Software Developers Salary in Wisconsin
Software Developers in Wisconsin have a median of $122,660 a year, below the national $135,980 (−10%); the state ranks 33rd of 50 states by median. Software Developers earn 2.4 times the median across all occupations in Wisconsin ($50,270). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan pay more (up to $132,110 in Illinois) and Iowa pays less (down to $114,890 in Iowa). Wisconsin employs 21,730 software developers, 7.39 per 1,000 jobs, the 21st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.68 means it is less common in Wisconsin than nationally.
Wisconsin vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $37.36 | $46.99 | $58.97 | $66.63 | $81.07 | $58.95 | 21,730 | 7.39 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $77,710 | $97,740 | $122,660 | $138,590 | $168,630 | $122,620 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $39.64 | $50.58 | $65.38 | $82.68 | $103.21 | $71.20 | 1,687,890 | – | – |
| Annual | $82,460 | $105,210 | $135,980 | $171,980 | $214,670 | $148,100 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 33rd of 50 states
- Rank by employment
- 21st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.68
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.39
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Wisconsin's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Wisconsin
15 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Wisconsin publish a row for software developers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $62.94 | $130,920 | $83,020 | $170,060 | 27,410 | 14.04 | 1.29 |
| Madison, WI | $62.80 | $130,630 | $82,790 | $171,290 | 6,720 | 16.47 | 1.52 |
| Kenosha, WI | $62.66 | $130,330 | $81,660 | $170,410 | 410 | 5.40 | 0.50 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $59.49 | $123,730 | $77,740 | $164,660 | 6,170 | 7.52 | 0.69 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $50.80 | $105,670 | $64,150 | $165,250 | 280 | 4.02 | 0.37 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $50.23 | $104,490 | $74,800 | $166,340 | 440 | 5.07 | 0.47 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $50.07 | $104,140 | $75,630 | $148,690 | 100 | 2.23 | 0.21 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $50.00 | $104,000 | $77,570 | $160,670 | 600 | 6.35 | 0.59 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $49.76 | $103,500 | $72,860 | $165,270 | 460 | 3.66 | 0.34 |
| Green Bay, WI | $49.60 | $103,160 | $76,880 | $156,560 | 860 | 4.96 | 0.46 |
| Appleton, WI | $49.51 | $102,970 | $67,410 | $164,080 | 570 | 4.56 | 0.42 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $49.09 | $102,110 | $75,080 | $168,260 | 380 | 4.49 | 0.41 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $48.74 | $101,380 | $78,410 | $157,870 | 190 | 3.20 | 0.29 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $48.66 | $101,220 | $68,770 | $159,860 | 300 | 3.97 | 0.37 |
| Wausau, WI | $47.43 | $98,650 | $64,390 | $153,260 | 190 | 2.72 | 0.25 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53.46 | $111,200 | $75,940 | $154,790 | 820 | 4.18 | 0.38 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51.36 | $106,820 | $64,960 | $204,480 | 50 | 1.06 | 0.10 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49.89 | $103,760 | $62,070 | $163,440 | 490 | 2.31 | 0.21 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $48.51 | $100,900 | $63,470 | $150,670 | 200 | 1.56 | 0.14 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Software Developers (every state ranked) and the Wisconsin wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Wisconsin estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.