State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs South Dakota
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In South Dakota, $96,310. After cost-of-living, the gap is 44.9% — not 81.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+81.1%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+44.9%
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%
South Dakota
Software Developers
- Median
- $96,310
- p25
- $79,810
- p75
- $121,190
- p10
- $65,530
- p90
- $160,380
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -45%
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.