Where software developers keep the most after rent
21 large metros ranked by how much of a median software developer's take-home pay goes to a one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent. BLS occupation code 15-1252; national median $135,980.
Detroit comes out on top. Median pay of $130,760 against a $1,167 one-bedroom leaves $7,220 a month after rent. At the bottom is New York, where rent takes 26% of take-home pay. The highest-paying metro, San Francisco ($186,640), ranks 10 of 21 once rent is counted.
1-bedroom rent as a share of take-home pay
Full table
| # | Metro | Median pay | vs. U.S. | 1BR rent | Hours of work | 1BR share | Left / mo | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | $130,760 | −4% | $1,167 | 18.6 h | 14% | $7,220 | 24,870 |
| 2 | Houston | $129,440 | −5% | $1,261 | 20.3 h | 15% | $7,051 | 22,940 |
| 3 | Minneapolis–St. Paul | $130,920 | −4% | $1,427 | 22.7 h | 17% | $6,969 | 27,410 |
| 4 | Phoenix | $131,750 | −3% | $1,493 | 23.6 h | 18% | $6,950 | 29,380 |
| 5 | Dallas–Fort Worth | $133,290 | −2% | $1,536 | 24.0 h | 18% | $6,995 | 67,030 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | $133,040 | −2% | $1,558 | 24.4 h | 18% | $6,959 | 28,480 |
| 7 | Baltimore | $138,900 | +2% | $1,625 | 24.3 h | 18% | $7,225 | 16,850 |
| 8 | Atlanta | $132,960 | −2% | $1,619 | 25.3 h | 19% | $6,893 | 36,300 |
| 9 | Tampa | $130,450 | −4% | $1,648 | 26.3 h | 20% | $6,721 | 14,230 |
| 10 | San Francisco | $186,640 | +37% | $2,290 | 25.5 h | 20% | $9,291 | 69,030 |
| 11 | Riverside–San Bernardino | $133,270 | −2% | $1,705 | 26.6 h | 20% | $6,825 | 4,150 |
| 12 | Chicago | $134,380 | −1% | $1,780 | 27.6 h | 21% | $6,813 | 40,370 |
| 13 | Orlando | $129,620 | −5% | $1,726 | 27.7 h | 21% | $6,596 | 13,440 |
| 14 | Seattle | $167,280 | +23% | $2,180 | 27.1 h | 21% | $8,287 | 92,770 |
| 15 | Denver | $137,610 | +1% | $1,831 | 27.7 h | 21% | $6,946 | 27,010 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $154,930 | +14% | $2,204 | 29.6 h | 23% | $7,559 | 69,060 |
| 17 | San Diego | $163,270 | +20% | $2,335 | 29.7 h | 23% | $7,903 | 20,610 |
| 18 | Los Angeles | $160,920 | +18% | $2,402 | 31.0 h | 24% | $7,703 | 55,540 |
| 19 | Boston | $166,090 | +22% | $2,518 | 31.5 h | 24% | $7,881 | 42,310 |
| 20 | Miami | $132,650 | −2% | $2,121 | 33.3 h | 25% | $6,373 | 18,900 |
| 21 | New York | $166,830 | +23% | $2,729 | 34.0 h | 26% | $7,712 | 121,000 |
Sources & method
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — metropolitan areas — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File:
oesm25ma.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06. - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File:
oesm25nat.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06. - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER), Fair Market Rents, FY2027 — vintage: FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). File:
FY27_FMRs.xlsx, retrieved 2026-10-05. - Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (tax year 2026 brackets, $16,100 standard deduction) and SSA's $184,500 wage base, used for the take-home estimate.
Take-home = annual wage − 2026 federal income tax (single filer, standard deduction) − Social Security and Medicare. State and local income taxes are not deducted. Wages are May 2025 estimates; rents are HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). Full details on the methodology page. Page data last rebuilt 2026-10-06.