State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs North Carolina
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In North Carolina, $134,710. After cost-of-living, the gap is 10.3% — not 29.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+29.5%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+10.3%
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%
North Carolina
Software Developers
- Median
- $134,710
- p25
- $104,530
- p75
- $164,750
- p10
- $83,840
- p90
- $179,310
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -24%
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.