What the numbers say
About 8,820 Software Developers work in the Pittsburgh metro, making it a meaningful employer of the role in Pennsylvania. Their median annual wage in 2024 was $122,350, which comes in just under the Pennsylvania median of $123,740 and about 12% below the national median of $138,520.
The mean wage of $119,690 sits below the median, which is unusual. In most metro areas the reverse is true, because a small group of high earners pulls the average up. Here it runs the other way, suggesting fewer developers at the very top of the pay scale compared to what you see in larger coastal markets.
The range from the 10th to the 90th percentile runs from $71,700 to $167,120, a spread of roughly $95,000. That kind of gap reflects real variation in experience and specialization within the Pittsburgh market, not noise in the data. Someone early in their career earns well under half what a senior peer at the 90th percentile takes home.
Pittsburgh's gap below the national median is worth noting in context. The metro has a real technology presence, anchored partly by Carnegie Mellon and a growing robotics and AI cluster, but it has not reached the wage levels of Philadelphia or the larger coastal metros where the national figure gets pulled up. For Software Developers in Pennsylvania, the state median and the Pittsburgh median track closely, within 1% of each other.
Salary distribution
Where Pittsburgh software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,560 and $155,770, with a median of $124,500.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
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How the Pittsburgh metro compares to other major Pennsylvania metro areas for software developers.
- Philadelphia$133,040
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area is $124,500.
- Does Pittsburgh pay more than the Pennsylvania state average for Software Developers?
- The Pittsburgh metro median is -1.6% versus the Pennsylvania state median of $126,550.
- How does Pittsburgh compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The Pittsburgh metro median is -12.9% versus the BLS national figure of $142,947.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in Pittsburgh?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $76,030 and the 90th-percentile at $191,710 for the Pittsburgh metro area.
- What education is required for Software Developers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. BLS metro estimates reflect the Pittsburgh CBSA boundary for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.