State comparison · 2025
Software Developers salary: California vs Tennessee
Software Developers in California earn a median of $174,410. In Tennessee, $122,430. After cost-of-living, the gap is 18.3% — not 42.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+42.5%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+18.3%
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%
Tennessee
Software Developers
- Median
- $122,430
- p25
- $90,750
- p75
- $138,890
- p10
- $75,280
- p90
- $166,380
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -35%
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.