Computer Programmer salary in Appleton, WI
Computer Programmers in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $79,270 a year ($38.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,760 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $100,390. There are 0.40 computer programmers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $87,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer programmers in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,070 | $24.55 |
| 25th percentile | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| Median | $79,270 | $38.11 |
| 75th percentile | $119,100 | $57.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,760 | $64.31 |
| Average (mean) | $87,960 | $42.29 |
Half of computer programmers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,605.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,302.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,048.85 |
| Weekly | $1,524.42 |
| Hourly | $38.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Programmer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $118,000 | 1,570 |
| Madison, WI | $97,410 | 280 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $86,970 | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $85,280 | 580 |
| Kenosha, WI | $85,020 | 80 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $81,970 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $81,470 | 70 |
| Wausau, WI | $73,250 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for computer programmers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $133,820 |
| Massachusetts | $128,390 |
| Washington | $125,620 |
| Maryland | $125,570 |
| Virginia | $121,610 |
| Hawaii | $118,180 |
| California | $116,760 |
| Arkansas | $111,840 |
| Minnesota | $107,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,940 |
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $102,970 | $49.51 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,060 | $27.43 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $82,750 | $39.78 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,360 | $48.73 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $83,660 | $40.22 |
| Computer Network Architect | $129,410 | $62.22 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $90,890 | $43.70 |
| Web Developer | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $72,630 | $34.92 |
| Data Scientist | $103,210 | $49.62 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Appleton, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1251. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for computer programmers in the Appleton, WI metro area is $79,270 a year, or $38.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer programmers make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of computer programmers in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $133,760 a year. The top 25% earn $119,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer programmers in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,070 a year, and a quarter of computer programmers earn $62,700 or less.
How many computer programmers work in Appleton, WI?
About 50 computer programmers are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.