by the occupation and location — not by a job title or a certification — so read it alongside cost of living and role fit.
How cost of living changes the picture →National wage bands (10th–90th percentile) →
AK
Anchorage, AK
Project Management Specialists: $99,580 · 1,270 employed
12 tech occupations
AL
Birmingham, AL
Software Developers: $125,410 · 3,830 employed
12 tech occupations
Huntsville, AL
Software Developers: $128,080 · 7,030 employed
12 tech occupations
AR
Fayetteville-Springdale, AR
Software Developers: $105,130 · 2,490 employed
12 tech occupations
Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $62,040 · 3,060 employed
12 tech occupations
AZ
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
Software Developers: $131,750 · 29,380 employed
12 tech occupations
Tucson, AZ
Software Developers: $123,710 · 4,060 employed
12 tech occupations
CA
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $95,000 · 2,740 employed
12 tech occupations
Fresno, CA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $76,770 · 2,810 employed
12 tech occupations
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
Software Developers: $160,920 · 55,540 employed
12 tech occupations
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $87,340 · 2,840 employed
12 tech occupations
Riverside-San Bernardino, CA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $75,380 · 10,450 employed
12 tech occupations
Sacramento-Roseville, CA
Computer User Support Specialists: $106,040 · 13,820 employed
12 tech occupations
San Diego-Chula Vista, CA
Software Developers: $163,270 · 20,610 employed
12 tech occupations
San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Software Developers: $186,640 · 69,030 employed
12 tech occupations
San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA
Software Developers: $213,110 · 87,350 employed
12 tech occupations
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Software Developers: $158,290 · 1,680 employed
12 tech occupations
CO
Boulder, CO
Software Developers: $164,560 · 7,130 employed
12 tech occupations
Colorado Springs, CO
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $94,450 · 5,280 employed
12 tech occupations
Denver-Aurora, CO
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $94,990 · 28,670 employed
12 tech occupations
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $84,840 · 2,290 employed
12 tech occupations
CT
Bridgeport-Stamford, CT
Software Developers: $162,650 · 3,090 employed
12 tech occupations
Hartford-West Hartford, CT
Software Developers: $132,520 · 6,010 employed
12 tech occupations
New Haven, CT
Software Developers: $133,040 · 1,190 employed
12 tech occupations
DC-VA-MD-WV
Washington-Arlington, DC-VA-MD-WV
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $104,770 · 76,600 employed
12 tech occupations
FL
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
Project Management Specialists: $96,600 · 2,750 employed
12 tech occupations
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, FL
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $96,100 · 2,010 employed
12 tech occupations
Jacksonville, FL
Software Developers: $130,330 · 7,200 employed
12 tech occupations
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $72,260 · 1,210 employed
12 tech occupations
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL
Project Management Specialists: $98,720 · 19,340 employed
12 tech occupations
North Port-Bradenton, FL
Project Management Specialists: $96,510 · 2,060 employed
12 tech occupations
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
Software Developers: $129,620 · 13,440 employed
12 tech occupations
Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL
Software Developers: $131,760 · 5,030 employed
12 tech occupations
Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $67,620 · 1,510 employed
12 tech occupations
Tallahassee, FL
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $67,120 · 1,530 employed
12 tech occupations
Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
Software Developers: $130,450 · 14,230 employed
12 tech occupations
GA
Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $80,020 · 43,720 employed
12 tech occupations
GA-SC
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $79,440 · 2,120 employed
12 tech occupations
HI
Urban Honolulu, HI
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $94,330 · 3,620 employed
12 tech occupations
IA
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $86,540 · 5,130 employed
12 tech occupations
IA-IL
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL
Software Developers: $115,780 · 1,220 employed
12 tech occupations
ID
Boise City, ID
Software Developers: $131,590 · 3,240 employed
12 tech occupations
IL
Peoria, IL
Software Developers: $130,590 · 1,650 employed
12 tech occupations
IL-IN
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN
Software Developers: $134,380 · 40,370 employed
12 tech occupations
IN
Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
Software Developers: $106,870 · 7,140 employed
12 tech occupations
KS
Wichita, KS
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $84,460 · 2,160 employed
12 tech occupations
KY
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Project Management Specialists: $84,520 · 2,020 employed
12 tech occupations
KY-IN
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Project Management Specialists: $82,660 · 3,630 employed
12 tech occupations
LA
Baton Rouge, LA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $61,110 · 4,700 employed
12 tech occupations
New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $73,920 · 4,590 employed
12 tech occupations
MA
Worcester, MA
Software Developers: $146,950 · 1,800 employed
12 tech occupations
MA-NH
Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH
Software Developers: $166,090 · 42,310 employed
12 tech occupations
MD
Baltimore-Columbia, MD
Software Developers: $138,900 · 16,850 employed
12 tech occupations
Lexington Park, MD
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $136,660 · 2,180 employed
11 tech occupations
ME
Portland-South Portland, ME
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $86,530 · 2,230 employed
12 tech occupations
MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Software Developers: $126,830 · 2,740 employed
12 tech occupations
Detroit-Warren, MI
Software Developers: $130,760 · 24,870 employed
12 tech occupations
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
Software Developers: $107,520 · 4,310 employed
12 tech occupations
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $82,940 · 4,360 employed
12 tech occupations
MN-WI
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
Software Developers: $130,920 · 27,410 employed
12 tech occupations
MO
Springfield, MO
Project Management Specialists: $78,060 · 1,230 employed
12 tech occupations
MO-IL
St. Louis, MO-IL
Project Management Specialists: $100,510 · 10,450 employed
12 tech occupations
MO-KS
Kansas City, MO-KS
Software Developers: $124,990 · 12,160 employed
12 tech occupations
MS
Jackson, MS
Project Management Specialists: $78,150 · 1,290 employed
12 tech occupations
NC
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Software Developers: $135,620 · 9,790 employed
12 tech occupations
Greensboro-High Point, NC
Project Management Specialists: $99,690 · 2,080 employed
12 tech occupations
Raleigh-Cary, NC
Software Developers: $132,770 · 12,580 employed
12 tech occupations
Winston-Salem, NC
Project Management Specialists: $79,560 · 1,530 employed
12 tech occupations
NC-SC
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC
Software Developers: $135,920 · 20,820 employed
12 tech occupations
NE
Lincoln, NE
Software Developers: $101,690 · 1,530 employed
12 tech occupations
NE-IA
Omaha, NE-IA
Software Developers: $125,220 · 3,920 employed
12 tech occupations
NH
Manchester-Nashua, NH
Software Developers: $162,090 · 4,370 employed
12 tech occupations
NJ
Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $89,370 · 5,570 employed
12 tech occupations
NM
Albuquerque, NM
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $81,070 · 4,160 employed
12 tech occupations
NV
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $64,410 · 6,010 employed
12 tech occupations
Reno, NV
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $67,430 · 1,960 employed
12 tech occupations
NY
Albany-Schenectady, NY
Computer Systems Analysts: $86,890 · 3,290 employed
12 tech occupations
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Software Developers: $127,850 · 3,960 employed
12 tech occupations
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY
Project Management Specialists: $102,650 · 1,300 employed
12 tech occupations
Rochester, NY
Software Developers: $122,770 · 4,650 employed
12 tech occupations
Syracuse, NY
Software Developers: $129,100 · 2,180 employed
12 tech occupations
NY-NJ
New York-Newark, NY-NJ
Software Developers: $166,830 · 121,000 employed
12 tech occupations
OH
Akron, OH
Software Developers: $105,430 · 2,240 employed
12 tech occupations
Cleveland, OH
Software Developers: $111,310 · 8,460 employed
12 tech occupations
Columbus, OH
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $82,030 · 10,040 employed
12 tech occupations
Dayton-Kettering, OH
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $102,660 · 4,370 employed
12 tech occupations
OH-KY-IN
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Software Developers: $121,420 · 9,900 employed
12 tech occupations
OK
Oklahoma City, OK
Project Management Specialists: $85,400 · 5,690 employed
12 tech occupations
Tulsa, OK
Project Management Specialists: $93,240 · 3,250 employed
12 tech occupations
OR
Salem, OR
Project Management Specialists: $102,730 · 1,420 employed
12 tech occupations
OR-WA
Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA
Software Developers: $156,000 · 18,260 employed
11 tech occupations
PA
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Software Developers: $109,470 · 2,580 employed
12 tech occupations
Pittsburgh, PA
Software Developers: $124,500 · 10,320 employed
12 tech occupations
PA-NJ
Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ
Project Management Specialists: $100,050 · 1,850 employed
12 tech occupations
PA-NJ-DE-MD
Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Software Developers: $133,040 · 28,480 employed
12 tech occupations
PR
San Juan-Bayamon, PR
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $46,990 · 7,980 employed
12 tech occupations
RI-MA
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Software Developers: $130,690 · 5,020 employed
12 tech occupations
SC
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $79,110 · 3,680 employed
12 tech occupations
Columbia, SC
Project Management Specialists: $85,260 · 2,430 employed
12 tech occupations
Greenville-Anderson, SC
Project Management Specialists: $94,780 · 3,600 employed
12 tech occupations
TN
Knoxville, TN
Project Management Specialists: $91,690 · 3,650 employed
12 tech occupations
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Project Management Specialists: $85,990 · 7,950 employed
12 tech occupations
TN-GA
Chattanooga, TN-GA
Project Management Specialists: $87,240 · 1,750 employed
12 tech occupations
TN-MS-AR
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Project Management Specialists: $85,130 · 2,960 employed
11 tech occupations
TX
Austin-Round Rock, TX
Software Developers: $134,120 · 31,960 employed
12 tech occupations
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Software Developers: $133,290 · 67,030 employed
12 tech occupations
El Paso, TX
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $77,750 · 2,060 employed
12 tech occupations
Houston-Pasadena, TX
Project Management Specialists: $99,510 · 35,550 employed
12 tech occupations
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $82,130 · 11,970 employed
12 tech occupations
UT
Ogden, UT
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $94,480 · 3,440 employed
12 tech occupations
Provo-Orem, UT
Software Developers: $131,210 · 7,870 employed
12 tech occupations
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Software Developers: $129,600 · 19,040 employed
12 tech occupations
VA
Richmond, VA
Software Developers: $132,120 · 7,680 employed
12 tech occupations
VA-NC
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $87,530 · 8,670 employed
12 tech occupations
VT
Burlington-South Burlington, VT
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $71,710 · 1,200 employed
12 tech occupations
WA
Olympia-Lacey, WA
Software Developers: $124,060 · 1,920 employed
12 tech occupations
Seattle-Tacoma, WA
Software Developers: $167,280 · 92,770 employed
12 tech occupations
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
Business Operations Specialists, All Other: $79,270 · 1,880 employed
12 tech occupations
WI
Madison, WI
Software Developers: $130,630 · 6,720 employed
12 tech occupations
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Project Management Specialists: $100,350 · 6,790 employed
12 tech occupations
Common questions
Tech pay by city, answered honestly
- Where do these salary figures come from?
- From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the government’s occupation-level median wage estimate for each metro area. These are area estimates for an occupation, not a self-reported average, not a single company’s pay, and not caused by any job title or certification.
- Why is the same role paid so differently by city?
- Metro wages reflect local demand, cost of living, and the mix of employers. That’s exactly why a national average can mislead — the same occupation can pay very differently in two cities. Each metro here has a full set of tech occupations and a pay distribution (10th–90th percentile, not just the median) behind it.
- Is a higher-paying metro actually better?
- Not necessarily — a higher median often comes with a higher cost of living, so more pay doesn’t always mean more take-home value. Look at pay and cost of living together, and weigh the openings and the role fit, not just the number.
Turn a number into a plan
Pay is one input. RoleMath sequences the cited role, certification, and cost for your situation — and isn’t influenced by who pays us.