Starting range
Average salary
Top earners
about 14% below U.S. average
Compare to Nearby Cities
| City | Average Salary | Cost of Living Index | Real Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | $82,000 | 88 | $93,182 |
| Wichita, KS | $80,000 | 84 | $95,238 |
| Dallas, TX | $105,000 | 102 | $102,941 |
Local Market Outlook
Demand Level
steady growth with occasional spikes tied to energy and healthcare tech projects; steady local hiring for mid-level roles, selective senior remote hires
Top Employers
Key Industries
How Oklahoma City's cost of living shapes .NET developer purchasing power
Oklahoma City's cost of living index near 86 makes everyday expenses and housing materially cheaper than national tech hubs. For a .
NET developer earning the local average (~$88k), rent for a one-bedroom in central neighborhoods typically runs $850–$1,000/month, while suburban 3BR homes rent for $1,200–$1,600; median home prices are roughly $220k–$245k depending on neighborhood. Commuting costs are modest: typical monthly fuel and parking for a 20–30 minute suburban commute are $120–$200, and public transit is limited, so many developers budget for car ownership.
Groceries, utilities, and services are generally 10–20% cheaper than the U. S.
average. The net effect: a .
NET developer in OKC retains more discretionary income compared with peers on the same nominal salary in higher-COL cities — enabling earlier homeownership, more comfortable family budgeting, or the ability to save/invest. However, contractor day rates and exterior perks (stock compensation) tend to be lower locally than coastal markets, so total compensation should be evaluated by salary + benefits + equity potential.
Why .NET salaries sit at current levels in Oklahoma City
Salaries reflect a balance of lower living costs and steady local demand driven by regional industry composition. Major employers — Paycom (SaaS payroll), Devon Energy, Love's, Integris/OU Health, and Hobby Lobby — create continuous needs for .
NET back-end services, integration with HR/payroll systems, internal tooling, and healthcare interoperability. Many roles support enterprise Windows/.
NET stacks, SQL Server, and Azure deployments rather than cutting-edge cloud-native architectures, which keeps baseline pay moderate but consistent. The energy sector periodically funds spike hiring for data and automation initiatives; healthcare and state IT provide stable budgets for long-term projects.
Oklahoma City's lower competition from high-cost startups and fewer senior cloud-native specialists compresses top-end offers compared to larger metros. Still, regional investments in SaaS and logistics tech increase demand for mid-level .
NET engineers, and companies frequently hire locally for maintenance, modernization, and integration efforts.
Comparing OKC to nearby cities: when to commute, relocate, or go remote
Compared with Tulsa (avg ~$82k, COL index ~88) and Wichita (avg ~$80k, index ~84), Oklahoma City offers slightly higher average . NET compensation with similar or better hiring volume.
Dallas pays materially more (~$105k avg) but with a higher COL (~102). Commuting from Tulsa to OKC is feasible for rare roles but impractical daily (75–100 miles each way); relocation is common for career jumps.
For senior hires, Dallas or Austin can provide 15–30% higher pay; remote roles from those markets often bridge the gap—many Dallas-based employers will hire OKC talent remotely at a modestly reduced rate compared to local Dallas hires. Consider commuting or relocating when you need a 20%+ salary uplift, specialized senior leadership roles, or significant equity upside.
For steady career growth and better work–life balance, staying in OKC or pursuing remote roles with coastal companies that accept regional salary midpoints is often optimal.
Career advancement path for .NET developers in Oklahoma City
Typical progression: entry-level (0–2 years) focuses on C#/ASP. NET, SQL Server, and legacy code maintenance; expect 10–20% salary increases upon moving to mid-level or after completing measurable project ownership.
Mid-level (3–7 years) developers who lead modules, own integrations, and demonstrate cloud/Azure competency usually command the market average (~$85k) and can push to $95k–$105k with DevOps/CICD skills or microservice experience. Senior (8+ years) roles move into architecture, team lead, or engineering manager work; achieving these responsibilities typically takes 7–12 years locally and can justify $110k–$130k offers at top employers.
Accelerators: obtaining Azure certifications, demonstrating full-stack capability with React/Angular front-ends, leading cross-functional projects with measurable ROI, and taking on SaaS product work. Local mentor networks, enterprise modernization projects, and contract consulting can shorten timelines by providing varied, high-impact experience.
Negotiating a .NET developer offer in Oklahoma City
Be explicit about local market norms: base salary dominates compensation, while equity and large RSU packages are less common outside regional SaaS firms. Reasonable negotiation targets: entry candidates $55k–$68k, mid-level $80k–$100k, senior $105k–$125k depending on responsibilities.
Use competing offers from Tulsa, Wichita, or remote roles as leverage; cite Azure/DevOps certifications, production uptime metrics, or project ROI to justify higher bids. Ask about bonuses (typically 5–10%), PTO (start at 15 days), flexible hours, remote days, and education stipends—these often close gaps without inflating base pay.
Phrase requests around market data and specific contributions (e. g.
, “I will reduce deployment lead time by X and lower incident rate by Y”), and be ready to accept slightly lower base if offered meaningful annual bonus, employer-paid healthcare with family coverage, or clear career path to an engineering lead within 12–18 months. Cultural note: local employers value longevity and team fit; demonstrate reliability and local project impact.
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