.NET Developer Salary in Akron: $60,000-$110,000 (2026)

Akron’s cost of living index (~85) materially increases the purchasing power of a . NET developer’s salary compared to coastal metros.

Rent for a one-bedroom near downtown Akron typically ranges $800–$950; a modest two-bedroom in suburban neighborhoods is often $900–$1,100. Median home prices remain affordable (well below the national median), so junior or mid-level .

NET developers earning $55k–$80k can realistically buy a starter home or save aggressively if they settle into the suburbs. Commute costs are lower: average one-way drive times are ~20–30 minutes and gas/parking costs are modest versus large metros; public transit options exist but are limited, so many developers budget for a car.

Everyday expenses (groceries, utilities, services) trend below national averages, so discretionary spending—dining out, weekend activities, tech gear—goes further. In short, a local salary of $82k provides a near- mid-market lifestyle with room to save; conversely, the lower nominal salary can feel tight if comparing to big-city peers without adjusting for lower housing and living costs.

Salaries for . NET developers in Akron reflect a balance between modest local demand and lower regional cost pressures.

Large local employers—Goodyear (corporate systems, manufacturing automation), FirstEnergy (utility software), Summa Health (EHR integrations), and the University of Akron—supply steady, often conservative, hiring. Manufacturing and utilities prioritize stability and legacy .

NET/. NET Framework apps integrated with on-premise systems, which maintains demand for developers with experience in WinForms, ASP.

NET MVC, Web API and SQL Server. Healthcare and higher education projects increase need for integration, reporting, and cloud migration skills, but budgets can be constrained compared with coastal tech markets.

Regional consultancies and BPO technology teams hire for implementation and maintenance work, often offering hybrid/onsite roles. Recent trends: a gradual push to .

NET Core/. NET 6+ and Azure migrations creates upward pressure on mid/senior salaries for cloud-capable .

NET engineers, while pure legacy-maintenance roles remain priced lower.

Cleveland (≈$90k, COL ~92) and Columbus (≈$100k, COL ~104) offer higher nominal pay but also higher costs—Columbus’s tech ecosystem pays premiums for cloud, devops, and full-stack skill sets. Canton’s market is very similar to Akron but slightly lower overall.

For Akron . NET developers: commuting to Cleveland is feasible for senior roles where the pay differential offsets commute time; daily long commutes to Columbus are less common, but weekly relocation or hybrid arrangements can make sense for larger employer packages.

Remote work increases options—many Ohio employers now allow remote or hybrid schedules, enabling Akron residents to take Columbus/Cleveland/remote national roles while keeping Akron’s cheaper housing. However, some large local employers still prefer in-person presence for operations-bound systems, so suitability depends on the role’s need for onsite coordination with manufacturing or healthcare teams.

Typical timelines: entry-level developers (0–2 years) quickly learn core . NET, SQL Server, and internal systems; within 2–4 years they reach mid-level by owning modules, leading small projects, and contributing to architecture discussions.

Mid-level engineers (3–7 years) who upskill in . NET Core/.

NET 6+, cloud platforms (primarily Azure), modern front-ends (React/Angular), and CI/CD can move into senior developer roles within 4–6 years. Senior roles (8+ years) transition into solution architect, engineering lead, or DevOps-focused positions—particularly if they gain domain knowledge in manufacturing or healthcare systems.

Accelerators for faster progression locally: obtaining certifications (Azure Developer/Architect), demonstrable cloud migration experience, building integrations with ERP/SCADA systems, or taking lead roles on modernization projects. In Akron, project ownership and cross-functional exposure often matters more than brand-name experience.

When negotiating in Akron, anchor your ask to local ranges: entry (~$50k–$65k), mid (~$70k–$90k), senior (~$95k–$115k) depending on cloud/modern stack skills. If interviewing with large local employers (Goodyear, Summa Health, utilities), emphasize stability, domain experience (manufacturing/healthcare), and clear examples of legacy-to-cloud migrations to justify mid/high-range offers.

Ask about hybrid flexibility—many firms are open to 2–3 days remote; this is a negotiable perk that increases quality of life without large payroll impact for employers. Prioritize total compensation: sign-on bonuses (occasionally available), annual bonuses, 401(k) matching, paid time off, training/education budgets, and relocation stipends.

For startups/consultancies, negotiate billable-hour expectations and overtime policies. If competing with remote offers from higher-cost metros, highlight lower local cost-of-living as part of your reasoning for accepting slightly lower nominal pay or request performance-linked review at 6–12 months to re-open salary once you’ve demonstrated impact.