State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs Montana
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In Montana, $121,990. After cost-of-living, the gap is 22.2% — not 43%.
Nominal pay gap
+43%
California vs Montana
COL-adjusted gap
+22.2%
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%
Montana
Software Developers
- Median
- $121,990
- p25
- $94,800
- p75
- $169,180
- p10
- $73,370
- p90
- $221,400
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -83%
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.