Software Developers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $167,270 or more. The middle half of software developers in Lexington earn between $97,680 and $156,180.
- $80K10th
- $98K25th
- $124KMedian
- $156K75th
- $167K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $128,480 | $10,707 | $61.77 |
| Median | $123,510 | $10,292 | $59.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,680 | $8,140 | $46.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $156,180 | $13,015 | $75.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Software Developers pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Software developers in Lexington earn 6% more than the Kentucky average ($120,730) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($148,100). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $135,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $128,480 | $123,510 | $79,770 | $167,270 | 1,430 |
| Kentucky | $120,730 | $109,010 | $76,310 | $168,110 | 7,660 |
| United States | $148,100 | $135,980 | $82,460 | $214,670 | 1,687,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Software Developers salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $128,480, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $91,170 a year, or $7,597 a month and $3,507 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for software developers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $128,480 buys what about $138,316 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Software Developers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$128,480
- Bowling Green$126,820
- Louisville$120,560
- Owensboro$120,070
- Paducah$102,960
- Elizabethtown$102,040
Highest-paying cities for software developers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($221,710).
- San Jose, CA$221,710
- San Francisco, CA$193,430
- Seattle, WA$174,920
- Oxnard, CA$174,020
- Boulder, CO$166,480
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Software Developers salary in Lexington: questions
How much do software developers make an hour in Lexington?
$61.77 an hour on average, and $59.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level software developers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the software developers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $91,170 a year ($7,597 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $128,480. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do software developers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($148,100).
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 15-1252; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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