State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs Iowa
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In Iowa, $114,890. After cost-of-living, the gap is 20.4% — not 51.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+51.8%
California vs Iowa
COL-adjusted gap
+20.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Software Developers
- Median
- $174,410
- p25
- $136,990
- p75
- $216,670
- p10
- $105,060
- p90
- $272,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- 0%
Iowa
Software Developers
- Median
- $114,890
- p25
- $95,600
- p75
- $137,090
- p10
- $74,390
- p90
- $165,880
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 87.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -42%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.