Starting range
Average salary
Top earners
about 15% below U.S. average
Compare to Nearby Cities
| City | Average Salary | Cost of Living Index | Real Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | $78,000 | 92 | $84,783 |
| Columbus, GA | $82,000 | 88 | $93,182 |
| Atlanta, GA | $110,000 | 115 | $95,652 |
Local Market Outlook
Demand Level
steady with gradual increase in demand for full-stack .NET developers and cloud/SaaS integrations, occasional spikes when healthcare/education projects begin
Top Employers
Key Industries
How Macon's cost of living affects a .NET developer's purchasing power
Macon’s cost-of-living index around 85 (100 = U. S.
average) means a . NET developer’s dollar stretches further here than in coastal tech hubs.
Rent for a one-bedroom in central Macon typically ranges $800–$1,000/month; outside core neighborhoods you’ll find $650–$850. Median single-family home prices are substantially below national median, often in the $150k–$220k range depending on neighborhood.
Commute costs are relatively low because typical drives are shorter and congestion is light; expect lower fuel and time costs than in Atlanta. Groceries, utilities, and basic services trend 10–20% below national averages.
For a mid-level . NET developer earning roughly $80k, this means more discretionary income for savings, a mortgage, or family expenses compared with the same salary in a high-COL city.
However, local salaries are also discounted vs. larger markets, so relative purchasing power depends on role level and benefits (e.
g. , remote stipend, health insurance).
Why Macon .NET salaries sit where they do
Salaries for . NET developers in Macon reflect the local employer mix and project types.
Large regional employers like Atrium Health Navicent and Mercer University require custom internal applications, EHR integrations, and reporting systems—work that favors experienced back-end . NET engineers and full-stack devs.
Public sector (Bibb County, city IT) often hires for maintenance, integrations, and vendor management at constrained budgets, which keeps mid-range salary pressure moderate. Nearby defense and aerospace contractors supporting Robins AFB create occasional higher-paid roles, especially when federal contracts require secure C#/.
NET services or integration with legacy systems. Smaller ISVs and managed-services shops in Macon build and maintain SaaS tools for local healthcare, manufacturing, and finance clients but typically offer lower base pay than big-city startups.
Overall, a mix of stable institutional demand and limited high-tech startup density produces steady, moderate compensation with spikes around specialized projects (cloud migration, EHR customization, API modernization).
Comparing Macon to nearby cities: commute, relocation, and remote work
Compared to Athens and Columbus, Macon pays similarly or slightly higher for comparable . NET roles when adjusting for cost-of-living differences; Athens has a stronger university-driven tech scene but slightly higher rents, while Columbus offers similar industrial and government work.
Atlanta is the clear premium market—average . NET salaries rise to roughly $110k there, but COL is ~15% higher.
Commuting to Atlanta from Macon (about 1. 5–2 hours each way) is feasible for senior or contract roles with intermittent onsite needs but not practical daily.
Many Macon employers accept remote or hybrid work for senior . NET roles, especially when cloud, DevOps, or architecture skills are required.
If you prioritize higher nominal pay and career mobility, consider relocating to Atlanta or remote roles; if you prioritize lower living costs and stable local employers, Macon or nearby Columbus/Athens make sense.
Career progression for a .NET developer in Macon
Typical progression: entry-level (0–2 years) focuses on C#, ASP. NET MVC/Core basics, SQL Server, and code maintenance—expect 1–3 years to reach mid-level.
Mid-level (3–7 years) owns features, integrates APIs, and contributes to architecture decisions; gaining cloud (Azure), CI/CD, and containerization skills accelerates advancement and pay. Senior (8+ years) moves into system design, platform ownership, or team lead roles—achievable within 8–12 years locally, faster if you take cross-functional responsibilities (DevOps, security, product).
In Macon, accelerating growth commonly requires: owning cross-team integrations for healthcare or education clients, certifying in Azure/AWS, building full-stack proficiency (React/Angular + . NET Core), or leading successful migrations (on-prem to cloud).
Contract and consulting gigs tied to Robins AFB or regional healthcare IT projects can also fast-track compensation and experience.
Negotiation tips for .NET developers in Macon
When negotiating, be specific about comparable local ranges: entry $55k–$65k, mid $75k–$90k, senior $95k–$115k. Emphasize cloud (.
NET Core on Azure), API design, and healthcare/Edu domain experience—these justify the upper range. Ask about total compensation: signing bonus, performance bonus, PTO, 401(k) match, and remote/hybrid allowances.
For healthcare employers, highlight experience with HL7/FHIR, EHR integrations, and secure deployment practices to command premiums. If relocating to Macon from a higher-COL city, request a location adjustment or relocation stipend and a remote-work framework (occasional onsite days).
Cultural tip: local employers value long-term fit and community ties; present commitments to local continuity (or explain remote plans) and show examples of low-friction maintenance and documentation to reduce hiring friction and increase offer competitiveness.
Related Tools
Sources & Methodology
How We Calculate Salary Data
Location-specific salary data is compiled from government statistics (BLS), employer-reported data, and verified employee submissions. Cost of living adjustments use COLI data from the Council for Community and Economic Research. All figures are cross-referenced across multiple sources and updated quarterly to reflect current market conditions.
Data last verified: January 2026
Data Sources
Official government occupational employment and wage statistics
Self-reported salary data from employees by location
Job posting salary data aggregated by metro area
Council for Community and Economic Research cost of living data
Regional compensation data and cost-of-living adjustments