Computer Programmers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,830 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Durham earn between $83,040 and $128,240.
- $68K10th
- $83K25th
- $105KMedian
- $128K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $107,800 | $8,983 | $51.83 |
| Median | $105,160 | $8,763 | $50.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,040 | $6,920 | $39.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,240 | $10,687 | $61.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Durham earn 32% more than the North Carolina average ($81,740) and about the same as the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $107,800 | $105,160 | $67,770 | $136,830 | 450 |
| North Carolina | $81,740 | $81,070 | $26,170 | $134,780 | 4,120 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $107,800, a single filer in Durham takes home about $80,875 a year, or $6,740 a month and $3,111 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $107,800 buys what about $110,483 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$107,800
- Greenville$98,290
- Charlotte$93,520
- Winston-Salem$90,720
- Greensboro$87,360
- Asheville$83,150
- Wilmington$81,310
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Durham: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Durham?
$51.83 an hour on average, and $50.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Durham?
About $80,875 a year ($6,740 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $107,800.
Do computer programmers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.19, this job is 2.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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